New York

01 - This farm produces over two hundred varieties of mixed vegetables as well as herbs, cut flowers, fruits and honey using organic/biodynamic practices on about seven of our 200+-acre farm for an 80-100-member CSA and three local upscale restaurants.  In addition, we are in the process of implementing a dairy goat herd for milk and cheese production and an earthen bread oven for the production of a variety of baked items for our CSA and restaurants.  The bread oven is a continuation of our ongoing sustainable building program that includes our off-the-grid timber-framed straw-bale house and timber-framed barn.

Interns will be involved in all aspects of our farm operation, including, but not limited to, the following:  greenhouse/hoophouse management, cultivation, pest control, compost management, seed-bed preparation, dynamizing and applying BD preps, planting, harvesting, cleaning and packing of produce for CSA and restaurants, delivery of CSA boxes and restaurant orders, grass cutting, possible tractor operation, animal care, beekeeping, record keeping for individual cultivars, sustainable building projects (planned), and earthen oven building and output.

We seek two apprentices from mid-April to November.  All interns must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, have a valid driver’s license, be physically fit and passionate about what we are doing.  Rustic housing will be provided with a separate bathroom including a hot shower.  We provide all the produce the intern can eat plus a monthly stipend depending on experience and performance.  There is also largemouth bass to be fished from our 5.5-acre pond.

For more information, please see our website.  To apply, please send letter of interest and resume including names of three references with phone numbers, to our email or postage address.

 

02 – This farm has 12 acres in mixed vegetables. Crops are sold both wholesale and retail at farmers' markets, and a winter CSA. Work to be done: greenhouse work, weeding, transplanting, irrigation, harvest, washing and packing vegetables. There is also optional tractor work, pest control, trucking and selling at farmers' markets.

Apprentices needed April or May through November. Full season stay strongly encouraged. We have a small camper with kitchen, outdoor shower & outhouse. The spacious barn apartment is not available for 2010, but will be in the future. We pay an hourly wage (with raises for hard workers), free produce, and an end of season bonus. We offer on the job training, including how to do a job, why it is done a certain way, how to make judgments about quality and efficiency. Informal discussions of organic farming issues as they come up. Twenty-five years of experience to share.

Seneca Lake is within walking distance for swimming, etc. 100 acres of woods for

hiking. We are located 30 minutes from Ithaca.

 

03 - We are a small, highly diversified and growing certified-organic vegetable and livestock operation with a direct-marketing focus, located on Wellesley Island in the Thousand Islands region in northern NY.  Our products include over 200 varieties of gourmet and heirloom organic vegetables and vegetable plants small fruit, honey, maple syrup, pastured pork, goat, poultry and beef.

Work/learning opportunities vary with the season, the farm’s needs, and the interest of the intern and may include: honeybees, maple syrup, grape vineyard, fence construction, intensive grazing management, drip irrigation, vegetable planting, picking and weeding, greenhouse operations, livestock care, mulch and organic fertilizers, row covers and other season extension, stocking farm-stand, preparing for CSA, farmers’ markets and chef orders, machinery repair and modification, farm construction including building and feeders, wood-lot management, and whatever else needs to be done.

We generally need one or two apprentices at a time, especially in June, July, August and September, however we welcome volunteers year-round.  We have one room available, and on-farm camping is an option. We provide room and board and some off-farm transportation. We speak some French and Spanish.

Cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing are available on the farm in winter, boating and swimming down the road at state park in summer, and hiking and biking, year-round.  Near Canadian border.  Check our web-site for more info.

 

04 - This is an 80-acre organic for-profit farm located in a beautiful area of Long Island’s East End (called the North Fork). We are about 2 hours from NYC in a great area of beaches, ponds, forests, farms, and great summer weather. We cultivate approximately 30 acres of mixed vegetables and 3 acres of cut flowers, focusing on great-tasting heirloom varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, potatoes, etc. We also have a flock of 1000 laying hens, and a few cows, sheep, and goats for milk, meat, and fun. We sell produce to approximately 700 CSA members at ten locations in NYC and on Long Island, to local residents from a busy farm stand on the farm, and at Greenmarket in Brooklyn and farmers markets on Long Island.

 If you are interested in learning how to develop and run your own diverse sustainable farm to sustain you and your family someday financially as well as spiritually, you will find working with us very interesting. If you are just looking to learn how to grow your own food and relax in the country for a summer, you may not find it as enjoyable. We hustle.

 Experience preferred but not necessarily required. We are looking for apprentices who are self-directed and enjoy “attacking” the challenges that arise throughout the farm season, and who are interested in helping us improve the way we do things on the farm by sharing with us lessons from their experience on other farms and by taking responsibility for the parts of our operation that interest them. Drivers license and the ability to drive a truck, particularly in New York City, is highly desired. Sense of humor, independence, initiative, a good attitude, and a large dose of common sense are also desired. Mechanical experience, driving or fixing tractors and machinery is also highly desired.

Approximately 55 hrs per week will be expected (i.e. 8 am – 5 pm 6 days per week), with one full day off, and some schedule flexibility upon advance request.

Education is mainly hands-on, learning-by-doing. We have a weekly meeting where the farmers answer questions in-depth, and many lunches turn into spur-of-the-moment lessons on everything from marketing plans to cultivating implements. We lend books from our sustainable agriculture collection and will make limited reading and writing assignments. We facilitate monthly exchanges with other area farms, including vineyards, tree farms, etc. and other organic farm apprentices, as well as social events with neighbors and friends. Enjoy our area's natural attractions on days off including kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and swimming. Special projects can include opportunities to make additional income through entrepreneurship, such as growing and marketing your own crops on unused farmland, pastured poultry, and production of pickles, cookies, jams, and farm arts and crafts for sale at farm stand. Other projects to improve the sustainability of our farm are welcomed including establishing educational gardens, teaching on-farm classes, and experimentation with alternative fuels (straight vegetable oil, bio diesel), etc.

 PERIOD OF INTERNSHIP: Farm Manager: April 1 - end of Nov. Other positions: begin between April 1 and June 1 – end Nov. Novice Farmer: 1 or 2 month period during growing season. Please make the dates you are available clear in your letter of interest. Possibility to extend position through the winter for 1-2 exceptional individuals, based on performance during the regular season.

 We will provide housing at a farmhouse on the farm property which is fully furnished and includes bathroom and kitchen. Within walking distance of beach, 5 mins drive from town (also bikeable).

 Vegetables, eggs, and other farm produce are provided free of charge. Apprentices take turns cooking lunch for the group, and Garden of Eve provides some free staples for these meals (beans, rice, pasta, etc.).  Condiments, dairy, snacks, and many other foods are available for purchase at our farm store at wholesale prices.

MATERIALS TO BE SUBMITTED: All interested applicants should submit a resume, three references (of which two should be former employers), and a letter of interest explaining previous experience and skills, and reasons for interest in this position via email.

FARM APPRENTICE

- Will participate in all aspects of vegetable farming including seeding, transplanting, weeding, and harvesting vegetables;

- Specific areas of responsibility for different apprentices will include: Greenhouse Management; Livestock Management; Flower Farm Management, and Market Management of different markets.

- If qualified, driving and accompanying box truck into NYC for CSA deliveries, as well as driving to, setting up, and managing farmers market stand.

- Working at the farmstand and at farmers markets;

- Help pack and load truck;

- Presentation and marketing of vegetables;

- Basic livestock care of goats, sheep and chickens at the farmstand;

- Participating in all other crop-related tasks

 Qualities desired:

- Ability to lift 40 pounds

- Serious Interest in the biological and entrepreneurial aspects of farming

- basic Spanish language skills helpful but not required

 STIPEND: $1000/month plus housing on-site,  & income from entrepreneurial farm project including growing your own crops to sell at the market or farmstand, or other activities such as preserving, baking, drying herbs, etc.

FARM MANAGER

Duties include:

- Communicating daily with Chris regarding tasks for the day;

- Holding brief daily meeting with other apprentices to outline daily/weekly schedule;

- Directing daily activities including planting, cultivating, harvesting, processing;

- Driving tractor for most transplanting in the spring, and helping do tractor-mounted cultivating through the summer and fall;

- Maintaining all harvest data and records;

- Managing and working with farm crew and other apprentices;

- Helping harvesting, washing, packing, and loading produce with farm crew;

- Maintaining crew productivity data and time sheets.

- Monitoring packing room and inventory of harvesting supplies;

- Organizing and cleaning packing room, coolers and storage facilities;

- Analyzing and refining harvesting and packing room methods and efficiencies;

- Loading truck for delivery;

- Driving box truck into NYC for CSA deliveries (if qualified and necessary).

 QUALITIES DESIRED

- Tractor and cultivating experience highly desired

- Minimum one season's farm experience

- Some managerial experience and aptitude required

- Disciplined, Organized, Responsible, Independent and Positive.

- Basic Spanish language skills, or willingness to learn

- A valid driver's license and ability to lift 40 pounds is required.

- This is an excellent position for someone planning to start their own farm in the next year or two, as the Farm Manager carries significant responsibility and decisionmaking independence.

 STIPEND: $25K approximately depending upon experience, with a 3 year requested committment.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR and part-time childcare provider

If you like to spend time with kids and have a background instructing at a camp, environmental education, or other outdoor education experience, this could be a good opportunity for you.

The Children's Program Instructor will plan, promote, implement and teach classes at our farm markets on topics including organic gardening, cooking, preserving the harvest, etc. Our farmstand products and programming are oriented towards families with children and each year we look for someone with experience and interest in creating, scheduling, and teaching activities with preschool aged kids (i.e. 2-7) and their families (i.e. Bug walks, berry picking, seed planting, cooking projects, etc.) about 2-3 days/week. You may also plan, implement, recruit staff, promote and teach a small farm day camp on the farm during the summer months.

We are looking for someone who is highly self-motivated and independent, with prior experience as an instructor. The successful candidate will also have an entrepreneurial bent, with experience in creating and marketing programs successfully.

In addition, the person hired will care for Eve and Chris's 3 and 5 year old kids 2-3 days a week on the farm. Activities will include farm walks, going to the library or the beach, visiting friends, etc. Drivers liscence required.

Duties include:

20% : farm work with the other apprentices

40% : childcare for two farm kids (ages 3 and 5) on the farm i.e. walking around farm, in the house, etc);

40% : independently develop and teach weekly events for kids and families including playgroup, farm tours, cooking demonstrations, etc.

Qualities desired:

- Enjoyment of small children and previous work experience i.e. babysitting, camp counselor, educator

-Experience in creating and marketing programs successfully

- Ability/interest in independently developing educational activities for kids to offer on the farm

-Self-motivated and independent, with an entrepreneurial bent

STIPEND: $1000-$1500/month plus housing on-site

 NOVICE FARMER

We are willing to fill one position each month with people who have a positive attitude and interest in exploring farming as a vocation, but who have had little prior experience. The period of the “Novice” position will be 1-2 months (i.e. you can select April-May, Sept-Oct, etc.). Email us with your interest and the months you are interested in.

 Qualities desired: Ability to do physical manual work of farming, and interest in learning about farming & food

 STIPEND: $600/month plus housing on-site, vegetables, & income from entrepreneurial activities.

 

05 - Enterprises:  Now operating in our 24^th year, we are a certified organic produce farm located in Orange County, NY.  We grow 12 acres of vegetables and herbs on an old dairy farm that is 88 acres in size. The balance of the land is either fallow, wooded or used for pasturing cows.  We have a small flock of chickens. In 2007, a conservation easement was placed on our farm.

Work to be done: Interns are involved in greenhouse work, field planting, growing, tending, harvesting and marketing of more than 75 different vegetables and herbs. Our produce is sold at the Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan from late May to December.

We are seeking interns to fill eight positions.  We have a long history of working with interns. More than 120 people have worked on our farm over the past 20 years, most staying for a full season, some for two or three seasons. We prefer people with outdoor and physical work experience who can stay for six to eight months (April/May to Nov./Dec.) and who have a strong interest in learning about and practicing sustainable agriculture.  Many of those who live and work on the farm stay in touch long after the season is over and return to visit. Learning is mostly hands-on and interns are expected to take responsibility for many tasks and individual projects (greenhouse management, irrigation, record keeping, etc.).

We offer good housing with private rooms, bathrooms and kitchen facilities, plus a $250 per week stipend, increasing to $300 per week after eight weeks, and late season bonuses. Those returning for a second year receive a larger stipend. Meals are not provided but interns can cook and eat anything we grow. A long-term, year-round, co-management position is also available, with salary and benefits increasing substantially over time. There is plenty of discussion of organic methods and philosophy. Reading material is available for those who are interested.

The farm is an appealing place, set well back off the road and buffered by woods. It has varied terrain and topography. It is rich in animal and bird life. It has a creek and three ponds, one of which is good for swimming. We are a short distance from the Appalachian Trail and the Delaware River, and about two hours from New York City.  To learn more about this farm and read what ten former interns had to say about their experiences here, check out the book, It’s a Long Road to a Tomato, by Keith Stewart.

 

06 – This farm is a 240-member CSA with a mixed vegetable operation on 18 acres of land leased from The Genesee Land Trust.

Interns are involved with all aspects of vegetable production: greenhouse starts, transplanting, direct-seeding, weeding, harvesting, packing, and working with CSA members on Thursday and Sunday mornings at the farm.  At peak season we work six days a week.

We seek two apprentices, one starting April 1^st, the other, May 1^st both to work through the third week in November.

 Accommodations consist of a separate house around the corner from the farm, a weekly stipend and farm veggies.  Interns must be mature, responsible, have their own vehicle and a good sense of humor.

The farmers work with the apprentices sharing information about all aspects of the farm and CSA management.  Farm is located between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes.  The farm pays for interns to attend the NOFA Summer Conference in August in Massachusetts.

 

07 - Well-established biodynamic training center seeks interns for the 2010 season.  Internship is a full time program that combines academic work with hands on experience in the Center's two-acre educational garden and apiary.

Interns attend all courses and workshops of the Center.  The weekly seminar on Rudolf Steiner's "Agriculture" and monthly daylong sessions in the introductory course "Training in Biodynamics" anchor the academic work.  A strong emphasis is placed on learning and deepening biodynamic principles and techniques.  Along with gardening, organic beekeeping and gardening in education are important focal points of the work at the Center.  Interns play a key role in a new program the Center has developed with the local public school district.  The intern will improve basic skills and learn advanced techniques in the garden, greenhouse and apiary.  After a probationary period the student will be expected to help carry responsibility for the garden and surrounding landscape.

Internship at the Center provides a significant amount of instruction in both classroom and garden settings, unlike most farm apprenticeships that are more physically demanding and provide little or no academic background. Internships normally last a year and start in the early spring.  Different starting dates are available subject to availability.  Housing and food from garden in season provided; no stipend.  The Pfeiffer Center will cooperate with colleges and universities offering credit for internship programs or work on special projects.  It is the responsibility of the student to secure credit for the internship.

The Center was founded in 1996 to develop and promote a healthy approach to caring for the land through biodynamic agriculture and is co-sponsored by the Threefold Educational Foundation and Sunbridge College.