Pond Hill Farm
General Description: www.pondhill.com The Café is the social focal point of family-owned and operated Pond Hill Farm. The farm is located on 197 acres in the beautiful resort community of Harbor Springs. We are a working farm in the agritourism business.

Farming highlights:

• Roughly 20 acres of irrigated fenced vegetables
• Grow flowers, vegetables, herbs, wine grapes (almost 5 acres), berries, and pumpkins
• 2 unheated greenhouses (rolling greenhouse, hoop house)
• 2 heated greenhouses
• Participate in 3 Farmer’s Markets during summer
• Raise pigs, lambs, and goats

Agritourism highlights

• Open year round
• Market– sells wine, beer, canned goods, fresh produce and Pond Hill merchandise
• The Café -serves homemade farm-grown lunches and our wine/beer
• Pond Hill Farm Vineyards & Winery – wine tasting/serves food from cafe
• Pond Hill Farm Brewery – beer tasting/serves food from cafe
• Canned goods (value added products) - 40+ products canned onsite in our licensed canning kitchen
• 6 miles of groomed trails for hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and fat tire biking
• Playground for children
• Infamous squash rockets and other games for all ages
• Wood Mill – local milled wood for farm use
• Farm to Table Dinners – summer only
• Barn Dances – summer only

Apprenticeship Objective: The apprentice position is intended for an individual who wishes to advance their career as to be a chef, head cook, or business owner. The apprentice is part of the farm family which works hard and plays hard. This position is one where a person will develop their skills, build their resume, and test the waters for future employment.

Skills Desired: As a culinary apprentice it is preferred that you arrive with strong cooking skills and knowledge of proper sanitation and safety practices.  An apprentice needs to be prepared for a challenge and to take on a significant degree of responsibility in our fast-paced kitchen. Commercial cooking is physically and mentally demanding, but fun and rewarding too! We expect our apprentice to be self-motivated, hard working, drug free, and non-smokers, and have the following characteristics:

• Desire to learn
• Problem solver
• Attention to detail
• Can work independently
• Attention to customer service
• Creative
• Goal oriented
• Team oriented
• Ability to lift 50 pounds

Responsibilities: Performs and provides guidance and direction to kitchen staff and interns for below (alongside or in absence of chef):

• 5 day work week in kitchen (weekends included)
• Cover the chefs 2 days off (part of your work week)
• Daily set-up, operation, cleaning and closing tasks
• Daily prep lists
• Monitor portion and quality control
• Ordering, stocking and paperwork associated
• Menu development
• Ensures all health, safety and sanitation regulations are followed
• Training new hires and interns

Meals: Apprentices prepare their own meals. They will have access to produce. Food staples are provided. There is a discount on food from the Farm Market and Café.  One meal is allowed free of charge during a day working in the cafe.  Communal dinners are common among interns/apprentices staying on property.

Stipend: $365/week plus a $25 per week bonus upon satisfactory completion of apprenticeship.
Housing:  On property housing is provided as part of compensation. The café/kitchen apprentice will share a two bedroom apartment with the farm apprentice. Wi-fi and washer/dryer are available.