Verdant Acres llc

Last Updated On: May 7th, 2026 at 07:37PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
34 Beard Rd
Raphine, Virginia, 24472

Primary Contact: John Pedersen
Secondary Contact: Mary

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 5404804711
    Email: info@verdantacresfarm.com

Secondary Phone
    Type: Cell
    Number: 5404804710
    Email: jpedersenjr@gmail.com

    Email: jpedersenjr@gmail.com

Website: https://www.verdantacresfarm.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Verdant Acres farm is focused on regenerating the 200 acres that we call home. We are passionate about all life above and below the ground and make management decisions that improve those communities. We strive for the highest animal welfare which means raising animals in a way that mimics their natural environment. Our farm owners were trained and mentored by Joel Salatin at Polyface Farm and Will Harris at White Oak Pastures where they managed satellite farms and the operation of multiple enterprises. We practice holistic farm management and are enrolled in Savory Institutes Ecological Outcome Verification program. You can learn more about us and the farm at www.verdantacresfarm.com. Verdant Acres is currently offering an on-farm training / internship program for two individuals who are interested in regenerative farming and building their farming skills. At Verdant Acres you will be trained in the following enterprises and skills: Grass-fed Cattle production Grass-fed Sheep production Grass-fed Goat production Pastured Hog production Red meat processing Pastured poultry production Poultry processing Egg processing Vegetable production Composting Carpentry Machinery mechanics Farm infrastructure installation and upkeep Farm administration Farm marketing Holistic management Silvopasture planning and development The level of learning and training is limited only by the amount of interest and initiative you put into the program. The program requires a 7 month commitment from April 1st - October 31st with the opportunity to receive a full time employment offer once completed. You will be working with one of the farm owners 5 or 6 days per week from sunrise until dusk. You will be a part of weekly production meetings You will receive monthly progress meetings When you come to the farm you will become an integral part of the farm family and will be treated as such. Verdant Acres will supply the following compensation. One bedroom, one full bath apartment within the main house but with a separate entrance. You will share your living quarters with one other farmer in training. Shared kitchen and laundry room in main house. Utilities and internet included. One “family style” meal per day Access to farm larder (vegetables and meats) for your personal consumption $1,250 per month for the duration of the training/internship program As a farmer in training we expect the following from you. Loyalty and Respect for our family, farm, animals, patrons, equipment and tools. Service minded, always be thinking of ways to serve and help make everyone else have an easier day. If you see something that needs doing, just do it. Follow our leadership first, there are many ways to accomplish goals but we ask that you learn our way first. Master it and be as efficient as possible. Order and Cleanliness, everything has its place. Put things back where you found them and pick up things that are out of place. Situational Awareness, see the task at hand and take the initiative to be one step ahead of everyone else. Always be on the lookout for potential problems or dangers. Hard work, every job is essential, they all have to be done and some are more enjoyable than others. We will not ask you to do something that we don’t do or haven’t done a thousand times. Take Responsibility, no excuses. Errors and mistakes are inevitable: It doesn’t matter who, what, where or why they occur bad outcomes and situations just need to be fixed or handled. Kindness,Happiness and Joy, find it in everything you do. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows but there is always a silver lining. We find that our farm works well only when everyone follows these tenets. We will work hard to give you clear and fair feedback but will ask our farmers in training / interns who continue to not adopt these tenets to leave the program. Depending on where you are coming from, expect a lifestyle transition. We are 30 minutes from a grocery store and there are no stop lights on the way there. Be prepared to wake up early (5:00am) and be physically active all day. We socialize while we are working side by side, not on our phones. There will be down time in the evenings but if you are making the most of the opportunity and working hard the only thing you will be interested in is sleep. We are very passionate about what we do and we take our farm and vision very seriously. So, be prepared to see our passion and our vision unfold while you are with us. If you would like to pursue this opportunity please email us at info@verdantacresfarm.com with “Farmer Training” in the subject line. We will send you a questionnaire to fill out which will begin the interview process. After we review all of the received questionnaires we will contact successful candidates to schedule an online virtual interview and an on-farm work day.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 1-Apr-22
Internship Ends: 31-Oct-22
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: 3/21/2022
Minimum Length of Stay: 7 months

Internship Details:

As a farmer in training we expect the following from you.

Loyalty and Respect for our family, farm, animals, patrons, equipment and tools.
Service minded, always be thinking of ways to serve and help make everyone else have an easier day. If you see something that needs doing, just do it.
Follow our leadership first, there are many ways to accomplish goals but we ask that you learn our way first. Master it and be as efficient as possible.
Order and Cleanliness, everything has its place. Put things back where you found them and pick up things that are out of place.
Situational Awareness, see the task at hand and take the initiative to be one step ahead of everyone else. Always be on the lookout for potential problems or dangers.
Hard work, every job is essential, they all have to be done and some are more enjoyable than others. We will not ask you to do something that we don’t do or haven’t done a thousand times.
Take Responsibility, no excuses. Errors and mistakes are inevitable: It doesn’t matter who, what, where or why they occur bad outcomes and situations just need to be fixed or handled.
Kindness,Happiness and Joy, find it in everything you do. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows but there is always a silver lining.

Educational Opportunities: At Verdant Acres you will be trained in the following enterprises and skills: Grass-fed Cattle production Grass-fed Sheep production Grass-fed Goat production Pastured Hog production Red meat processing Pastured poultry production Poultry processing Egg processing Vegetable production Composting Carpentry Machinery mechanics Farm infrastructure installation and upkeep Farm administration Farm marketing Holistic management Silvopasture planning and development The level of learning and training is limited only by the amount of interest and initiative you put into the program.

Skills Desired: Yes

Meals: Yes

Stipend: Yes

Housing: Yes

Preferred method of Contact: email