To Apply
Rather than filling out a form, we would like you to send (1) a letter of application that describes your skills and how Tillers might contribute to your future plans. Also send (2) a resume and (3) two references with addresses and phone numbers. Early applications are advised.

Applications will be reviewed as positions open.We normally plan 3 paid internships for a year. Selections will be made as applications arrive beginning the fall before the year of service. Please state when you will be available and when you need to know of your acceptance. If at all possible, we appreciate interviewing applicants by telephone or in person. Please feel free to call for information.

Applicants for paid internships must be US citizens or have visa status authorizing work for pay, such as "practical training" related to a student visa.

Please send applications to:
Richard Roosenberg, Director
Tillers International
10515 East OP Ave.
Scotts, MI 49088 USA

269/626-0223
800/498-2700
269/626-0226 (fax)
tillers@tillersinternational.org
www.tillersinternational.org

Andy Newell, '99 intern,
works on a timber frame.

Internships

Building Basic Skills for Rural Development

Interns at Tillers experience work in sustainable agriculture, rural development, historical interpretation, and organizational operations. Interns receive practical training from artisans, farmers, and international students, in a range of skills relating to small-scale farming, research, rural enterprises, and training.

In exchange for these learning opportunities, interns are expected to do farm work, to assist in teaching skills to shorter-term guests, to assist in developing training materials, and to assist with organizational and guest support.

Work Activities

On a daily basis, interns participate in the farming activities of the season. This gives practice in the skills of working with draft animals and using farm machinery. They plant, cultivate, and harvest a rotation of crops and learn many associated skills, such as woodworking, metal working, and blacksmithing. These activities create an understanding and empathy for the work demands of farmers and crafts people.

Throughout the year, Tillers sponsors classes in most of the following topics: Draft Animal Power, Farming, Food, Fiber, Metal Working, Woodworking, Timber Framing, Alternative Energies, and Rural History. These courses are offered by staff, local craftspeople, and farmers who volunteer their time to share their expertise. Interns are given the opportunity to participate in many of these programs by helping with class facilitation and meal preparation. As interns gain skills, they assist with class instruction.

Interns are encouraged to develop individual projects related to particular problems in sustainable agriculture and animal-powered farming. They often write up their projects for Tillers' TechGuides, our technical papers.

Some interns receive university credit for their work. We are pleased to assist in meeting the requirements of professors, and welcome their calls to arrange credit.

Background and Experience

Tillers invites applicants from a variety of backgrounds, especially students of international development, animal science, agriculture, engineering, history, economics, anthropology, and museum studies. We also welcome applications from farmers and development agents. We are interested in educational skills, photography, historical collections, and computer applications, as well as knowledge of crops, animals, woodworking and mechanics. Of course, we do not expect to find all these skills in one applicant. Preference is given to candidates who will be able to apply the skills and knowledge gained at Tillers toward their future work.

With the many opportunities for learning, interns with initiative and enough practical or international experience to ask questions gain the most from work at Tillers. Interns must be able to communicate ideas, to work without close supervision, and to cooperate with co-workers. Interns are expected to work 45-50 hours per week with flexibility for week-end activities and seasonal farm activities. Due to the farm work required, interns should be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly without problems and be in adequate physical condition to work long days in the fields. While much of the work is physical, it is generally enjoyable.

Terms and Support

The focus of the internship program is on the growing season of March to November.  We prefer applicants who are available for the entire period and thus can build on the progression of farm activities. However, we will consider anyone available for at least 12 weeks. (Other workshops, special training, and volunteer programs are offered for shorter periods.) We plan on three to six paid internships and can accept a couple additional sponsored or volunteer interns. International experience and plans are considered heavily in selecting candidates for the paid internships.

Paid interns receive $100 per week for an initial period of six weeks. Following a performance review, compensation may be increased up to $140 per week depending on abilities and international experience. On-farm rooms with shared facilities are available for $35 per week. Rooms may need to be shared at times. Food is not provided, though garden produce and eggs may be available in season.

Other Options

Individuals with considerable expertise in the use of animal power in international agriculture are encouraged to ask for more information about Tillers' Fellows Program. Fellows are given short-term support, but must be capable of instructing and writing on relevant technical topics.

Individuals with limited time may be willing to participate in our resident volunteer program. If you are available for less than 12 weeks but more than 2 weeks, we will be pleased to discuss a work/study program with housing and garden privileges.

Tillers internships often attract more good applicants than there are openings. If this type of training is critical to you for overseas work, consider approaching an international agency or your church to sponsor an internship. Perhaps you can initiate an important new partnership project with Tillers.

At Tillers, we believe that further development of small-scale farming is essential to a more ecologically and socially responsible agriculture. We also believe that there are valuable technical skills and rural policy principles to be found in the early history of American agriculture.

We appropriate the best historical practices for adaptation to the circumstances of today. Our work emphasizes the creative modification of animal-drawn implements with available modern improvements, and the careful integration of adaptations into existing farming systems. Given the low-capital nature of these small-scale technologies, we think they hold major promise for international rural development. International application of appropriate technologies is a central focus of our work. (Generally, international travel is not a part of the internship program.)

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