Farmhouse Chef ’s (2 positions) 18th Apr-17th Oct 2015 Each Season we have roles for dynamic, committed, team orientated & self motivated people dedicated to regenerative design for the benefit of all. Positions are 6 month volunteer positions. In exchange for your hard work and dedication you also will learn a huge amount! The role involves cooking half the time with another Farm Chef with the remainder coordinating with the Garden Manager, harvesting, preserving and wild foraging. You will be working in a small and dynamic core team in a bustling learning environment . As the tender of the hearth you control the hub of the farm and in many ways this is the most important role of all. It is also probably the most challenging. You will have some opportunity to participate in 2 weeks of trainings and gain practical design & holistic decision making experience throughout your stay. Fluency in English language is essential as participants from our trainings come from every corner of the globe.
Åsen 20 Västra Ämtervik Sunne Sweden 686 95
www.ridgedalepermaculture.com Farming, innovating & educating for the benefit of all...
Copyright ridgedale PERMACULTURE 2014/5
November brings frost and incredible low light to this amazing farm...
Overview of the Farm Site Specifics
This is a brief overview of the design concept at ridgedale PERMACULTURE to orientate the reader to key considerations. The farm is situated 3 hrs drive from Oslo, 4 hrs from Stockholm & 3.5 hrs from Gothenburg.
of 16.1 ° C (60.98 °F). •February is the coldest month (slightly cold) having an average temperature of -4.7 ° C (23.54 °F). •Average 120 days frost free (1- 30 day variance) •Southerly Aspect •Swedish Climate Zone ¾ •Latitude: 59°50’15” N, Longitude: •Wind, predominantly S but quite 13°08’34” E, sheltered by surrounding forest •Land area of 10.6 ha (26.1 ac) •Soil: Moderate Clay loam. Depth •Perimeter 1892m between 10- 30 cm with both sand •Elevation between 120 – 167m (upper ridge) and clay subsoils 20above sea level 300cm+ •Cold Temperate/Humid Continental •1.5 ha 90yr+Spruce plantation Climate •0.2 ha 25 yr Spruce/ Larch/ Birch •Approx. 634 mm of rainfall per year, or 52.8 mm per month. •Average 147 days per year with more than 0.1 mm of rainfall or 12.3 days with a quantity of rain, sleet, snow etc. per month. •The driest weather is in February when an average of 31 mm of rainfall occurs. •The wettest weather is in August when an average of 73 mm of rainfall occurs. Contextual location of ridgedale PERMACULTURE •The mean temperature is cool at 5.4 Local wind data °C (41.7 °F) •Mean monthly temperatures have a variation of 20.8 °C (37.4°F) The average daily temperature range/ variation is 7.9 °C (14.3 °F). •The warmest month (July) is very mild having a mean temperature
Climate Zone map of Varmland
The result of 6 months work implementing our design in our first season in 2014
Context... Managing our farm holistically
At ridgedale we believe that financially sustainable and socially beneficial livelihoods are founded on regenerating the world’s biospheres. We believe these three aspects that make up our triple bottom line are totally inseparable and so our decision-making consistently reflects this. To ensure our success we use testing questions to ensure our decision making at the farm is consistently aligned with our Holistic Goal. Below are 12 of the key outcomes we are managing towards related to our triple bottom line; 1. Build topsoil via intelligently integrated planting/Keyline layout & animal disturbances 2. Maximize photosynthetic energy captured on site 3. Restore water, carbon and nutrient cycling on site by mimicking natures processes 4. Create habitats that fully support organisms physiological needs 5. Increase diversity of wildlife species and natural “feedback” loops 6. Demonstrate socially just and sustainable profit with an open farm gate policy 7. Support world-class education in all aspects of regenerative systems design and holistic decision making 8. Develop local food resilience & facilitate access to beyond organic food by connecting people to local farmers 9. Prevent wasting of fiscal, human and ecosystem capital 10. Utilize regenerative technologies to minimize oil dependence 11. Create & demonstrate robust decentralized energy production 12. Continually reassess our holistic objectives and management process with decision makers
Read more about the design here http://www.ridgedalepermaculture.com/design-at-ridgedale. html
Birds eye view of ridgedale PERMACULTURE
ridgedale PERMACULTURE is a ridgedale PERMACULTURE’S primary
family owned pasture and perennial crop based beyond organic local food producer and educational hub in Värmland, Sweden. A flagship multi- income diverse small farm, ridgedale is Scandinavia’s first Keyline designed farm and a leading European education provider in the field of Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture.
responsibility is regenerating landscapes, ecosystem processes and soils through replicable, scalable and profitable symbiotic farm enterprises. Our secondary responsibility is to educate, facilitate, inform and empower people into action through regenerative design, enterprise and holistic decision-making that fosters and stimulates local community, economy and resilience.
The role The role we are seeking to fill begins full time on site mid April 2014, where you will either be resident in a small & simple room in the old magazine. You will be sharing this space with the other long term core- crew. There is a chance we may be renting a small cottage next door instead, but we will not know this until the spring. We will be hosting trainings where there will be up to 40 people on site at busy times, but generally with a crew of between 6- 15 throughout the year. Your responsibility will include working laf the week in turn with the other Farm Chef to preparing awesome breakfast, lunch and dinner, coordinating with the Garden Manager to deal with harvesting & food preparation as well as wild foraging. During PDC trainings you will probably need to work together full time during the courses. We decided to split this role this year to allow time for ther important duties outside the kitchen as well as rest. We buy in bulk organic whole foods and grow/ raise as much as we can on site as well as gathering & hunting seasonally. We are looking for 2 people who are passionate about wholesome, balanced and rounded meals. Simple but nourishing, using whole foods, we serve vegetarian and meat based farm house style meals. We try to avoid catering for extreme diets both for efficient management of this demanding role as well as keeping in line with what is available in season locally and on the farm. 2015 is only our 2nd season at the farm and will see the ongoing rapid implementation of many aspects of the site development and so facilities will be basic but comfortable. The right folks will also be confident to demonstrate & share their skills with participants on the trainings, from cheese making to pickling, etc.
Catering You will need to be very organized and pay attention to detail to successfully fill this challenging role. Key aspects; • You have experience catering to up to 40 people • You can create nutritionally balanced meals • You can plan well in advance • You can work to a clear budget • You are familiar working with fresh ingredients from the farm • You are punctual and dedicated • You have a good sense of hygeine • You are a clear communicator • You love to cook! We are looking for someone who will throw themselves at this with passion and flair! It is a very challenging role to prepare 2 awesome meals a day. It is an opportunity that will suit someone with good experience who wants to make inroads into deeper understanding of Permaculture Design and Local & seasonal food systems. It would be useful if you have some experience is preserving food & butchery but this is not essential. This will also be an aspect of our trainings, and you will be most welcome to participate in trainings that can specifically benefit your work.
Work Ethic Generally we are looking for people who are seeking an inroad to the field of professional systems design or specific skills associated with their roles and who have the right level of skills & competency for the position we are offering. Whilst this will be a dedicated and sometimes challenging role we are excited by the mutual benefit this position offers. The position requires professional presentation in both output as well as personal conduct. You will be working as part of a dedicated team who have committed their lives to educating & demonstrating regenerative and integrated design to the highest standards. As a core member of a public venue and functioning business you are expected to reflect this at all times, for you become part of the “face” of this farm during your stay...
What can you expect to gain from this experience? A 6 month stay at ridgedale PERMACULTURE will lead you through all kinds of experiences. Living and working in close confines with a diverse range of people from all over the world will inevitably bring up a whole range of situations for you. Some prior experience living in a community setting is definately a bonus, as it simply isn’t for some people. It does, however, represent an incredible learning opportunity and we will be fostering a supportive learning and working atmosphere at the farm. If you’re committed to your development personally and professionally then the experience will no doubt enrich you greatly. You can expect us to be up early and working on the farm long hourse during the week. Farming in this climate is very much about long hard summers whilst the light & sun are around and quite cold dark winters for down time and recooperation. Weekends are generally down time at the farm, and people will be exploring the forests and surrounding ares, continuing projects they are working on or working on personal projects. For the Farm Chefs this may mean working alternate weekends, it will be up to you decide how to organize most effectively.
You are encourgaed to keep a Learning Journal throughout your stay, as the Intern’s will be doing. This helps synthsize the intensive learning that will be happening as well as begin documenting your experience to build a portfolio. By documenting your work and the trainings you participate you can build up recorded experience that can serve you in future assignments, profession or study, such as the Permaculture Diploma. Intern’s will also be spending time each week working on their own design, a longer term more detailed assignment to allow regular mentoring and peer reviewing. We welcome you to take this on yourself, you can benefit from the feedback of a professional designer and build up a clear portfolio.
Most of all you will be a core member of the pioneering team engaged with a flagship project. You will be exposed to all aspects of Permaculture design and gain tangible field based experience. This is invaluable if you are looking to develop a career int his field. Permaculture is really learnt by the actual implementation and monitoring of systems we can design and put together. By managing your time effectively you will have lots of opportunity to join in with what is going on at the farm. We will also have a full time Graphics Expert and so would like to showcase your work in preparing, experimenting and preserving by making regular short films and blog posts, which can help to build up a portfolio for your work. If you want to blog about diet, nutrition, etc, that would be AWESOME!
Other information you need to know for your stay at ridgedale PERMACULTURE Dedicated to the benefit of all... Site Policy
Facilities
Participation in Trainings
ridgedale PERMACULTURE is a family home as well as a professional learning center. We cater to people from many cultures and nationalities so to help maintain a comfortable stay for all, visitors are asked to follow our simple code of conduct during their visit.
We can supply a simple mattress & duvet, but you will need to bring a sleeping bag to ensure you are warm enough during your stay at the start & end of the season.
We really value what you can bring to the farm, and as part of our exchange we would like to invite you to participate with as much as possible thats going on at the farm. We would like to meticulously document all aspects of the site development, and our open farm gate policy means we will share the ups and downs and ins and outs of all aspects of the farm with our course participants and interns to help support the regeneration of soils, communities and local economies everywhere. Whilst this is a challanging role for you to take on, it is our wish that you get to participate in 2 weeks of trainings during your stay.
For the benefit, comfort and wellbeing of all staying at the farm there is a strict no drugs policy. Transgression will result in you being asked to leave immediately, forfeiting your stay/ training, etc. Please don’t involve us. Consumption of alcohol is also only permitted on Friday/ Saturday evenings. This is a working farm and we work hard everyday of the week.
We have simple dry composting toilet as a means to close our nutrient cycles. Washing facilities are a large communal sauna/ washroom with a couple of private stalls for bucket showers. We ask people to bring purely ecological soaps as they drain into our plant systems. Please also bring a swimming costume for the sauna/ washroom. Whilst this is not exactly traditional by Swedish standards we must point out that we have people from all over the world attending our trainings from very different cultural backgrounds.
We do not tolerate any form of anti-social behavior/conduct and our commitment to Conditions are simple here, we are esdeep ethics and the benefit of all form the tablishing a farm from scratch! basis of our working and social relationships. Internet Access
We have invested into a community 1GB/Sec Fibre Optic instal so everyone can have awesome connection speed for research and staying in touch with your loved ones. You need to bring a computer or tablet to make the most of trainings & resources available.
In order to maintain efficient runnign of all aspects of the farm we will discuss the details of this when the Core Team have all assembled. It is likely we shall run 2x 8 Week Internships in 2015 so there will be ample opporunity to participate in the training you are interested in.
HERE’S WHAT PIONEER CHEF ELIN HAD TO SAY... “This journey as a farm chef has taken me from valuing every green dandelion leaf that popped up from the melting snow in spring to the great berry harvest in the forest in summer; from raw and vegan garden snacks to the decadent viking feast and roasts of autumn. To see how rich and resilient Ridgedale has become with gardens, berries, mushrooms, herbs, eggs, dairy, meat & tree crops that soon will be able to feed hundreds. I also learned the deep psychology of food and how food is attached to the different cultures, people and emotions. I have had the opportunity to follow the culinary seasons of a farm, to get deep under the skin of Swedish food culture and to work side by side with some of the most inspirational people I have met. I envy the future farm chefs for the opportunities of learning more diverse crafts such as oil extraction, natural medicine, meat preservation, grain production & processing and so much more. I would not have changed this experience for anything in the world, and I know that however the future of Ridgedale will be, it will be bright. “
www.ridgedalepermaculture.com