COVID POLICY
We all have pandemic fatigue, but Aurora is a vulnerable elder, the virus evolves in unpredictable ways, and we're uncertain how long vaccine protection lasts, so at Finca la Lluvia we expect everyone to observe COVID protocols. All residents must be fully vaccinated, carry proof of vaccination at all times (some places won't be accessible without it) and must bring a good supply of masks and at-home COVID tests with them. They must remained masked when near Aurora until they test negative the appropriate number of days after arrival and are symptom free. Masking isn't needed outdoors as long as social distance is maintained. If they test positive, they can remain on site and isolate in the studio and trailer. If they have significant symptoms, we will facilitate connection with nearby medical care. Masks are required in all off site indoor locations.
THE RESIDENT APPRENTICE PROGRAM
The Resident Apprenticeship program is conceived as a mutual aid project. Visiting apprentices contribute to the wellbeing of a movement elder, and also to the agroecology, land protector and food sovereignty movements in Puerto Rico.
Apprentice writers come for 4-8 weeks and stay in their own sleep-work unit with their own separate camp kitchen. While actual meeting times vary, they will receive five hours of coaching a week, usually an hour every weekday. The rest of their time is for writing, doing household and garden work, exploring the farm and surrounding area, and driving Aurora to appointments or shopping--or the beach.
Coaching
Aurora is an internationally known writer, the author of seven books, and has been teaching and coaching writers for forty years. She works individually with each apprentice to figure out the best way to use the apprenticeship time. Schedules and pacing of work are flexible. However, apprentices should come planning to work deeply on something, even if they don't know exactly what in advance. Aurora offers writing prompts, guidance for the creative process, and responds to new writing done at the farm. This is a mentored writing practice to support you to tell your own truths and help you tell them in your most authentic voice.
Aurora is open to working with a small number of artists in other genres who think they can benefit from exploring their creative process with her.
What we don't offer
Apprentice writers come for 4-8 weeks and stay in their own sleep-work unit with their own separate camp kitchen. While actual meeting times vary, they will receive five hours of coaching a week, usually an hour every weekday. The rest of their time is for writing, doing household and garden work, exploring the farm and surrounding area, and driving Aurora to appointments or shopping--or the beach.
Coaching
Aurora is an internationally known writer, the author of seven books, and has been teaching and coaching writers for forty years. She works individually with each apprentice to figure out the best way to use the apprenticeship time. Schedules and pacing of work are flexible. However, apprentices should come planning to work deeply on something, even if they don't know exactly what in advance. Aurora offers writing prompts, guidance for the creative process, and responds to new writing done at the farm. This is a mentored writing practice to support you to tell your own truths and help you tell them in your most authentic voice.
Aurora is open to working with a small number of artists in other genres who think they can benefit from exploring their creative process with her.
What we don't offer
- A manuscript critique
- A writing workshop
- Advice on how to get published
Kinds of labor needed on the farm include:
- Weeding
- Shoveling and transporting soil
- Spreading mulch and compost
- Planting trees
- Watering if the weather is dry
- Housework, including dishes and laundry
- Help cleaning and organizing Aurora's home
- Taking out trash and compost
- Driving to the coast to shop, do errands, and go to appointments.
Lodging/Facilities
Visiting writers will stay in a 20 foot prefab steel studio with windows and a glass sliding door. The studio is a sleep-work space with a desk, office chair, a single cot, and comfortable single and double air mattresses. Solar power is in process, but the studio does not currently have electricity, so residents use solar lanterns, and charge their laptops and phone at Aurora's home. There is a separate kitchen trailer for apprentices. It is equipped with a propane stove, a solar fridge, a dining area/work table, and a filtered water dispenser. There is no running water, so dishes are washed at an outdoor dish station, and bathing is with a solar camping shower. There is a nearby trailer kitchen with a three burner propane stove, a solar fridge and filtered drinking water. We provide pots, dishes, utensils and a few basics--oil, salt, and a few spices, as well as unscented cleaning supplies, which are the only ones to be used in the trailer. Plan on bringing your own bedding. We suggest a camping pillow and sleeping bag, as it gets chilly at night. We share a basic composting toilet, while a more elaborate one is being built.
Visiting writers will stay in a 20 foot prefab steel studio with windows and a glass sliding door. The studio is a sleep-work space with a desk, office chair, a single cot, and comfortable single and double air mattresses. Solar power is in process, but the studio does not currently have electricity, so residents use solar lanterns, and charge their laptops and phone at Aurora's home. There is a separate kitchen trailer for apprentices. It is equipped with a propane stove, a solar fridge, a dining area/work table, and a filtered water dispenser. There is no running water, so dishes are washed at an outdoor dish station, and bathing is with a solar camping shower. There is a nearby trailer kitchen with a three burner propane stove, a solar fridge and filtered drinking water. We provide pots, dishes, utensils and a few basics--oil, salt, and a few spices, as well as unscented cleaning supplies, which are the only ones to be used in the trailer. Plan on bringing your own bedding. We suggest a camping pillow and sleeping bag, as it gets chilly at night. We share a basic composting toilet, while a more elaborate one is being built.
Location
Finca la Lluvia is located in Indiera, the highest elevation part of the town of Maricao. It's a traditional coffee farming area. The farm is surrounded by neighbors, with nearby houses, a church, a weekend bar and a very small grocery store that also sells frituras and takeout lunches. Groceries are bought in Mayagüez or Aguadilla, and we receive deliveries from PR Produce, a company that distributes Puerto Rican grown produce and food products. A small mobile grocery truck comes through weekly selling fresh bread, root vegetables, bananas, avocados and a few other items.
The farm is at 3000 feet of elevation, with views of both the north and south coasts. It's cooler than the coast, and breezy, getting down to the 50s at night in winter. Temperatures are normally in the 60s to low 80s. The farm is in a remote area, with no public transportation. It's an hour east of Mayagüez, an hour south of Arecibo and 45 minutes from Yauco and Sabana Grande.
Finca la Lluvia is located in Indiera, the highest elevation part of the town of Maricao. It's a traditional coffee farming area. The farm is surrounded by neighbors, with nearby houses, a church, a weekend bar and a very small grocery store that also sells frituras and takeout lunches. Groceries are bought in Mayagüez or Aguadilla, and we receive deliveries from PR Produce, a company that distributes Puerto Rican grown produce and food products. A small mobile grocery truck comes through weekly selling fresh bread, root vegetables, bananas, avocados and a few other items.
The farm is at 3000 feet of elevation, with views of both the north and south coasts. It's cooler than the coast, and breezy, getting down to the 50s at night in winter. Temperatures are normally in the 60s to low 80s. The farm is in a remote area, with no public transportation. It's an hour east of Mayagüez, an hour south of Arecibo and 45 minutes from Yauco and Sabana Grande.
Rules
- Aurora's safety and wellbeing depend on having a resident on site. Barring serious emergencies, applicants must commit to staying for the full agreed upon time. We will ask you to sign an agreement to that effect.
- You need to have a valid driver's license and your own auto insurance.
- No smoking of anything anywhere on the premises.
- No use of any scented products in the trailer or studio, including natural oils. Natural insect repellent with citronella is ok.
- Shoes must be worn outdoors at all times.
- You must have a current tetanus shot.
- You must sign a waiver agreeing that you understand and will follow the rules, and are here at your own risk.
- Our orientation packet has links to traveler's health insurance.
HOW TO APPLY
1. Fill out this application form.
2. If approved, program administrator Rorey King will contact you with more information and answer any questions you may have.
3. If you seem like a good match for our program, Rorey will schedule a video interview with Aurora.
1. Fill out this application form.
2. If approved, program administrator Rorey King will contact you with more information and answer any questions you may have.
3. If you seem like a good match for our program, Rorey will schedule a video interview with Aurora.
CURRENT OPENINGS
We are now taking applications for March through June 2023 and September through December. Applications are on a rolling basis, so you can apply anytime.
We are now taking applications for March through June 2023 and September through December. Applications are on a rolling basis, so you can apply anytime.