What About Training?

摘要

In most European countries, farming is recognized as a true profession and hence is seen as an "apprenticeable" trade. While enrolled in a formal agricultural apprenticeship, one methodically acquires skills and competencies by working with one or more mentor farmers in a structured learning environment on farms and during seminars. Central to this system is the agricultural Meuter (Master) program, which tests prospective mentor farmers for the vocational, methodological, and social competencies they must have in order to be able to train apprentices on the farm. Due to this central feature of knowledge transfer between master and apprentice, German farmers have reached a high level of excellence in providing apprenticeship programs on diversifiedfarms, whether they follow biodynamic, organic or conventional methods. The pedagogical notion of training and coaching is an intrinsic part of German apprenticeship culture.