Construction & Carpentry

Build Crew

 

2025 Keep Growing Detroit BUILD CREW - Paid Building Apprenticeship

There is growing demand from gardeners across the city for builders skilled in constructing agricultural infrastructure projects. Keep Growing Detroit will share our experience completing these projects with Detroiters to help our community meet this demand. 2025 Build Crew trainees will help KGD complete several infrastructure projects at local Detroit farms this summer while receiving hands-on training and earning a training stipend. Projects that will be completed include self-serve farm stands, hoophouses, rainwater collection systems, and farm wash/pack stations. Upon completion of the training, Build Crew participants will receive a KGD Certified Builder's Certificate. APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 19th at Midnight

BUILD CREW will get over 100 hours of training experience

  • How to estimate materials and labor for projects

  • How to write up quotes for clients

  • Step by Step practice with building 4 different kind of structures: self serve farm stands, hoophouses with rainwater gutter systems, rainwater collection systems, and farm wash/pack stations.

Training Stipend

Build Crew trainees will be receive a $100 daily stipend for completing hands-on build days and a $50 stipend for completing classes. 

Time commitment

From June-September 2025, Build Crew trainees are asked to complete one class and at least 5 building projects along side KGD staff. Projects typically span 2 to 4 days, with each day consisting of 7 to 8 hours of work.

Ideal Candidates should:

  • Have some building experience 

  • Commitment to completing the full course (see requirements above)

  • Familiarity with using tools/power tools

  • Be able to lift more than 50 lbs

  • Have transportation

Build Crew Schedule

ALL HANDS: Build Crew trainees are required to attend ALL of the following:

  • June 9th, 10AM-1PM: Build Crew Orientation 

  • June 11th-13th, 9:30A-4:30PM: Building Honor Stands (self serv farm stands)

  • July 17th, 6-8PM, 9:30A-4:30PM: CLASS - Estimating Materials and Labor

  • August 19th-22nd, 9:30A-4:30PM: Building a Rainwater Collection System

  • September 8th / September 10th-12th, 9:30A-4:30PM: Building a Covered Washing and Packing Structure

SMALL CREW: Build Crew trainees are required to attend AT LEAST 2 of the following:

  • June 24th-27th, 9:30A-4:30PM: Building a Hoophouse with a rainwater gutter system

  • July 7th / July 9th-11th, 9:30A-4:30PM: Building a Hoophouse with a rainwater gutter system

  • August 4th-7th, 9:30A-4:30PM: Building a Hoophouse with a rainwater gutter system

Tackle those
perennial problems
in the garden