Beginning in 2020, the Cikananga Wildlife Centre – Yayasan Cikananga Konservasi Terpadu (YCKT) started a sustainability program with a focus on food production. Currently, the centres farm includes two growing areas, with a third currently in development, totalling roughly 2 acres/0.8 hectare. Cikananga’s farm is a diversified organic farm, including coffee and fruit production. The vegetable operation, coming into its fourth year of production, supplies high-quality organic vegetables and fruits to the animals of YCKT. It is being developed on land previously used for rice production with a greenhouse and compost building. We practice minimal-soil disturbance methods, focusing on soil health and composting.
We are looking for interns and volunteers interested in learning about tropical organic/regenerative food production and soil restoration. You will become an important part of our small farm team. The candidate will need to be prepared to assist with all aspects of growing organic vegetables and fruits using hand tools alone. We seek someone who is self-motivated, enthusiastic, and positive. The position may require working in other areas of the centre and on work other than on the farm, for example, assisting the Keepers with animal care. This position is suited to all levels of ability as you will learn as you go with the assistance of the Sustainability Program Manager and Assistant Farm Manager.
The Farm Intern/Vol will work as a member of our small farm team, taking direction and working alongside our Sustainability Program Manager and Assistant Farm Manager in all aspects of production, from seed to harvest, with the addition of farm improvement projects, including but not limited to water pump installation and the building of farm structures. All activities will be done with the supervision of Cikananga staff who are Bahasa Indonesia and / or English and / or Dutch speaking.
The farm team works 6 days a week starting at 07:00 and finishing at 16:00 with lunch between 11:30 – 13:00. Due to the physical nature of the farm, when required the farm team takes additional short breaks, normally at 09:00, 11:00 and 15:30.
Duties
· Propagation, pricking out, transplanting, planting
· Weeding
· Watering
· Greenhouse management and maintenance
· Harvesting and post-harvest handling
· Soil cultivation and composting
· Pruning
· Compliance with Organic growing standards
COMPETENCIES
· Effective communicator who is professional and collegial
· Capable of both working alone and, as part of a team
· Ability to do basic DIY
· Ability to use/maintain garden tools
· Experience in farm/coffee/fruit production work a bonus, but not required
We are open to either vocational, Bachelor or Master students for conservation, organic/biodynamic/permaculture agriculture, ecology or similar studies with a genuine interest in food production and animal welfare. The Cikananga Team has extensive experience with tutoring students, and we hope you can help us improve our farming practices and production goals. We are able to support independent research projects (topic examples: integrated pest management, thermophilic compost production).
To get the best from this program, we suggest that you stay for a minimum of 2 weeks. Consideration will be given to local (Indonesian) applicants who wish to stay for 1 week. For more information, questions, or to apply, email wanicare.volunteering@gmail.com with a motivation letter and CV.
For information about our wildlife and veterinary internships, please click on the main internships menu.
