Hancock Shaker Village is a nonprofit, living history museum situated on 750 tranquil acres in the western Massachusetts that has brought the Shaker story to life for more than two million visitors and scholars from the region and abroad.  A National Historic Landmark, Hancock Shaker Village includes 20 original Shaker buildings including the iconic 1826 Round Barn and Brick Dwelling, a working farm with livestock and heirloom medicinal and produce gardens, a Discovery Barn providing hands-on activities for visitors young and young-at-heart, and a fully accessible nature trail.  Illuminating a way of life and the Shakers’ commitment to sustainable agriculture, design, innovation, commerce and principled living, the museum is also home to more than 22,000 Shaker artifacts including furniture, textiles, tools and everyday goods – making it one of the world’s most premier Shaker collections. The Village is open to the public from April through December.

Seeds Market Café, the Village’s café operated by Main Street Hospitality Group, highlights the spirit and nature of the Shakers’ authentic living heritage.  Located steps from the Village’s heirloom vegetable and herb gardens, the café’s fresh-picked menu items include produce from the Village and celebrate Shaker-inspired, neighborhood-sourced food, as well as special event dinners and catering for all occasions and gatherings.

Two Farm and Garden internships are available at Hancock Shaker Village for summer 2018.  The internships may be ten, twelve, or fourteen weeks (depending on availability of the intern) but must take place between May 14 and August 31, 2018.

Hancock Shaker Village Interns at Hancock Shaker Village work alongside staff and volunteers at a vibrant outdoor museum and living farm in western Massachusetts. Hancock Shaker Village is a National Historic Landmark dedicated to sharing the history, legacy, and continuing relevance of the Shakers, a religious group who lived at the site from 1790 until 1960. The Village is open April through December for self-guided tours, demonstrations, and talks. The Village has 20 historic buildings and a working farm and garden. Interns contribute to the successful operation of this dynamic public site while expanding their skills in and knowledge of professional museum functions and practices.

Job Description We are looking for two hard-working and energetic interns to work alongside our CSA manager as she carries out the daily operations of sustainable vegetable production on the Hancock Shaker Village Farm.  The CSA garden, now in its 7th year, connects to all aspects of the Village’s operation, including its education initiatives, café and retail outlets, and development efforts. Gain invaluable experience operating a successful production garden at the heart of a public historic site, and expand your knowledge on sustainable gardening in such areas as soil health; plant fertility; weed, disease and insect ecology; specific crop rotation plans; seed orders; seed saving; planting schedules; and cover crop plans. What you will do: weed control including mulching, cultivation (tractor experience a plus but not necessary) and hand hoeing; organic pest control; plant and manage cover crops; harvest and prepare vegetables and produce for weekly CSA pick-up; and staff the CSA pick-up.  In this special setting you will use both historic and modern farm tools and machinery. Because the Village also owns and manages farm animals, you will learn basic animal husbandry and participate in barn chores as needed. You will also assist with Village initiatives that present the sustainable working farm to the public, such as giving garden tours or facilitating Saturday workshops and helping with preparations for the summer fundraising Gala.

Details  Internship is full-time (40 hours) and includes Saturdays. Summer schedule and weekly schedule will be mutually decided on between the interns and the CSA Manager. Interns will receive $150/week stipend. Interns must provide their own transportation. Housing is not available on-site; help in finding housing will be provided.

To have a fuller understanding of the farm’s role in the Village, Farm & Garden interns will participate along with other summer interns in weekly meetings with various Village department heads and will take part in excursions to other regional cultural and agricultural institutions. Interns will also be asked to prepare one to three work-related Facebook postings, in consultation with the Village’s PR dept.

Qualifications 

The Farm and Garden Interns should have a strong commitment to learning about sustainable agriculture; demonstrated ability to take direction and work independently; success working in a dynamic environment; be able to lift at least 30 lbs., and have a willingness to work hard in all types of weather. Prior experience on a farm helpful but not required.