Company description The Old Fort at Hesperus is a growing and multi-faceted answer to farmer training in the Four Corners region. Welcoming everyone from college interns for brief summer experiences to incubator farmers ready to start a business, the Old Fort offers good (and challenging) growing conditions, supportive and knowledgeable staff, and rich resources for high elevation market farming. Job description

Description: Join the Sustainable Agriculture Program at the Old Fort in Hesperus by becoming a Farmer-In-Training (FIT)! Begin in January with a weekly winter educational series, then get hands on experience in the field from May through October. FITs work 2-3 days per week co-managing a 1-2 acre plot of vegetables under the supervision of the Program Manager.

The season’s experiences will range from harvesting greens to fixing drip irrigation, from planting peppers to packing CSA bags, from managing farmer’s market stands to estimating crop yields. Informal classes are offered throughout the season, including pump maintenance, harvesting and food safety, direct seeding, and more. Learning farming skills that will support their farming future, FITs will be able to plan and run irrigation, select varieties, manage weeds, and harvest, process and market many different crops all in the context of a supportive, close-knit team.

Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the Old Fort Incubator program, and be poised to join the program for 2019.
 

Qualifications: Ideal candidates will need reliable transportation to Hesperus and be able to work during the day on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and/or some weekends, including some early mornings, totaling 2 to 3 hours per week from May into October. The summer schedule will be determined in early spring. Other jobs must accommodate this schedule; FITs are farmers, first and foremost. FITs will be expected to communicate as a team even on some off days, so having a reliable form of communication and being willing to use it is essential.

As farmers, FITs may be required to work in inclement weather (ranging from snow to 90-degree heat), and lift at least 40 pounds. Most of all, we’re looking for people eager to farm, who love working in teams, who are driven to see projects through to completion, and who wanted to get started with farming as a career or as a passion.
 

Cost & Compensation: To cover some costs of participation (including insurance, tools, cover crop, seeds, etc), FITs will pay the $300 Field Fee by May 1st. Each FIT receives $3500 in compensation distributed throughout the field season. FITs participate for free in the winter education series, and attend a variety of field trips and workshops.

Application instructions Deadlineno deadline Attachment click here to download the attached document.