Internships

Join us in 2024!

We have several internship opportunities opening up for the first part of 2024. Read below to learn more and send an email to mack@metamimicry.com if interested. Apply by December 22 with notifications by January 6.

Position: Mushroom Cultivation for Food Sovereignty Intern

8-10 hrs/week, 2 days/week (flexible scheduling)

Willing to support work-study students

January-March 2024 (with opportunity to extend longer term)

Position Overview:

We are seeking a curious individual to support mushroom cultivation processes at the SPoRE. Working alone and with others, this position will focus on substrate preparation and inoculation. This hands-on work is dynamic in nature: some days will be spent mixing raw substrate and pasteurizing in large batches outdoors, others preparing petri dishes, and still others will focus on clean lab work. Successful applicants will demonstrate an awareness of & interest in supporting Indigenous food sovereignty. 

 

Responsibilities: 

  • Prepare a variety of substrates for pasteurization, including waste substrates (such as spent coffee grounds)

  • Perform culturing and inoculation activities

  • Maintain fruiting area

  • Harvest mushrooms both indoor and outdoor

Learning Objectives:

  • Understanding cultivation techniques at a small-scale mushroom farm

  • Add to the growing collection of knowledge for the utility of “waste” substrate alternatives in mushroom cultivation

  • Develop a broader understanding of Indigenous food systems

Required Qualifications:

  • Ability to lift 50 pounds

  • Reliable transportation to and from Salish Roots Farm 

  • Ability to work as a team and independently

  • Ability to learn or practice aseptic techniques (clean lab techniques)

Ideal Qualifications: 

  • Familiarity with food sovereignty

  • Knowledge of mushroom cultivation or reproduction

  • Squaxin Island Tribal member or descendent

  • Experience working in an indigenous community

Position: Mushroom Processing for Food Sovereignty Intern

8-10 hrs/week, 2 days/week (flexible scheduling)

Willing to support work-study students

January-March 2024 (with opportunity to extend longer term)

Position Overview:

We are seeking a curious individual to support mushroom processing at the SPoRE. Working alone and with others, this position will focus on turning grown and foraged mushrooms into distributable items, including tea blends, soup packs, and extracts, to bolster the food sovereignty program at the Salish Roots Farm. This position is dynamic: some days will be spent researching methods and recipes, writing up instructions or making labels, and other days will be spent processing and blending, or distributing to the community. Successful applicants will demonstrate an awareness of & interest in supporting Indigenous food sovereignty. 

 

Responsibilities: 

  • Prepare medicinal and culinary mushrooms in a variety of ways for distribution

  • Maintain a clean workspace and clean equipment

  • Harvest mushrooms both indoor and outdoor

  • Research methods of preserving, extracting, and preparing mushrooms

  • Write instructions, recipes, info cards, and labels

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand growing cycles and harvesting practices of wild and cultivated mushrooms

  • Develop practical knowledge of uses and preparations of common mushrooms

  • Develop a broader understanding of Indigenous food systems

Required Qualifications:

  • Ability to lift 20 pounds

  • Reliable transportation to and from Salish Roots Farm 

  • Ability to work as a team and independently

  • Ability to research, write, and follow instructions & recipes

Ideal Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with food sovereignty
  • Knowledge of herbalism and/or uses of mushrooms

  • Squaxin Island Tribal member or descendent

  • Experience working in an Indigenous community