Songaia Community Garden:
Regenerative Gardening Internship
What is the Songaia Regenerative Gardening Internship?
Since 2012, the Songaia Community has hosted interns from across the world in our Regenerative Gardening Internship. Interns experiment with regenerative practices through the daily work of tending the Songaia Community Garden with a permaculture approach. This internship is distinct from other opportunities because our learning happens within the context of a 25-year-old intentional community. As a garden intern, you’d be participating in our longstanding community meals program, which is a keystone of Songaia’s sustainability and longevity.
Regenerative Gardening Internship
What is the Songaia Regenerative Gardening Internship?
Since 2012, the Songaia Community has hosted interns from across the world in our Regenerative Gardening Internship. Interns experiment with regenerative practices through the daily work of tending the Songaia Community Garden with a permaculture approach. This internship is distinct from other opportunities because our learning happens within the context of a 25-year-old intentional community. As a garden intern, you’d be participating in our longstanding community meals program, which is a keystone of Songaia’s sustainability and longevity.
"Working alongside the community, I have observed the communal decision-making process, how properties and resources are shared, how housework is divided among the community, and most importantly, the reduced ecological footprint that comes from sharing and saving all these resources. Following the permaculture principles, Songaia uses and values their renewable resources by composting, vermiculture, and regenerative agriculture practices. Nothing goes to waste here.
By working together, pooling our resources, and practicing regenerative agriculture, we can all enjoy the fruits of our labors. We got to celebrate the nearing end of summer season with a Songaia jamboree complete with ice breaker games, songs, and a picnic style potluck. What a wonderful way to honor the end of the season and welcome in the fall! " -Sasha Lanham, 2024 Intern
What is Songaia?
Songaia Cohousing Community is an intentional community located on Coast Salish land (Sammamish, Snoqualamie, Snohomish) in Bothell, Washington. First imagined over 25 years ago, Songaia is now a community of over 45 residents living in 20 residences on 5 contiguous properties. As an intergenerational community, with members ranging from 6 to 85 years old, we work together to care for 14 acres of gardens, orchards, forest, and common facilities.
Sharing responsibilities and resources allows us to do much more together than we could separately,
pooling our energy to create more sustainable systems.
Songaia Cohousing Community is an intentional community located on Coast Salish land (Sammamish, Snoqualamie, Snohomish) in Bothell, Washington. First imagined over 25 years ago, Songaia is now a community of over 45 residents living in 20 residences on 5 contiguous properties. As an intergenerational community, with members ranging from 6 to 85 years old, we work together to care for 14 acres of gardens, orchards, forest, and common facilities.
Sharing responsibilities and resources allows us to do much more together than we could separately,
pooling our energy to create more sustainable systems.
"I envision Songaia kind of at the peak of the transition state, between the individualism of the mainstream way of living and the full potential of established community living. This full potential may not be possible in our current economy, maybe not even until we change the broader culture of judgment and blame and competition that is so at odds with our striving towards togetherness.But the fact that this community has thrived so well in the midst of “currently existing capitalism” is to me a great source of hope for what is possible."
-Reuben Szabo, 2021 intern
2022 Interns learn to make currant jam
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Summer 2023 Interns and Garden Mentors prepare for daily harvest
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Is this internship right for you?
In this program we learn to work with the land through a “permaculture lens”-- integrating Indigenous science with new regenerative scientific innovation. Our ongoing intention is to keep learning how we can re-integrate human systems into the ecologies upon which we all depend, restoring a relationship of reciprocity with the land rather than one of exploitation and extraction.
This internship focuses primarily on learning to grow, harvest, preserve, and share food and seed in a way that enhances local ecologies and builds human community. This is practiced through the daily work of tending the Songaia community garden and orchards.
Check out the blogs from former interns for examples of people’s experiences.
Interns who are part of a college program relating to this field have received college credit for participating in this program. Ask your advisor or school internship coordinator if you’re interested in this possibility.
In this program we learn to work with the land through a “permaculture lens”-- integrating Indigenous science with new regenerative scientific innovation. Our ongoing intention is to keep learning how we can re-integrate human systems into the ecologies upon which we all depend, restoring a relationship of reciprocity with the land rather than one of exploitation and extraction.
This internship focuses primarily on learning to grow, harvest, preserve, and share food and seed in a way that enhances local ecologies and builds human community. This is practiced through the daily work of tending the Songaia community garden and orchards.
Check out the blogs from former interns for examples of people’s experiences.
Interns who are part of a college program relating to this field have received college credit for participating in this program. Ask your advisor or school internship coordinator if you’re interested in this possibility.
"The interns usually start our mornings in the Garden harvesting. It has been so cool to be able to see all the changes in the garden. These (zucchini, green beans, tomatoes and potatoes) are most of the main vegetables we harvest every morning! I really enjoy digging for potatoes, it feels like I’m digging for gold. I’m amazed by how many beans the rows are able to make. Almost every day we collect a huge bowl full of them!
I find myself becoming more present when I harvest. I can’t help but be amazed by its calming beauty, and fresh herbal scents.
The Garden truly feels like a magical place."
-Joanna Dacri, 2023 intern
Summer 2018 interns and Community members eat a fresh garden lunch together (from left: Adriel Crowell, Bekah Guenther, Laura Clinch, Helen Gabel, Elizabeth Dequine, Larry Walton, Armando Martinez, MistyDawn Forrester, Oluwa Jackson, Selina Maxfield)
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2023 interns and community members learn about seed saving
2021 intern Reuben, volunteer Amina, and mentor Laura harvest grapes
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Basic Logistics:
- The Regenerative Gardening Internship at Songaia runs from the 1st of May through the 31st of October.
- Interns work and learn with the Garden Steward, other Garden Mentors, and community volunteers
- Residential and Non-residential positions are available
- Internship hours are 7am to 1pm, Tuesday through Saturday. We end our day with a shared lunch, which we cook together
- Two days per week, Sunday and Monday, will remain unscheduled
- All basic food is provided through our community meals program
- Residential Interns have lodging in microshelters in the Songaia forest (See photos)
- Laundry, wifi, a shared kitchen, showers, and other amenities are available in the Community Common House.
Inquire through the form below for more information!
"Reflecting on these past four weeks my time here at Songaia has already been more than I could have imagined.
Not only have I learned so much about how to grow food and how to do it in a resilient manner,
but I have felt a sort of peace since being here that has slowed me to become more confident in myself…."
-Izzy DeGreen, 2023 Intern
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One of our forest microshelters that serve as lodging for garden interns and wwoofers
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