Job description

Since 1972, Hawthorne Valley Farm has been producing high quality, Biodynamic and organic foods while providing farm-based learning experiences for children and adults. Our 400-acre Biodynamic® farm includes dairy cows, vegetables, a creamery, organic bakery, sauerkraut cellar, and more. Our Farm Store is a full-line natural foods store open 7 days a week. Our work revolves around cultivating relationships: with the earth, our surrounding communities and landscape, and with one another.

All Hawthorne Valley Farm apprentices experience farming through hands-on learning. We offer nine apprenticeship positions. The 3 Whole-Farm Apprentices rotate through all areas of the farm, each month spending two weeks with the field vegetables, a week in the Corner Garden, and a week with the milking herd and livestock operation. The 2 Field Vegetable Apprentices work primarily with the vegetable CSA and will likely also spend one day a week in the Corner Garden. Finally, we have four specialized apprenticeships: the Corner Garden Vegetable Apprenticeship, the Advanced Field Vegetable Production Apprenticeship, the Advanced Dairy Herd Management Apprenticeship, and the Field Manager Assistant. More complete descriptions of these apprenticeships may be found on our web page. Apprentices at Hawthorne Valley farm learn livestock skills, milking skills, dairy herd cycles, grazing, vegetable planting from greenhouse to field, harvesting, post harvest handling, packing for markets, wholesale and CSA.

The farm apprenticeships at Hawthorne Valley Farm are physically strenuous. Work days are typically 4:30 am-7pm during the livestock rotation and 6 am- 6pm during the vegetable rotation. Focused apprenticeships may work different hours. We have a 2 tiered apprentice program with different start/end dates depending on the focus. Please see our website for more specific information about work, skills and start/end dates. Housing is provided on or near the farm. Apprentices are given a monthly stipend and food that is made on the farm as it is available. To apply, download our handbook and application guidelines on the farm’s website: http://hawthornevalleyfarm.org/.

Hawthorne Valley Farm is 2 hours north of NYC, 1 hour south of Albany, a half hour east of Hudson, NY. The farm is 400 acres, about 250 acres in pasture, 12 acres in vegetables and some off farm land. Hawthorne Valley Farm is a member of Hawthorne Valley Association, a diverse not-for-profit committed to social and cultural renewal through the integration of education, agriculture, and the arts.

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