Stupid question

Sooooo....when you say central PA, just where are you talking? Because I might know someone who raises goats and chickens.

Seriously, if you are really central PA, check with Spiral Path Farm if you want to learn about gardening. I don't know if they actually take on volunteers but I've heard wonderful things about that farm.

Also, check out this website. http://www.pasafarming.org/employment

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Anne
Give me a sweet home set among the trees,
With friends whose words are ever kind and true.
-Phoebe Carey-

LONE PINE FARM
Barnesville, PA
Boer goats, Angora goats, Eclectic mix of poultry

I'd suggest also looking around to see if you have a permaculture group in your city. We have one here in Phoenix and it's a GREAT resource for learning about sustainable and independent living and is geared towards city dwellers (from apartments to those with acreage.)

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Ever tried? Ever failed? No Matter, try again, fail again. Fail better.

- Samuel Beckett

You could also do what I did, find out someone on here lives about 20 minutes from you, send them a PM, and then volunteer yourself (and in my case my husband and children lol) to help butcher 100 chickens sometime in the next few weeks lol. Baptism by fire, but I'm really looking forward to it!

It really depends on your location. In some areas of the country with large acreage operations your options would be different than your options in an area that has a history of dairy operations which would be different than an area where most have a day job to support a small cattle operation which would be different than an area which had lots of smaller acreage farms that might be run by hobby farmers which would be different than an area ....

My first "on the farm" experience was found in the want ads in Countryside thirty years ago. A couple needed help on a farm in PA. I was moving from MS to PA for work. I had thought about finding a farm to live at in return for help outside my normal work hours. I ended up helping out on the farm on weekends due to the distance from my work. I'm still amazed at what I learned ranging from how to artificially inseminate a goat to grabbing a sow by the tail to keep her in the barn when she's headed towards an opening is gonna be a problem when your head and shoulders come to a sudden stop up against the wall.

Talk to someone at the Farm Service Agency at the county seat if you live in an ag area. Don't look for an FSA in down town New York.

In you're in an ag area check the Farm Bureau or Grange for contacts.

If you're in the Northeast look for info on the Northeast Organic Growers Association? Ditto for the soil conservation district if they're active locally.

Talk to vendors at the closest farmers' market.

If there are no feed stores near you, you may have to look farther away.

Every state has at least one land grant college. Use their website/s in your state to see which one operates the extension service. Contact the college dept. responsible for the extension service. They will be able to steer you to a master gardener program if there is one in your area. they may also have other leads for you.

Find the closest livestock auction near you. Going on auction day might provide leads.

If you're in an area served by a farming newspaper like Lancaster Farming or Farm and Dairy, subscribe to one. That should give you plenty of ideas.

Did I say it really, really... really depends on where you live?

If we knew in what state you lived, we might have some very specific recommendations. For example here in central WV, I know a small herb operation, sort of, that might need weekend help. If you're in TN, there's a really interesting possibility depending on where you live in the state. Of course if you lived close to one of us, perhaps someone here could help.

The suggestion about checking with your nearest county ag extension agency is a really good one. I have been taking seminars and workshops from them for years, plus they do have lots of pamphlets. What about your local community college? Ours has had some wonderful courses, especially ones they did in conjunction with the forestry department. Some large organizations like the Sierra Club have local clubs. I took a course in beekeeping through a local parks and rec and then joined a bee keeping club which led to finding out about the permaculture club. I think you,ve got the right idea already, just ASK! And you will find.....

There are farmstays around, where you can take a vacation on a farm, usually in a nice cabin and watch what goes on around the farm. This usually lets you get involved as. Much as you like.

JJ; it would be a big help if we knew what area of the country, or world for that matter you are talking about. We might have members near you. Just go to "User CP" at the top of the page, then down to "Details" then down to "State" and let us know at least what state you live in. THX

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Craigslist...Farm & Garden section.

Good luck.

A club for farm kids that helps teach them farming skills, gardening, sewing, animal care, cooking, etc. Any child can enter, but it helps if they live on a farm with livestock because a lot of the projects are centered on livestock and showing livestock.

4H

Link to the site.

I know little about it we were not involved.

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We will meet in the golden city, called the New Jerusalem,
All our pain and all our tears will be no more.....

I am sure it was already mentioned but... location helps. Potatoes and rabbits are very different in CT and TX. Keep your questions specific and you get better answers.

For those of you wondering where he is located, in post #6 he mentions he is in Central PA.

__________________
Anne
Give me a sweet home set among the trees,
With friends whose words are ever kind and true.
-Phoebe Carey-

LONE PINE FARM
Barnesville, PA
Boer goats, Angora goats, Eclectic mix of poultry

I live in Central Pa about an hour north of Harrisburg near Sunbury. I wouldn't mind traveling to go help out on a farm. I'm willing to do anything.

You should check out Forks Farm outside of Bloomsburg. http://www.forksfarmmarket.com/farmersmarket.htm They have a nice little market every other Saturday where you might be able to make some connections.

__________________
Anne
Give me a sweet home set among the trees,
With friends whose words are ever kind and true.
-Phoebe Carey-

LONE PINE FARM
Barnesville, PA
Boer goats, Angora goats, Eclectic mix of poultry

Thats not far from me at all I might have to do that.