Summary of Intern Ship at Sustainable Coalition Farms

Intro

Working for any company requires certain foundational guidelines. Sustainable Coalition Farms, which is owned by Dean Godal, is no different. While working here over the summer I was introduced to a way of life that requires many skills.  However this internship consisted of, but is not limited to, learning the following:

1.       Apiculture (Bee Keeping)

2.       Animal Husbandry

3.       Goat and Cow Dairying

4.       Cheese making

5.       Building with cob

 Moreover the sustainable coalition’s farms offered a variety of opportunities that are needed in organization.   Some of these opportunities offered a chance to develop the following technical and non-technical skills.  Here is a list of the skills exercised while working at the farm:

1.       Communication

2.       Planning

3.       Organizing

4.       Listening

5.       Carpentry

Learning the Ropes

Week 1

The first week was a time to orientate myself with the farm.  I learned about the following during that time:  scheduling milking times, rules to be aware of while in the barn, properly procedures on supply the animals with fresh water, how to milk the animals, how to walk the animals, how to feed the animals, how to strain and store the milk, and how to weed.

Scheduling is an important part of maintaining a record and order when running any business.  Sustainable coalition farms used a rather simple method of scheduling.  Nevertheless the schedule gave the owner a heads up on who would be milking each day.  The scheduling for milk was written on a small dry eraser board.  The reasoning the scheduling board exists is because there are different people milking the cows and goats during the week.          
For example students from M.U.M. occasionally milk the animals, if they notify the farmer before they come to the farm; he can place their name(s) on  the scheduling board on day that they choose to milk the animals.

Rules

In order to have control of farming operations, certain basic rules are put in place for smooth functioning daily activities.  The following is a list of few verbal spoken rules given to me by Dean Godal (Owner of Sustainable Coalition Farms):

1.       Always close the hatches in the barn.

a.       Keeps animals from the grains

b.      Ensures animals don’t get Hurt.

2.       Remove nails from any boards on the ground.

a.       Keeps area same for humans and animals.

3.       Pick nails off of the ground.

a.       Nails destroy lawnmower blades.

4.       Always clean counter before placing milk containers on it.

a.       Keeps kitchen sanitary.

5.       Maintain awareness while walking goats.

a.       Or they will get into trouble.

                                                               i.      For example eat chemical sprayed soybeans.

This is just a few rules, most of them where learned when I or another intern made mistakes.

Duties

Stewardship or service is the biggest lesson that I learned while on the farm.  Most of the obligations or duties where to the animals and a small bit of attention went to the plants.  Everyday felt like Grown Hog Day” because I complete the same task day in and day out.  However these task provide most of the basic needs for the animals.  The task where:

1.       Feeding and milking animals.

2.       Ensuring that all water tubs where full.

3.       Feeding chickens and ducks.

4.       Walking the cows and goats.

5.       Clipping goats hoofs

Storing Milk

Once all the task with the animals where complete, straining and storing the milk was the next on the list of daily farm chores.

Weeding

Occasionally weeding was required on the blackberry and raspberry patch.  The weeding was required because some of the interns that came before did not put enough straw down to cover the soil.  This mindless action of weeding actually requires a little bit of attention especially went plants are young.  Nevertheless we completed most of the weeding in the blackberry and raspberry patch by the 3^rd week.

SCI Principles

“One can perfect the art of service by consistently serving.”   

Week 2

The second week was a time to get use to the farm life. Life on the farm is enjoyable but certain things took a while to get use to. For instance milking the animals was the one task that my body had to get use to and that’s because “ my forearms had to adjust to the milking routine, especially the Cows.”  During that week I also learned about the future vision for the farm and how to put up a fence. 

Vision for the farm

Dean Godal is an Iowa farmer with many years of experience in farming.  He is deciding on whether or not he wants to run a cow dairy or goat dairy.   In addition to operating a dairy he has plans to grow a variety of berries and he is part owner to a local restaurant, that serves organic food. 

Fencing

Protecting crops from insects, rabbits, deer, etc. is an important part of running a farming business.  However the sole purpose for placing a fence around the raspberries and black berries at Sustainable Coalition famers was to keep out the Goats. 

SCI Principle

“Without a vision life vanishes”.  Visionaries play a key role in sustaining life.

Week 3

Week 3 consisted of the usually task on the farm.  The highlight of that week was when Dean and I drove to Boone, I.A. to disassemble and pick up a cheese factory.  Purchasing the cheese factory is another was another part of Sustainable Coalition Farms plan to open a fully operation dairy.  In addition to picking up a dairy, I had a chance to meet the owners of the cheese factory.  They were really nice women who enjoyed making cheese.  Meeting women like them inspired me to purse my goals whole heartily.

Disassembling Time

                In order to get the entire factory back to Fairfield I.A. (Home of Sustainable Coalition Farms), Dean had to rent a small wagon for the various parts that we had to pick up.  It took us about 4-5 hours to dissemble and load the following

·         piping system

·          milk storage tank

·          hot water tank

·          Sink

·          Refrigerator

·         Other Miscellaneous Items

The entire trip gave me a chance to witness some of the requirements of starting your own business.

SCI Principles

“The nature of life is to grow” As we continue growing and developing internally, our growth begins to spill over into the external world and we have chance to  full express the glory of creation.

Week 4

We worked in Vedic city Green house, finished putting up the fence, and Collected Honey.

Since there is over 2-3 gallons of cow milk and about 1 gallon goat milk produce each day by the animals, We made Feta cheese at Christine’s House.  We made one patch with red jalapenos and the other with sun dried tomatoes and basil.  

Week 6

Cob House

    The History of Cob houses has ancient roots; Archeologist have made discoveries proving that residents in 

 Jericho used adobe bricks aka cob for building material, that’s almost 10,000 years ago. 

 (http://www.networkearth.org/naturalbuilding/history.html)  The cob house that is being constructed on 

 Sustainable Coalitions Farm property will be a small housing unit for interns. 

 

Teach others what you know.

Helping others develop and learn  is an important aspect of life on the farm.  Each chore or job on the farm can be quit rewarding once you give a 100% of your effort to completing each task.  Developing and learning skills like: communication, listening, and spatial awareness are some of the most important skills on the farm.  When the others learn those skills the farm can become more efficient and supporting.