We want to be in community with you!
The Fellowship Program
Interested in farming, climate change research, and communal living through a Jewish framework? Join us at Zumwalt Acres in Sheldon, Illinois! Applications for our fall cohort are now open. Read below for a typical description of the Zumwalt Acres Fellowship.
At Zumwalt Acres, a farm “fellow” is someone who works and lives on the farm for a few months out of the year. Fellows have the opportunity to become involved with Zumwalt Acres at any level, from farm planning, event creation, artistic direction, and organizational visioning.
Zumwalt Acres is a multifaceted Jewish farm working to transition commodity-crop farmland to regenerative agriculture, while building a vibrant community. We are establishing agroforestry (growing trees for food and ecosystem services), cultivating horticulture and mushrooms, conducting climate change research, and implementing sustainable soil management practices. We work towards regeneration of the local ecosystem, climate change mitigation, providing food for our community, and creating a space where young people can collaboratively implement their vision of a hopeful future.
We are seeking self-directed folks, approximately aged 18-27 (with flexibility), to support farm operations and other organizational work for the fall 2024 farm season (August 26 - November 22).
Zumwalt Acres is a regenerative farm working to catalyze a healthier food system in the midwest. The farm focuses on applied research to mitigate climate change and promote healthy ecosystems. We also integrate traditional methods of land stewardship, particularly learning from Jewish agricultural practices and indigenous knowledge. Zumwalt Acres is located on the traditional unceded homelands of Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Potawatomi, Myaamia, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ peoples.
You can find the application here. Please contact our Fellowship Steward, Marya, at zumwaltacres@gmail.com with any questions.
Jewish Learning Experience
In addition to our hands-on learning framework, fellows will participate in weekly workshops and learning sessions on the intersection of Jewish culture, land, and tradition. By building on the act of growing food and forming relationship with the ecosystem here, fellows will deepen their connection to place and spiritual practice through a participatory educational series led by members of the ZA community, with guest educators and spiritual leaders sharing their expertise.
Topics will include: legacy of Jewish foodways, history of Jewish agriculture in the diaspora, land-based spiritual practice, engaging with Jewish tradition as a young adult, and more
Fellows will follow a weekly curriculum on Jewish agricultural tradition, foodways, and diasporic history, with certain sessions led by exciting guest educators. Fellows will also explore the creation of Jewish ritual in connection to place, with guided activities and opportunities for experimentation and co-creation of Jewish tradition, including Shabbat practice, mikveh rituals, morning prayer practice, and Jewish holiday celebration.
We are accepting applications from people of all identities, but expect that all Fellows will be open and engaged participants in this part of the program. In the application, you will have room to share why you are interested in participating in the Jewish Learning Experience component of the farm fellowship.
This program is supported in part by the Covenant Foundation.
What type of work will you be involved in?
Farm Work:
harvesting, weeding, planting, tending compost, tree care, mushroom cultivation
Marketing:
maintaining a good relationship with distributors and directly marketing products at Down at the Farms, Watseka Farmers Market, Sheldon Food Pantry (and more); carving paths for equitable food allocation
Community Building:
creating a healthy and conscientious communal living environment with other members of the house and ZA community
Community Outreach:
maintaining ZA’s connections with the Sheldon community, other farmers in the area, other food and climate justice organizations; planning community days and research field days
Imagining and implementing ideas that excite you and the community
Other Skills:
grant writing, research proposals
social media and website management
art, graphic design, music
When are the relevant dates?
Our fall term will run from August 26 - November 22
We are a working farm and August - September are our highest-producing months. We are able to work with you if you have non-negotiable conflicts at the end of August, such as the start to a semester, but we ask that you stay as long into August as you are able.
The deadline to apply is June 15. You will hear from us within 2 weeks after the deadline about next steps.
Will the positions be compensated?
We supply food and housing for everyone—all living costs are covered. In addition, fellows receive a $650/stipend. We also are happy to discuss with our fellows an equitable plan for distributing these dedicated funds according to need. We are always open to work with potential fellows to identify sources of funding (such as funding from relevant universities/scholarships/organizations/research grants).
What do the housing accommodations look like?
The farm has a beautiful house on the property that can fit up to ten people. You might be sharing a room, but you will get to enjoy the fully stocked kitchen, washer and dryer, attached greenhouse, and adjoining backyard and woodlands. We are located four miles from the center of Sheldon and a 10-15 minute drive to the closest grocery and drugstores in Kentland, Indiana and Watseka, Illinois. We are a 1.5 hour drive from Chicago.
I’m not a college student. Can I still apply?
Yes! We are looking to build a community of collaborative, intentional fellows. If you are a good fit for our work, and you are between 18 and 27 (or around there), then we want you!