For experiences in Apprenticeship from the Apprentices Perspective, click here

Apprenticeships at La Paix
(photos on this page are of some of the apprentices at La Paix from 2000 - 2005.)

1.  Your apprenticeship begins with your inquiry.  (email link below)

2.  I send you an application (see below) or you can print it off this web site. 

3.  When I receive the filled out application from you, if we both want to continue, we make an appointment for you to visit La Paix.  If this is impossible for you, I ask that you make a video and respond to specific questions I have for you and ask any questions you may have for me. 

4.  When this is successful for both of us, the next step is for each of us to write a contract of our expectations of one another.  For
instance, one of my apprentices, Helen, wanted to learn how to make herbal wine.  Another, Judith, wanted to learn to cook.  Yuri (from Japan) wanted to learn to grow and use  American tea herbs and design a Tea Garden.  Her goal was to realize her dream of running a business in Osaka, Japan as a one family B & B with gardens full of potted plants for sale and a Restaurant serving teas. See http://www.cocoronet.net/  for her web site - the realization of her dream!  Field trips have also been arranged to W. V. Herb Association events and to the WVU Transitional Farm.  If the expectation list is agreeable to both, dates and times of the apprenticeship are arranged. 

5.  If at any time during the apprenticeship, one or both of us want to discuss modification of our agreements, this is open for discussion and mutually agreed upon  changes can be made.

Helen Caldwell, (2002) another WV Wesleyan College graduate in Environmental Science.  Helen visits often, last in June 2006 to help with and photograph the Lavender Fair. 

Usually, the apprentice lives in either:  an efficiency apartment above the root cellar or a two room bed and library above the kitchen in the log cabin.  I furnish all the food during the apprentice's stay.  Breakfast is on your own, sometimes lunch and always dinner is shared.  If the apprentice can cook, that is great and every other dinner is cooked by the apprentice.  Weather permitting, dinner is usually eaten outdoors under one of the umbrellas dotting the yard. 

Both U. of Pittsburgh and West Virginia Wes-
leyan College have approved apprenticeships
at La Paix for college credits.  La Paix's steward is active in both the WV Environmental Council, the WV Herb Association and is President of the Mountain State Dowsers.  These contacts have been educational for the apprentices and provide a diversified experience.  Varied tasks at La Paix give the apprentice a wide spectrum of herbal activities including propagating, cultivation and harvesting of organic herbs and vegetables, gathering edible wild mushrooms and greens, working in the shop, helping to design workshops, planning and conducting Fairs, marketing, web design and distillation of herbs and more.

Apprentice photos: left of page title:  Judith Vojik and Dave Nicholson, WV Wesleyan College, right of page title:  Kate Walsh, who earned college credits from U. of Pittsburgh toward her degree in Environmental Education. She poses in the parlor at La Paix with her friend Erin  who was subsequently  a volunteer at the Lavender Fairs 2003 & 2004.

Photo of Satellite Dish Pavilion Building:  Judith, who graduated from WVWC in Environmental Science, Dale Coyle, WVWC graduate. 

Kate Walsh (Apprentice 2001)poses with Helen (apprentice 2002) while visiting La Paix again in 2002.  

Judith Vojik, Apprentice 2000 from WVWC visits La Paix at least annually since then.  Here she poses by an abandoned hand cut stone chimney in a meadow on Crooked Run.  2004.

     Yuri Kuramoto, from Osaka Japan. 

Sheena Sandhu, apprentice New Delhi India 2005.

La Paix Herb Farm

3052 Crooked Run Rd. , Alum Bridge , W.V. 26321

  Apprenticeship Application

  Name:

Age:

M/F:

Address:

  Phone:

Best Time to Call:

email address:

How did you hear about the La Paix Apprenticeship Program?

During what time period are you available to apprentice?

Are you seeking in-depth organic agriculture raining, or are you looking for an interesting summer job?

Describe the type of farm experience and skills in which you are most interested, mentioning at least three specific areas of interest

Is your interest primarily in working on an organic farm, or are you seeking farm experience first and training in organic methods second?

What are your goals in becoming a farm apprentice?  Afterwards?

What do you expect will be your reaction to living and learning with new and unknown people in a rural area?

Please list the schools you have attended, degrees and/or major areas of study or training:

Provide a brief list of your work experience, both paid and volunteer:

Is the receipt of a modest stipend crucial to your ability to become an apprentice?

  Explain:

Will you be able to make a visit to the farm ?  If you cannot visit, would you be able to make a video presentation answering some questions which I will send to you?

Please comment on the following and add any other considerations that are important to you:

Smoker_______Non-smoker_____

Diet (Vegetarian?  Other?)

Do you have transportation?

Medical: 

Are you taking any medication?  Yes    No  If yes, what?

Any physical limitation?  Yes   No  If Yes, what?

Allergies?  Yes   No  If Yes, what?

Emotional/psychological problems?  Yes   No  If Yes, what?

Other Considerations?

Special Interests:

Strong ideological views (political, religious, feminist, etc.):

Please list three interesting things about yourself:

Please list three things you want people to know about living with you:

References:  Name,  Address, Phone Number,  Email

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Please feel free to send me your own questions about me and La Paix.  Thanks

Myra Bonhage-Hale, Steward of La Paix Herb Farm email me