SUSTAINABLE FARMING INTERNSHIP

Maximum Intake

4 interns

Minimum Age

18 years old

Accommodation

Single-sex dormitories with private partitioned areas

Nearest Airport

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK)

Meals

Cooked lunch and dinner included

Transportation

Airport transfers available for a fee

Grow food for rescued wildlife on a regenerative farm in Java

In the rainforest foothills of West Java, over 400 rescued wild animals depend on a daily supply of high-quality, organic food. Behind that supply is a diversified working farm. This internship places you at the heart of that operation, applying regenerative agriculture principles in a tropical setting while contributing directly to the welfare of gibbons, orangutans, sun bears, and dozens of other rescued Indonesian species.

Duties & Responsibilities

The farm operates six days a week and the work is physical, varied, and grounded in real agroecological practice. From greenhouse management to agroforestry, composting to fruit tree cultivation, every task connects directly to the wellbeing of the animals the centre cares for. Field research threads through the practical work too, with monitoring of soil health, biodiversity, and integrated pest management all part of the picture.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Seed propagation and transplanting — growing crops from seed and managing the transition to field planting
  • Greenhouse management — maintaining growing conditions and crop health across greenhouse facilities
  • Compost production — producing and managing compost systems that feed the farm’s soil health programme
  • Soil cultivation and mulching — preparing and maintaining productive, healthy growing beds
  • Harvesting — gathering produce for daily use in the animal feeding programme
  • Fruit tree and agroforestry management — tending established trees and contributing to long-term agroforestry planning
  • Field research and monitoring — collecting data on soil health, biodiversity, and integrated pest management to support ongoing research
  • Farm maintenance — general upkeep of tools, facilities, and growing areas
  • Education activities — participating in demonstrations and outreach at the centre
  • Animal husbandry (optional) — for those interested, there is the opportunity to assist with animal care and enrichment alongside the conservation team

Dates & Prices

This internship runs year-round with a minimum stay of 2 weeks,

420

2 weeks

750

4 weeks

Includes

  • Dormitory accommodation with private partitioned area
  • Cooked vegetarian lunch and dinner daily
  • Laundry service and daily cleaning
  • On-site mentoring
  • Certificate of completion and reference upon request

 

Not included:

  • Flights
  • Personal travel insurance (essential)
  • Airport transfers (£80 each way)
  • Indonesian Volunteer visa (£150)
  • Breakfast, snacks, and personal drinks
  • Vaccinations

Academic Credits & learning Outcomes

This internship offers hands-on experience in tropical regenerative agriculture within a functioning conservation setting — a combination that is genuinely rare and increasingly valued across the environmental, agricultural, and food systems sectors.

By the end of your placement you’ll have gained experience in:

  • Tropical regenerative agriculture — practical proficiency across the full growing cycle in a high-altitude rainforest farm environment
  • Sustainable food production — understanding how agroecological principles translate into daily farm management decisions
  • Soil health and integrated pest management — field monitoring and data collection in a live research context
  • Agroforestry — contributing to long-term tree crop systems that support both food production and biodiversity
  • Compost and soil systems — hands-on management of composting cycles that underpin the farm’s fertility programme
  • Field research and data collection — developing project management and monitoring skills applicable across agricultural and conservation careers
  • Conservation agriculture — understanding how food production and wildlife welfare intersect in a sanctuary setting
  • Professional network building — connecting with conservationists, agronomists, and environmental professionals working across Java and beyond

On successful completion, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and a reference upon request to support your CV and career development. Please note that publishing research data externally requires government approval, and no budget is allocated for individual projects interns work within existing resources.

Requirements & Qualifications

This internship is open to anyone with a genuine interest in regenerative agriculture, sustainability, or conservation, from vocational students to postgraduate researchers. What matters most is a willingness to do physical work, learn on the job, and engage seriously with tropical farming practice.

You’ll need:

  • A background or current studies in agriculture, horticulture, agroforestry, conservation, or ecology — vocational, undergraduate, and research level applicants are all welcome
  • The ability to communicate in English, Bahasa Indonesia, or Dutch
  • Ability to use and maintain basic garden hand tools
  • Physical fitness for demanding outdoor work in a tropical climate
  • Basic DIY skills and field research experience are a useful advantage
  • A motivated, professional attitude in a multicultural working environment
  • Recommended vaccinations: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, and Rabies. A negative TB test is additionally required for those participating in the optional animal husbandry activities

About This Project

The farm is based in a rural village near Sukabumi in West Java, 800 metres above sea level in a high-altitude rainforest setting. Six natural waterfalls, some reaching above 100 metres, cut through the surrounding landscape.

Days off offer plenty to explore: swim beneath the waterfalls, navigate a 1,500-metre cave with professional guides, tour the local tea plantations, or take a trip to the historic cities of Bogor or Bandung. Javanese cooking lessons are also available for those who want to deepen their connection with local food culture.

Accommodation is in single-sex dormitories with bunk beds, mattresses, pillows, and blankets provided. Shower facilities are Indonesian cold-water style, with Western or local toilet options available. The communal space looks out over the rice fields and comes with hammocks, darts, and cards, a relaxed place to unwind after a day in the field.

Interns are responsible for arranging their own breakfast, Vegetarian Indonesian (Sunda style) lunch and dinner are provided daily. Vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice. Breakfast is self-catered — weekly shopping trips to Sukabumi give you the chance to stock up on personal supplies and snacks.

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FAQ

Do I need farming or agricultural experience to apply?
No formal experience is required, though a background or current studies in agriculture, horticulture, agroforestry, conservation, or ecology is beneficial. Basic DIY skills and field research experience are a useful advantage. What matters most is a motivated, professional attitude and the physical fitness to carry out demanding outdoor work in a tropical climate.
On-site mentoring is available to support academic requirements. Please note that publishing research data externally requires complex government approval, and no budget is allocated for individual projects — interns work within existing resources. We recommend discussing your university’s specific requirements with us before applying.
Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A & B vaccinations are strongly recommended for all interns. If you opt into the animal husbandry activities, a Rabies vaccination and a negative TB test are also required. We recommend consulting your GP or a travel health clinic well in advance of your placement.
Yes. Stays can extend to six weeks or longer by arrangement. Pricing is available for two and four-week placements, with longer durations available upon request. Get in touch to discuss your preferred duration.

Price

£420/pers

Deposit

£84/pers

  • Non-profit based pricing
  • Certificate upon completion
  • No registration fee
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