Company description

Sky High Farm is a mission-driven non-profit organization that is committed to addressing food security and health by improving access to nutritious food for New Yorkers living in underserved communities.  The farm sustainably grows organic fruits and vegetables and raises livestock exclusively for the purpose of donation.  We are a small, diverse operation entering our seventh season.

All produce harvested and livestock slaughtered through this initiative is donated to food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries in our region.  The focus is on producing the highest quality food for a population that might not normally have access to it.  This means our efforts are as much directed toward quality as quantity.  We use all organic inputs in our crop production, and raise grass-fed beef and lamb, as well as pasture-raised pork, chicken, turkeys and eggs.

The farm is 40 acres, with 2 acres dedicated to vegetable production and 25 to pasture.  We cultivate a variety of vegetables using organic inputs and raise livestock on a rotational grazing system.  We are located in Columbia County, New York, nestled in the bucolic rolling hills of the Hudson Valley. Internship description

Number of Internships Offered: 1

1 Full Season Internship Position: April 13, 2020 thru October 09, 2020

Application Deadline: March 27, 2020
Minimum Length of Stay: Entire season dates as stated above

Skills Desired: Prior farming experience is not required, however you must be enthusiastic about participating in all farm related activities and performing demanding physical labor in the outdoors during different types of weather.  Interns should be excited to learn new skills, work hard, and be prepared to both take on individual tasks and work alongside colleagues in a team.  Most of all, they should look forward to having a positive and personally rewarding season and come with the goal of making the most of this opportunity.

 

Educational Opportunities:  Interns will progressively gain insight and experiential knowledge of the steps that go into farming and the processes required to successfully complete their execution.  Instructional lessons will compliment practical in-field experience.

Sky High Farm is an active member of Mid-Hudson CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance For Farmer Training).  Interns will gain exposure to a variety of agricultural strategies during site visits and have networking opportunities with regional farmers and apprentices.

Compensation:  Interns are paid $472 per week pre-tax ($11.80/hr for 40 hrs), on a bi-weekly basis.  Housing and workers’ compensation are provided.
 

Meals: Interns are responsible for their own meals, and are welcome to any excess produce from our farm when available.

Housing:  On farm dorm-style lodging is available at no charge. Interns will have access to their own sectioned-off sleeping areas and share a common living and cooking area.  Internet is provided.  There is a washer and dryer on the premises.   Interns should be prepared to live and work closely with their colleagues.

Preferred method Of Contact: Email, sam@skyhighfarm.org

Internship Details: We work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday beginning at 7:00AM.  Weekends are free, but due to livestock and greenhouse responsibilities, interns should be prepared to work occasional weekends on a rotating schedule and take the following Monday and Tuesday off.

The workload will be varied, consisting of livestock, vegetable production, and administrative tasks. 

 

Animal management activities include:

• Feeding and watering animals
• Collecting and packing eggs
• Cleaning animal stalls
• Moving electric fencing
• Herding animals

Vegetable production activities include:

• Planting and watering in the greenhouse
• Weeding
• Transplanting starts
• Spreading compost
• Harvesting
• Cleaning and packing produce for donation

Interns may also be asked to make local deliveries of produce to food pantries, or make pickups of processed meat from the slaughterhouse in our farm vehicle.

By nature, farm work is physically and mentally demanding.  Applicants should be excited about getting their hands dirty, immersing themselves in the work, and surpassing their current limits.  Weather can be unpredictable, some days are hot and dry, and others are cold and rainy, nevertheless all duties must be completed.  That said, we want to work as intelligently as possible; many tasks we will perform as a group to lighten the load, support each other, and create a positive and nurturing work culture.

During downtime there are plenty of nature-based activities close by, including hiking, biking, swimming, historical sites, and horseback riding.  There are also a few larger towns within 40 minutes. Compensation this position is : salaried
Application instructions DeadlineMarch 27, 2020