Organic Farm Management Internship Growing Gardens
- Date Posted February 19, 2020
- Location Boulder, CO
- Category Agriculture / Nonprofit
- Job type Full-Time
Growing Gardens’ mission is to enrich the lives of our community through sustainable urban agriculture. We envision people experiencing a direct and deep connection with plants, the land and each other. Growing Gardens unites the Boulder County community through urban agriculture projects. We share a property with two other organizations; Mountain Flower Goat Dairy, a small urban goat dairy focused on education, and Long’s Gardens, a historic farm that specializes in propagating specialty iris.
Internship descriptionOrganic Farm Management Internship
Full Season 2020
March 3 – October 30
The focus of this internship will be to support production for our Boulder Farm, a certified organic two-acre mixed vegetable farm with a four-acre orchard containing fruit trees and berries. Produce from the farm is principally sold through our on-site Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, as well as a weekly Farm Stand. We also manage a small number of wholesale accounts and donate a significant portion of our harvest to those in need in our community. This internship also involves some animal husbandry, as we partner with Mountain Flower Goat Dairy to support a regenerative agricultural system within the property.
The Farm Management Intern will report to the Boulder Farm Manager and Mountain Flower Herd Manager and work extensively with the Cultiva farm crew members and must have both the ability and desire to mentor and engage with young people. The Farm Management Internship is fast paced and requires a great deal of hard work, focus, and care. It is also deeply rewarding.
Farm Intern Duties
- Assist the farmer and farm assistant in all aspects of farm operation:
- Weekly chore shifts at the goat dairy, including all aspects of milk production, animal care, grazing and rotation management and educational events for the public
- Planning, installation, and operation of irrigation systems
- Bed preparation
- Seeding, transplanting, thinning, and fertilizing seedlings
- Early season greenhouse growing for the plant sale and field crops
- Cultivation and weeding
- Pest and disease management
- Harvesting, washing, and packing of crops for CSA, farm stand, and wholesale accounts
- Cover cropping and soil sampling
- Operation of tractors, mowers, and other farm equipment
- Maintenance of grounds and site infrastructure
- Record-keeping
- Prepare and weigh produce for donation program
- Assist, teach, and oversee volunteers and groups of volunteers with greenhouse, wash station, and field-related tasks
Schedule and responsibilities change by season and week (see sample schedule below), but throughout the year will include:
- Wednesday evening CSA pick-ups
- Farmers’ Market gleaning program with Cultiva teens
- Weekend Plant Sales in May
- Weekend greenhouse care and watering
- Weekend, morning, and evening shifts at the goat dairy
- Fruit Share pickups at the Boulder Farmer’s Market
- Farm to Table events and support at our annual Farm Gala fundraiser
Knowledge and Skills the Intern May Acquire:
- Small scale organic vegetable production techniques including:
- Soil health
- Tractor skills and maintenance
- Irrigation systems planning, implementation, and maintenance
- Direct seeding and transplanting practices
- Pest management
- Harvest and post-harvest techniques
- CSA management experience
- Experience with small scale dairy production and animal husbandry
- Produce sales and marketing experience
- Management and leadership experience working with diverse populations
- Exposure to the operations of a non-profit, community-based organization
- Experience working farm dinners and other farm-based events
Structure of Internship
- Internship duration is March 3 – October 30, 2020
- Intern must attend mandatory orientation
- Intern position is 30-50 hours per week. Hours will vary depending on the week and the season. A portion of those hours will take place on evenings and weekends. We generally work more hours per week in the height of the growing season and less in the early spring and late fall. Please see below for a sample of a week’s schedule during different seasons.
- Each Intern is supported by a Mentor
- Mentor oversees daily activities and supports each Intern’s growth during weekly meetings throughout the duration of the contract
Benefits of Interning with Growing Gardens
- Knowledge gained through experience working on and managing a diversified vegetable operation.
- Hands-on experience making a positive impact in the lives of children, teens, and adults.
- Community connections and networking within the burgeoning local food movement.
- Friendly, relaxed environment.
- Develop marketable teaching, leadership, and management skills.
- Additional training offered through Growing Gardens classes, workshops, and staff shadowing
- Access to a wide variety of discounted organic seeds and plant starts.
- Opportunity to garden in the intern community garden plot at the Hawthorn Garden site.
- Fresh vegetables from the garden as the season permits June-October. This benefit has the value of $20-$35 per week depending on the time of year.
- Site is centrally located and easily accessed via public transportation.
- Living stipend of $1200 paid at the end of each month Note: we do not have housing provided as part of this internship. This stipend is meant to offset the cost of housing and basic needs in the city of Boulder.
- One week paid vacation
Qualifications
- Responsible, dedicated, and organized individual
- Strong work ethic and a passion for learning how to grow food and develop community
- Ability to hustle and thrive under pressure
- Physically capable of manual tasks, including lifting 40 pounds
- Some growing experience is desired, but it is not required for this position
- Applicants must be CPR and First Aid certified by March 3, 2020.
Details: Stipend of $1200/month plus vegetables during the growing season. Application instructions