FArm expansion experience (FEʻE)
The FEʻE program is a hands-on internship in organic vegetable farm management and food production designed to accelerate participants’ capacity to lead organic fruit and vegetable operations through Climate-Smart Agriculture (C-SA) and cultural revitalization and community building.
Through a collaboration of 6 partner farms, the program features eight core areas of hands-on learning: (1) Field preparation and planting; (2) Harvest; (3) Processing and packaging; (4) Distribution and customer service; (5) Farmer’s market and CSA; (6) Equipment use, maintenance and repair; (7) Planning, evaluation, financial review; and (8) Leadership/mentorship of youth. This will be supplemented with programming to provide training in Climate-Smart Agricultural concepts, practices and techniques.
PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS
The FE‘ E Internship will be conducted at partnering farms across O‘ahu:
Desired Qualifications
Driven toward a career in sustainable agriculture
Pursuing education opportunities (e.g., undergraduate, other education program or recent college graduate)
Knowledge of and/or interest in Hawaiian cultural traditions with a commitment to the Hawai‘i's rural communities and greater O‘ahu region
Ability to work independently
Driver's license
Able to work for long periods in a hot environment
Able to lift up-to 50 pounds
Comfortable working with computers and relevant workplace software: especially, Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint
Programs
There are two, complimentary internship programs:
Kauwela (Summer Institute) - technically rigorous, full-time (40 hrs/week, $2400/month) 12-week program aimed at elevating aspiring mahi‘ai (farmers) into farm careers.
Ho‘oilo (Cool-season Internship) - part-time (~18 hrs/week, $1080/month) program targeting people interested in gaining hands-on farm experience while pursuing other educational opportunities.
Please send general inquiries to pawnee@maoorganicfarms.org.
