In 2008, the Driftless Folk School created an opportunity for individuals to gain a more intensive learning experience through its new work/study program.
This 3-6 month term offers the chance to be amongst the progressive community of Vernon County, a beautiful, rural setting in southwest Wisconsin. Our work/study position, with a focus on hands-on, non-competitive learning, is a great complement and/or alternative to academic programs, and will be a valuable preparation for personal career possibilities. While fulfilling the established commitments outlined by the school, individuals will be encouraged, and supported, to engage in their chosen independent study projects (i.e. building a small shelter, maintaining a garden, practice of a craft).
To ensure an equally beneficial relationship between the Driftless Folk School and its work/study participant, a summary of the position is offered below.
As a work/study, you will be asked to work 30-35 hours/week in a variety of tasks including:
- office work
- farm chores, general homestead tasks
- building projects
- assistance to instructors, act as a representative at special events
In return, you will receive:
- entry into all desired classes
- room and board with a DFS host family and a stipend of $100/month
- involvement in board meetings
- connection to a vast network of farmers, builders, artists, educators, etc.
- ample time for independent study, personal interests
- resources of tools, workspaces
We are accepting applications for the 2010 season until March 31, 2010.
To download the work/study application, click here.
A Letter from 2009 Work/Study Participants Luke Gay and Emily Horne
Today is July 15th, 2009 and, because the goats get nervous if they think they’re by themselves for too long, we’re writing close to them from the open greenhouse that is the Schulz’s back porch. We, Luke and Emily, have been here over a month now and the third intern, Jamie, has been here for two. We’ve experienced so much, and learned so much, that it seems like we must have been here for ages… the time has gone by so quickly. In the past few days, we disc harrowed a field with horses, and planted late potatoes, beets, cilantro and lettuce. We picked buckets of wild and cultivated raspberries to freeze and make jam, and we harvested lots of vegetables from the garden with many more to come. The classes we’ve gone to are exciting, and we’ve learned skills and information we can use right here, right now, and for the rest of our lives. We’ve been preparing meals and storing food without refrigeration. (That means fermenting, cellaring, and feeding the pigs!).
Working on the Fall/Winter catalog has taken a good deal of our attention for the past few weeks, but it’s coming together. I wish my Work/Study position could be extended so that I could have the opportunity to take some of these exciting classes. There is much work and learning to be done yet in our time here. We’ll soon be harvesting and cleaning garlic, which Robert tells us is sort of like a four day social event. We’ll also continue to improve the little house on stilts where we get to live for the summer. Robert just finished the stairs and we’re almost done with the siding. There’s also ever more stone work to do, carting stones with the old horse, Debbie, to build retaining walls and greenhouse beds.
Being here is a great experience for us. The Driftless Region is brimming with skilled and knowledgeable people who are often eager to share. This catalog is a prime exhibit of many of those people, but there are yet more around. We’ve met many of these people in and outside of class, and they, like everyone, have helped us grow. It has been exciting to participate in the growth of the Folk School, an organization that we knew nothing about six months ago, but have come to believe in so fully.
—Emily Horne and Luke Gay