AIMS

Last Updated On: May 7th, 2026 at 07:36PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
120 Prairie Sky Ln.
Burnsville, North Carolina, 28714

Primary Contact: Jim Veteto
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 828-536-0338
    Email: jrveteto@gmail.com

Website: https://aimsnc.wixsite.com/aims

Internship information

General Farm Description: Appalachian and Cherokee Traditional Environmental Knowledge/heirloom seedbank/Southern Seed Legacy/ethnobotany/Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies/agricultural anthropology/rock-terrace Tea Garden/antique apple orchard/continuous farmstead and orchard since 1800s/27 of the most biodiverse acres in temperate North America/foraging/conservation biology/food preservation/off-grid piney hut/100 year-old Chestnut home/nice barn/medicinal herbs/apothecary/voluminous ethnobotanical library/subsistence living/old-time country values/14000-year Cherokee cultural site/old-growth trees/clean water–18 springs 3 creeks/incredible insect lichen salamander moss diversity/over 1500 plant species/ethnobotanical sanctuary

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 1-Apr-24
Internship Ends: 31-Oct-24
Number of Internship Available: 4
Application Deadline: open until filled, potential for joining during the season as positions become available
Minimum Length of Stay: 1 month

Internship Details:

25 hours of work a week (5 hours a day), the rest of the time is available for exploring the beautiful South Toe Valley (the South Toe is the cleanest river in NC). A mix of tending annual vegetable, perennial medicinal and food gardens, fruit forest orchard, tea garden, flower garden. The internship can be more focused on any of these specific areas of the project if you have a special interest or outside skills you would like to apply and hone (carpentry or natural building, for example). Looking for 4 interns this season, typically as part of an intensives centered on Spring (April 1st-May 31st), Summer (June 1st-August 31st) and Fall (September 1st-October 31st). You can sign up for one or multiple intensives and can roll one into another to stay the whole gardening season or beyond if it is a good fit and this is the most compelling thing you can see yourself doing for a bit. I try to give as much clear instruction and teaching as possible, without being a micromanager. I indeed dislike micromanaging, so I am looking for self-motivated, independent, capable people, who can also work well in a group and are into creating a relaxed social setting where people feel free to be themselves without intruding on others right to do so. Our work environment is relaxed, capable, and respectful.

Educational Opportunities: You will be interning with Dr. Jim Veteto, an internationally and regionally recognized leading expert in environmental anthropology, ethnobotany, agroecology, Appalachian and Cherokee Studies. You will increase your knowledge in foraging, plant id, gardening, seed-saving, holistic orcharding, and all-around earthskills.

Skills Desired: Basic gardening and outdoors skill a plus, or experience working with plants in different capacities. Good work ethic, willingness to learn, and positive attitude. Also desiring someone with natural building skills & carpentry skills. Minimum one season of gardening or several years of carpentry experience.

Meals: Basic staples (grains, beans, etc) are provided along with whatever can be foraged and harvested from the gardens. Independent intern cooking space is available.

Stipend: no

Housing: We have a nice, dry upstairs barn space that houses 1-2 immersion participants, an Appalachian home that can house 2 people, several parking spaces for vans/small campers, and plentiful camping.

Preferred method of Contact: email with resume and then follow-up phone call if mutual interest is established