Living Ayurveda Internship and Programs at Banyan Farm
Banyan Botanicals and Banyan Farm share the belief that our connection to nature is vital to the future of human and planetary well-being. The immersive educational experiences offered at the farm are a living embodiment of this guiding principle, created to revive and strengthen a connection to nature, to
As an educational farm, Banyan Farm's vision is to provide in-depth educational programs that are designed to foster a thorough integration of place-based living and learning—that encourage personal transformation through meaningful relationships with the natural world.
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The Living Ayurveda Internship
The Living Ayurveda Internship (LAI) is an immersive program committed to inspiring the holistic stewardship of both our health and the environment through organic nature-based farming and Ayurveda education. Interns explore key concepts of Ayurveda and herbalism while gaining hands-on experience with medicinal herb and vegetable cultivation, including seed saving.
Participants walk away from LAI with a better understanding of Ayurveda, a deeper relationship with nature as well as personal and communal health, and the skills to practice bioregional Ayurveda in their own home environments.
This program is rigorous and requires full participation. Interns need to be prepared physically and mentally to immerse themselves in the program and in community, working, learning, and living alongside other like-minded individuals while engaging wholeheartedly in the rhythms of farm life and collective learning.
Program Sessions and Dates
We offer two 10-week internships per year.
2026
Session 1:
May 20th–July 30th
Session 2:
August 5th–October 15th
Tending the Farm
Interns spend Monday through Thursday working alongside the Banyan Farm team, at an average of 25 hours each week. Each day is dynamic, with many opportunities to learn.
While incredibly rewarding, this work is demanding. Interns must be in good physical condition and prepared to work in all weather conditions, rain or shine.
Farm tasks include: seeding, weeding, harvesting, compost making, washing, drying, and processing plant material (including seeds), apothecary and dry room maintenance, and general grounds keeping. Land tending is not just physical work, but the nurturing of right relationship with the surrounding environment.
Living in Community
LAI is an invitation into intentional living on the farm, as interns practice compassionate communication, consensus-based decision-making, accountability, and formation of authentic relationships. Interns share meals, house chores, and other mutually supportive responsibilities—and this collective care creates a container for personal and relational growth.
Communal living offers meaningful teachings, and interns leave with lifelong tools for building connection, resilience, and belonging.
In the Classroom
Classes are offered on weekday evenings and weekends throughout the internship, averaging 10–18 hours of learning time each week.
Offerings include: basic Ayurveda training that covers
“This internship is life changing. It's something one needs to experience to understand, and everyone will walk (skip, dance, frolic) away with something really special that colors and informs the rest of their existence. If I could do it all over again, and again, I would in a heartbeat. Everyone who feels called to the LAI program will need to know that it's not easy. You'll be called to step up and be your best self in every situation and interaction.”
About Our Teachers
LAI teachers include Ayurvedic practitioners, farmers, herbalists, yoga teachers, and regional experts. Collectively, they weave their passions and skills into this comprehensive offering.
Meet the Faculty
Cost
Dormitory-style housing is provided in a large environmentally-friendly straw-bale home located on Banyan Farm. A monthly fee of $200 goes toward a communal food fund. Interns are responsible for their own transportation. We strongly recommend interns have health insurance or set aside an emergency medical fund for the duration of the program.
Who This Is For
This internship is ideal for those who:
- Are passionate about plants, holistic healing, and the environment
- Want to live simply and communally in rural Oregon
- Are open to self reflection and interpersonal growth
- Are ready to engage physically, emotionally, and mentally
We welcome people of all backgrounds and encourage those from historically marginalized communities to apply.
How to Apply
Enrollment for 2026 is open! To apply, fill out and submit an application to education@banyanfarm.com. Applications for both sessions are due January 31st, 2026; however, admission is rolling, so apply early if possible.
“LAI could be one the most impactful experiences of your life. With the way that Ayurveda, herbalism, farming, and community are so intentionally woven together, this program provides such a beautiful and strong foundation for carrying forth and sharing the ideals of whole-istic well-being. I have been blessed by this program and I'm so excited to see where this newly attained knowledge will take me!”
About Banyan Farm
Banyan Farm is a 20-acre certified organic farm in Williams, Oregon. Partners of Banyan Botanicals, they practice sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and support overall biodiversity.
Banyan Farm also has partnerships with: The Understory Initiative, growing native plant seed for use in local restoration projects; Rogue Food Unites, growing produce for a free farmer's market; and other seed companies, growing a wide variety of vegetable and herb seed.
All vegetables and herbs grown by our partners at Banyan Farm are ethically grown, harvested, and filled with the vitality of the land and the people who nurture them.
Learn more about the farm, including the history, the region, and all that they offer.
“Over 10 short weeks we learned how to become responsible steward of our lands and to reflect more deeply through the lens in which we view each other and world. This program is a link that weaves ancient practices into our daily lives while advocating for the nurturing of mother earth in a way that is sustainable and fosters real change. This program encouraged each of us to take a step back, breathe, and reconnect with nature and our origins.”
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is this internship designed for?
- What qualifications do I need?
- Why is the program 10 weeks?
- What can I expect living communally for 10 weeks?
- Can I attend both sessions in a year?
- What is the difference between the two sessions?
- Can I have other commitments during this internship?
- Are there volunteer or job opportunities on the Banyan Farm after I complete the internship?
- Do I need a vehicle?
- What internet or phone access will I have while at the farm?
- Do you accept international applications?
- What other expenses might I have?
1. Who is this internship designed for?
This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in an immersive program and want to connect with nature as they experience organic farming, learn Ayurveda, receive some herbalist training, build their yoga practice with a focus on Ayurveda yoga, learn wildcrafting, and much more.
2. What qualifications do I need?
Because of the intensity of this program, you need to be mentally and physically fit and ready for rigorous immersion on the farm, in the class, and in communal housing.
In addition, we look for individuals who are sincerely interested in and enthusiastic about Ayurveda and herbs, and have some experience in working outdoors.
3. Why is the program 10 weeks?
This length of time allows interns to experience a full immersion, learn a substantial amount of information, and endure the intensity of the program.
4. What can I expect living communally for 10 weeks?
Dormitory-style living arrangements are provided for all interns in a beautiful eco-friendly home located on Banyan Farm. While not all meals will be shared communally, most lunches and dinners will be.
Interns will have some weekends off to take care of themselves, explore the region, study, and rest.
5. Can I attend both sessions in a year?
No, it is only possible to attend one session.
6. What is the difference between the two sessions?
The curriculum is largely the same for the spring and summer internships. The farm work changes with the seasons and the plants.
It is important for interns to be prepared for our Oregon seasons—spring and fall can be cold and wet, while summer can be very hot and dry.
7. Can I have other commitments during this internship?
Considering this program is a full-time commitment for 10 weeks, it is not possible to participate in other programs (this includes work, school, and attending events outside the region).
8. Are there volunteer or job opportunities on Banyan Farm after I complete the internship?
While possible, additional opportunities on the farm are rare.
9. Do I need a vehicle?
You don't, although you will be living rurally and would need to depend on others if you want to responsibly explore beyond Williams.
10. What internet or phone access will I have while at the farm?
Cell service is sporadic and unreliable at the Farm; internet will be available.
11. Do you accept international applications?
Not at this time.
12. What other expenses might I have?
Expect to spend on the communal food fund ($200 per month), personal food (for meals and snacks that are not communal), and travel expenses (this can range to approximately $1000, depending on where you are traveling from). Total expenses for food and travel may be a few thousand dollars.
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