Triform Farm: Kim's Apprentice Project: The Jeep

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Kim's Apprentice Project: The Jeep

4 comments:

Unknown said...: WOW Kim, what an exciting graduation project. Not only are you an experienced farmer, now you are a car mechanic as well. What a lucky jeep!; February 27, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Anonymous said...: Kim,
It's really wonderful to see what you have learned. I know that I wouldn't know how to repair a car. Good for you and say hi to Bob,
Jeanne; February 27, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Anonymous said...: Kim,
You really did a wonderful job! I know how proud you and your parents/family must be of your accomplishments.
Erin:); March 2, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Anonymous said...: Kim, Love seeing you on my computer! Everyone is enjoying your little film. Love, Mom; March 4, 2009 at 6:49 AM

About Triform Farm

Triform Farm is part of Triform Camphill Community. Triform, founded in 1979, is a residential and therapeutic community for young adults with special needs, located on 125 acres in New York's rural Columbia County. The mission of Triform is to build a vital community life that provides each person the possibility for healing, self-development and fulfillment of potential.

Triform Farm is a USDA Certified Organic and Demeter Certified Bio-dynamic farm. The farm consists of a hand-milked dairy herd, grass-fed beef herd, and heritage breed pigs. On the farm the young adults have an opportunity to gain practical work skills. Students come to the farm to experience working with the animals. They feed the cows, steers and pigs, muck out the barn, clean pens and provide bedding for the animals. They learn to use different tools and how to work as a team with the other members of the farm crew.

Some students go on to become farm apprentices. The apprentices work more full time on the farm and carry many of the daily responsibilities of running a small dairy. They learn how to milk the cows by hand, maintain the machinery, do building projects and repair work to the barn and animal pens, drive the farm golf cart, identify when animals are sick or in heat, and much, much, more. The apprentice program is about four years in length. In that time the young people gain a very broad knowledge of farming. Some go on to work on other farms. Even if they do not, the sense of responsibility, independence and empowerment they gain through land work carries over into other aspects of their lives.

The same can be said of many young co-workers who have come to Triform to volunteer for one year or many. They come with an interest in land work and leave with a very thorough training in biodynamic agriculture. Triform Farm is an exciting place to learn and gain strength and confidence through trying new things. Everyone soon finds that they not only know how to do a new task but have taken on the responsibility of making sure that job is maintained. They can each see that their contribution is vital to the running of the farm. In that way everyone shares in the ownership of Triform Farm.