Washington College is excited to offer a paid Permaculture Internship designed for individuals passionate about sustainable living, community education, and exploring the deep connections between human wellbeing and environmental health. This internship offers a unique opportunity to engage in the practice of permaculture, focusing on wild and perennial foods, community outreach and education, and the principles of regenerative land stewardship.
As a Permaculture Intern, you will help cultivate a thriving educational space at the Campus Garden that fosters personal and planetary resilience while creating opportunities for the campus and local community to engage with permaculture practices.
Key Responsibilities:
Earth Care:
- Develop and maintain a permaculture-based demonstration and educational garden that integrates wild, perennial, and edible plants to promote biodiversity and ecosystem health.
- Foster an understanding of the soil food web by supporting composting efforts and soil health.
- Create a welcoming space that reflects the permaculture principles of earth care, offering a sanctuary for local wildlife and educational experiences for students, faculty, and visitors.
People Care:
- Lead community education programs focused on wild and perennial foods, exploring the relationship between sustainable food systems, nutrition, and ecological health.
- Host a weekly permaculture film screening for students and community members and encourage discussion of ideas.
- Coordinate the efforts of local organizations and community volunteers in the Campus Garden related to ecological literacy, food security, and personal wellness.
Fair Share:
- Explore and share traditional and modern foodways that highlight the role of wild and perennial foods.
- Host educational events such as cooking demonstrations, wild food foraging walks, and herb crafting to educate the community on sustainable eating practices and nutrition.
- Promote local food-sharing initiatives and donation programs that distribute surplus produce to local food banks or community members in need.
Visible Structures:
- Develop educational signage, demonstrations, and teaching materials that explain the relationship between the soil food web and human nutrition, linking ecological health with human well-being.
- Showcase low-impact, sustainable technologies, such as cob construction, passive solar design, and rainwater catchment systems to demonstrate practical applications of permaculture design.
Invisible Structures:
- Foster ongoing collaboration with campus groups such as the Garden Club, Compost Club, Bird Club, Sustainability Council and local community partners to integrate permaculture into broader campus initiatives.
- Explore opportunities for future educational workshops, courses, and projects that expand the campus’s permaculture network and outreach.
Animals:
- Assist in the care and management of the campus chicken flock, promoting educational experiences around animal husbandry, egg production, and the role of animals in permaculture systems.
- Support aquatic habitat in the pond by maintaining pumps and filters.
Benefits:
- Gain hands-on experience in permaculture design and community-based ecological education.
- Cultivate personal wellness and ecological expertise while engaging the campus and broader community.
- Inspire the sustainability efforts of Washington College and our bioregion.
This internship is a unique opportunity for individuals interested in deepening their understanding of permaculture, sustainable food systems, and ecological community building. If you are passionate about teaching others how to live in harmony with the land and exploring the intersection of human and environmental health, we encourage you to apply!
