2021 Internship Program

[Benjamin Weiss]

Internship Program at Susquehanna Apothecary & Urban Edge Farm 

A project of Susquehanna Sustainable Enterprises LLC 

Email herbal.app...@gmail.com to register! Do not respond to this email.

When: The program is 15 weeks long, and takes place on 2 work days per week for 6 hours per day, totaling 12 hours per week. Participants will have some flexibility to choose which days & times suit them at the beginning of the program, but must adhere to their chosen weekly schedule unless changes are agreed upon with Susquehanna Sustainable Enterprises’ (SSE) staff. The program can accommodate 3 participants at a time and there will be two full-length programs in 2021. 

• The first will run from the week of 3/21 through the week of 6/27. 

• The second will run from the week of 7/18 through the week of 10/31 with a break during the week of 9/12. 

Interviews: Two group interviews will be conducted during 2021 in order to choose suitable candidates for this program. Each interview will include a brief tour of the apothecary and the farm, and will conclude with a series of questions and a facilitated group conversation. The dates and times of the two interview sessions are as follows: 

• Sunday February 28 th 1-3pm to apply for first session 

• Sunday March 28th 1-3pm to apply for second session 

Where: At Susquehanna Apothecary: 223B W. Walnut St. (in the rear, up the metal staircase) Lancaster, PA 17603 

And at Urban Edge Farm: 117 Reedy Ln. Lancaster, PA 17603 Program

Content: This is a professional internship. Participants will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner as though they are an employee of SSE. Participants will experience the daily processes of the farm and apothecary. Activities at the apothecary will include making herbal extracts and dietary supplements such as tinctures, glycerites, salves, essential oils, powders, and capsules, as well as foraging and processing of raw herbs. 

This program does not focus on clinical herbalism, nor the treatment of clients/patients. The focus is on medicine-making and professional herbalism. Participants will also be expected to participate in tasks such as record keeping, customer relations, cleaning, filling and shipping orders, etc. 

Activities at the farm will include the daily process of working with agroforestry systems and techniques such as forest gardening with native riparian tree crops, beekeeping, biochar and compost production, as well as production of medicinal herbs for use by the apothecary, and growing vegetables. Participants will also be expected to participate in tasks such as weeding, tool maintenance, mulching, and maintenance and repair of farm infrastructure such as fences, irrigation, and other equipment. 

Participants will also occasionally be invited to join in foraging excursions for the purpose of harvesting wild plants. 

Facilitators: The program will be overseen by Benjamin Weiss (owner of SSE), Ella Usdin (apothecary manager), as well as other SSE staff. 

Compensation: We do not offer a cash stipend for this program. Here’s what we do offer: 

• Free tuition to all of our classes and workshops for a year, starting at the beginning date of your program (some restrictions may apply) 

• $250 of free herbal products per month from the apothecary 

• Produce from the farm, as available 

• Foraged foods, herbs, and mushrooms, as available 

• A certificate of completion and a professional reference 

Housing: We do not offer housing but may be able to assist you in finding a suitable place to stay during your internship if you are from out of town.

Reviews: After the first month of the program, participants will meet with SSE staff to review their experience. This first month will serve as a trial period. If at this time, the participant or SSE staff are dissatisfied with the outcomes of the program, the internship may be ended. If the participant is invited to remain for the further 3 months of the program, they will be expected to complete it as scheduled. Further reviews, for the purpose of providing useful feedback about the participant’s experience, may be conducted each month of the program. 

Preparation: Participants should be healthy and well-rested when they come to the apothecary or the farm. Participants should notify their instructor and cancel their workday if they have any contagious illness including a cold. Participants will be granted a 30 minute break during each 6-hour session, and should provide their own meals. At the apothecary, the following cleanliness and hygiene standards must be maintained: 

• Masks are mandatory at the apothecary except while eating lunch! Participants should supply their own mask. 

• A pair of shoes, to be used only at the apothecary, must be kept there and worn at all times during work hours at the apothecary. The soles of these shoes should be thoroughly cleaned before use at the apothecary, and should never be worn outside. 

• Long hair must be tied up 

• Clothing must be clean 

• Gloves must be worn while handling plant matter and product ingredients 

• Personal belongings, including cell phones, must be kept out of the kitchen. 

At the farm, or on foraging excursions participants must bring: 

• Drinking water 

• Lunch 

• Work boots 

• Clothing for varying outdoor temperatures 

• Clothing that can get dirty 

And the following are strongly recommended: 

• A sun hat 

• Sun screen 

• Rain gear 

• Bug spray 

Participants must notify their instructor before the start of the program of any serious allergies including to bee-stings.   

Email herbal.app...@gmail.com to register!  Do not respond to this email.