Mahaz- Jewish Farming Fellowship
Mahaz fellows will live, learn, and work together. Applicants should be ready to immerse themselves in the daily activities, responsibilities, and rhythms of working on a production-oriented and community-based farm. Through the duration of the program, Fellows will have a chance to learn a diverse set of field skills related to regenerative agriculture, as well as gain an introductory exposure to a range of skills applicable to the foundation of homesteading arts and tending the wild.
Fellows will work directly with our Farm Managers and farm team through their work in the field. A core focus of the program will be working with our horticultural projects - vegetable & medicinal gardens, fruit & nut orchards, ecological landscaping, etc. In addition, based on farm’s needs, fellows will be invited to participate in other farm areas, such as:
Apothecary / Herbal Product Processing
Pantry / Harvest Preservation
Pasture Management & Animal Husbandry
Forestry Systems
Mushroom Propagation & Foraging
Ecological Arts / Wild-Crafting
Aside from the core field work of the program, the program will also include weekly classes in a range of subjects related to agriculture, ecological crafts, Torah, and more, as taught by our farm team and guest educators.
Program Fees
Mahaz operates as a work trade model, so there is no tuition fee. In exchange for an average of 16 hrs of work a week (of which will also have immense educational value), fellows will receive room, board and weekly farm harvests. Additionally, fellows will receive over 10 hours a week of educational and enrichment content that covers the many aspects of homesteading life. Fellows will also receive a monthly stipend of $500 to cover any additional living costs. Payments are twice monthly, and are conditional upon full program participation and attendance.
Mahaz envisions this fellowship program as an investment into a small number of individuals who are seeking to develop and deepen their relationship with the natural world. While the actual cost of this program is considerably higher per fellow, the tuition has been subsidized to allow this opportunity to be accessible for everyone. In lieu of tuition, we ask the fellows to fully invest in field work, classes, and community programming, which means arriving promptly, prepared, and willing.
Program Content
Our weekly schedule runs Monday to Thursday from 8am - 5pm, with evening programming 2 days per week. One Friday per month will be designated for community programming and one shabbat per month we will celebrate together as a community.
Field Hours (approx. 16hrs/week)
Fellows will spend two full days a week working within a range of field departments on the farms. Core farm responsibilities will vary depending on seasonal and project-based needs. Regular activities may involve planting / weeding / irrigating in the gardens; collecting / washing eggs; assisting with animal rotations on pasture; inoculating / harvesting mushrooms; preservation in the pantry kitchen; herbal processing in the apothecary; landscaping; forestry; etc.
Homesteading Arts (approx. 4-6 hrs/week)
Once a week fellows will have the opportunity to learn a skill or craft related to homesteading life. We invite our own staff as well as a number of local educators to share their passion and expertise with the fellows. In the past, we’ve explored topics such as bush-crafting, wood-working, cobb-building, leather-work, and broom-making, to name just a few.
Applied Ecology & Traditional Skills (approx. 4-6 hrs/week)
Throughout the course of the program, the fellows will participate in a weekly curriculum that revolves around exploring our innate kinship with the earth. Through a combination of lectures, group discussions, and hands-on instruction, the fellows spend this time exploring a variety of ecological and cultural realities that are fundamental to a land-based life.
Community Programming (approx. 3-6 hrs/week)
(*these approximate hours do not include shabbat or holiday programming)
We believe that it truly “takes a village”, and this four month experience is held and supported by the people around us. That is why we’ve dedicated time for community gatherings, outings and shabbat /holidays celebrations! Fellows will gather 2 times per week in the evenings and one Friday per month for a variety of community programming.