FEBRUARY 2025 THEME: INTERNSHIPS & APPRENTICESHIPS
Carrying on the theme of community from January, we can’t help but think about the interns and apprentices who make up such a vibrant part of the Spannocchia residential community each year. While the agriturismo closes for the winter months, putting a pause on our educational groups and regular guests, we host some mix of interns and apprentices year-round—there truly isn’t a single day that goes by at Spannocchia without at least a few of them on-site, reminding us of the power of community and of our educational mission.
Interns and apprentices participate in our programs to learn more about regenerative agriculture, food traditions, and environmental issues, but the experience is so much richer. For one, the education is multifaceted, and we encourage everyone to consider themself both a learner and a teacher throughout their program (ourselves included!). Participants come to Spannocchia with their own passions, interests, and expertise, and—in both organic and more structured ways—we support educational exchange and learning from one another (and we love how much they teach us!). Beyond this, interns and apprentices live together in a shared house, and enjoy meals not only with each other but also with other guests and educational program participants. This structure increases belonging, inclusion, informal learning, lifelong friendships, and connections—in other words, community.
The Internship and Apprenticeship programs are key to our mission and why Spannocchia exists as an educational agricultural and cultural center, as opposed to simply a small farm or an agriturismo. The next time you are at Spannocchia, please take the time to speak with these valuable members of our community. We guarantee you will learn something!
FARM INTERNSHIP
Spannocchia’s farm internship program is dedicated to enriching the lives of participants by providing them with a unique educational experience on our organic regenerative farm. Through involvement in the daily operations of Spannocchia as well as additional enrichment activities, interns learn about regenerative farming and animal care, conservation, maintenance and restoration, Italian language, and local cultural history.
This program started in the 1990s, formalized with the establishment of the Spannocchia Foundation (now Friends of Spannocchia) in 2002, and—with the exception of a forced hiatus during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021—has been running ever since. That's over 500 interns and counting! For three 3-month sessions each growing season (spring, summer, and fall), eight interns from all over the world come together at Spannocchia. Many of our farm interns go on to have fulfilling careers in the sustainable farming, food, or environmental fields. An overwhelming majority appreciate the opportunity to explore specific career paths during their internship, while also reporting on the experience’s impact on their individual commitments to more sustainable living. Read more about our internship program here.
BUTCHER & CULINARY APPRENTICESHIPS
Spannocchia believes that the artisanal traditions of Tuscany can be preserved by providing learning opportunities for the next generation. We offer two unique hands-on apprenticeship programs for people interested in learning the art of Italian salumi production or enhancing their culinary skills in a farm-to-table Tuscan restaurant. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff share their expertise and provide apprentices with an informal, intensive training. These immersive programs give participants practical experience and allow them to explore a unique career opportunity in a gorgeous and historic setting.
The Butcher Apprenticeship runs each year from September to May, accepting eight participants throughout that period, while our Culinary Apprenticeship has just two spots between May to October. Like interns, apprentices see the fruits of their labor enjoyed by guests, program participants, other residents, and—in the case of salumi, made by our talented butcher and butcher apprentices—even Spannocchia’s broader, regional community. This acts as a regular reminder of how honoring artisanal traditions can enrich the cultural and culinary experiences of so many. For more about these two programs, please click here.
WINTER FARM VOLUNTEERS
A much smaller program—but one still vitally important to the Spannocchia community—is our Winter Farm Volunteer program, whose participants are affectionately known as our “Winterns.” A few winterns join us at Spannocchia for the quiet winter months, and help keep the farm running smoothly while learning through hands-on experiences with our farm and association staff. Anyone who has spent time on a farm in the off-season can appreciate that there is still much work to be done—and with that comes countless informal opportunities for learning. Read more about the Winter Farm Volunteer Program, and other volunteer opportunities, here.