Sweet Relief Farm

Sweet Relief Farm is located on 40 acres along the Saco River in Steep Falls. Of that forty acres we grow diversified organic crops for our homestead and a few customers and includes a greenhouse and a tunnel house in which we grow seedlings and inside crops.

We live in a small village, with supportive neighbors. We attend a local farmers market, where we sell our herbs, seedlings, and mushrooms.

We need help from April through October. It is for commuter apprentices, that live nearby. So it can be for any amount of time, in the matter of days of the week and in the matter of weeks. We’d prefer 2-3 days a week for 4-6 hours, and a commitment of a month at a time, prefer all season, but are flexible.

No year round opportunities.

Sweet Relief Farm is located on 40 acres along the Saco River in Steep Falls. Of that forty acres we grow on approximately 1/3 of an acre in a big field and in small garden plots near our house and by our greenhouse and a tunnel house in which we grow seedlings and some diversified crops and herbs. In the big field we grow herbs in a labyrinth mandala, approximately 60’ x 60’. The majority of the acreage is woods, abutting 2500’ of the Saco River, with nature trails, and camping is allowed.

We live in a small village, with supportive neighbors. We attend a local farmers market, where we sell our herbs, seedlings, and mushrooms.

Our village now has a land trust trail system, to enjoy as well as trails on our own land along the Saco River.

We grow mostly herbs that we dry and package and shiitake mushrooms on oak logs. Our homestead vegetable gardens grow many diversified vegetables. We have a fairly large seedling production, sold through shares, farmers markets, and wholesale to stores. We also raise layer hens and meat birds.

We grow sustainably organic, using no-till methods, little tractor input, companion planting, and diversified planting.

We sell at a local farmers’ market, on farm, wholesale the seedlings to a few local places and sell the herbs at craft fairs as well.

This list includes what they will learn by doing, but in no way indicates full responsibility, which will be shared or done primarily by the farm owners.

Seedling Production in the greenhouse:
-learn how to and seed, germinate, transplant and label seedlings
-learn how to and water, protect, hardening off plants
-learn about the seedling marketing strategies: shares, wholesale and direct
-learn how to and load, display and sell directly at the farm and farmers’ market
-learn the production and management system dealing with dates, quantity, etc.

Herb Production in the fields
-learn how to and transplant/plant seedlings
-learn how to and prep beds by prepping soil, adding amendments, & fertilizers
-learn how to and make compost
-learn how to and protect plants with mulch
-learn how to and harvest, clean, dry, and pre-pack
-learn the production and management system dealing with dates, quantity, etc
-learn about the marketing strategies: wholesale and direct sales
-learn how to and package produce for wholesale

A MINIMAL amount of knowledge will be taught re: the Homestead Gardens:
-learn how to and transplant/plant seedlings and seeds
-learn how to and prep beds by prepping soil, adding amendments, & fertilizers
-learn how to and make compost
-learn how to and protect plants, with mulch and/or row covers
-learn how to and harvest, clean, and post management of in season crops
-learn the production and management system dealing with dates, quantity, etc
-learn about the marketing strategies: shares, wholesale and direct
-learn about companion plants

Mushroom Production in the woods
-learn about mushroom production and management
-learn how to and inoculate oak logs
-learn how to and stack oak logs
-learn how and soak logs, and restack
-learn how and harvest mushrooms

Mostly a desire to learn, flexible especially with dealing with the weather, cooperative to work as a team member, lift at least 40 lbs., and love of the land, outdoors, or food. A driver’s license is helpful.

This is a commuter apprenticeship position, so days available to work are Wednesday – Friday. and some times Saturdays. We prefer 2-3 days a week for 4-6 hours each day, and a commitment of at least a month at a time, though we prefer moats of the season, however we are flexible.

We fully train apprentices, but like to see them become more independent and responsible, as their skills develop.

We are a small farm, so apprentices will learn everything we do. We teach as we work and we will at first be working with them directly. Later as they develop skills, we will work with them daily, but each of us may be doing separate jobs. Work check-ins, supervisory comments and feedback, will happen throughout each day. They will check in and report on the day’s work at the end of the day. I provide to them an overview of the daily and weekly work goals, so that we can work together as a team.

We have an extensive lending library of gardening, farming, herb and mushroom materials. Discussion time will be allotted each week, if it doesn’t happen spontaneously, as we work. They will be free to attend the MOFGA farm training projects.

Yes, I am and a part-time crafter. My husband, is a full time woodworker on the farm, and a part-time farmer, managing the mushroom operation.

We will work with the apprentices daily in some capacity. Either working right along with them or assigning and supervising their work.

 

Learning by doing, thus lots of hands-on teaching and with lots of observation, questioning and discussion.

Apprentices will be allotted a full share of produce from our Homestead Gardens, mushrooms, herbs, and flowers.

Since it’s a commuter apprenticeship, the apprentices have their own housing.

No visit necessary, but in the past the commuter apprentices, appreciated a visit pre-employment.

 

No employee handbook. We work closely with the apprentice, and can evaluate work daily, and enable to give feedback immediately. Discipline begins with talking out problems. This initial meeting will be recorded, so expectations are clear. Sufficient time is provided to correct the problem. If problem is still reoccurring, apprentice will be asked to leave.

Two of us, Mike and Julee, live and run the farm, although occasionally our adult children and grandchildren are here, enjoying the land or helping to farm. I, Julee, have farmed for more than 20 years as a profession, and my whole life as a backyard gardener, after 15 years of work at Cooperative Extension, helping to develop the first Master Gardener program in the state. We believe in caring for the beautiful and sacred land on which we are now living, so use sustainable, organic and permaculture practices. I take a few days of each summer to go camping with my children and grandchildren, since camping, hiking, kayaking are my favorite things to do off-farm, as well as dancing.

Mike also has raised a vegetable garden most of his life, but on this farm, his expert attention goes to growing Shiitake Mushroom, Building, and running his wooden crafts business. In his spare time, he loves to play guitar.

 

Our views: we are quite left leaning and I am a Baha’i. We only share conversations on these topics, if it is acceptable by all, usually they initiate. We focus on our work, organic and food philosophies, and teaching, thus we are not engaging in much conversation on our differing views. However, we are very acceptable of all views, and listening to what others have to say and often provides us with new fresh understandings.

Ricky Perry

[email protected] 

Leo WebsterFormer apprentice reference 

lwebster207gmaicom

Former apprentice reference

Spencer Colburn 
[email protected]

Personal reference

Past Assistant Farm Manager, family friend 

Sweet Relief Farm

Scroll to Top