One of the most inspiring parts of our lives is the joy, energy and curiosity that young people bring to Blue Rock Station.  Over the years, folks have found their way here and many have asked to stay for a few weeks or months to learn a bit and experience a greener lifestyle.

Our internship program began in 2007 when Elyse Perruchon called (pictured far right, with Annie, and to her left, our second intern Caroline Ebert) and asked if she might intern with us for part of the summer.

The idea of interns had occurred to us - and Elyse was so sweet, intelligent that we gave it a try.  Over the years the program has grown (and become a bit more formalized).  By 2010 we were receiving far more requests for internships than we could manage (we had to turn away over 20 wonderful candidates).

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming an intern at Blue Rock Station, read on...

• Internship Guidelines / What to Expect
  
• Internship Application
• Past Interns (share their experiences at Blue Rock Station and what they are up to now)

2012 Summer Internships  (April through September – minimum two weeks but for a real learning experience four weeks or more is best)

At Blue Rock Station, a green living farm, we take pride in our ability to translate green living principles (rethink, repair, reuse, reduce, recycle, respect) into ways to live happy and fulfilling lives. The goal for the summer intern program is to provide a wide range of opportunities for each person who lives, eats and works at the farm to find their own definition of green living by designing and building at least one project.

Interns live and work at Blue Rock Station. Annie and Jay Warmke, the owners and operators have lived in other parts of the world and enjoy hosting interns from around the globe, as well as from the US. Blue Rock Station plays host to many international groups annually and encourages an exchange of learning among visitors and interns. Sustainable living translates easily into any language.

Anticipated 2012 Projects at Blue Rock Station

These are the projects we're looking at for 2012.  Everything depends on the skill level of the interns and fellows, plus time, energy, funding and more.

System-building Projects

• Design and build a new front gate with a way to open the gate easily (solar)
• Design and build water collection for the bunkhouse
• Design and build water collection for the barn
• Re-design living room heating system to capture more heat from wood stove
• Design and build a heating system for the plastic bottle green house
• Re-design how heat is distributed in the Earthship living room
• Re-configure the solar shower
• Design and build a bio-diesel station
• Design and build a root cellar
• Design and build a water collection system for the sun room
• Complete the summer kitchen water collection system
• Complete the Dragin' Lair cottage - plastering, electrical, framing of windows/door
• Repair the Llama Lounge, Chicken Chalet and barn slate roofs
• Plant spring garden/create schedule for succession planting for animal feed for winter

Skill-building

• learn how to make and apply mud plasters:  working on a two-bed cottage, Earthship living room, intern chalet, and sun room
• assist in a straw bale build including rammed-earth tire foundation work
• plan and plant the spring, summer, fall or winter garden
• assist in creating new raised beds for gardening
• assist with keeping of garden (food planning & production)
• carpentry projects including framing in the porch on the Drag-in Lair
• general farm chores that might include feeding llamas, milking goats, mowing fields, working in the garden
• lead and participate in tours
• participate in llama treks
• participate in cooking and food preservation
• create video for use with BRS booklets including rammed-earth tire foundation construction and how to build a plastic bottle greenhouse
• learn about heat sinks, and help construct one
• assist other interns in their projects – specifically designed by each intern
• writing about intern experiences and projects for blogging or publication