The Calder Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1987 by the Calder family, is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, preserving, and interpreting the art and archives of 20th Century American artist Alexander Calder. 

In 2016, the Calder Foundation initiated a farm program on the Foundation’s campus in Roxbury, Connecticut, where Alexander Calder had his home and studio. As part of our art historical mission, the Calder Foundation is committed to conserving the historic environment in which Alexander Calder created his art. Calder’s working process was not limited to his studio, as he gained great inspiration from the views of fields and farms that he saw from his studio windows and from exploring the surrounding pastures. As a result, the Foundation has reintroduced agriculture on the property to restore an important element of Calder’s Roxbury.

Mission Statement

Calder Farm is committed to land stewardship and soil activation based on organic and sustainable agricultural principals.  We are devoted to the enrichment of soil, mind, body, and spirit in order to improve our lives and those of the communities with which we interact.  Through the development of food production, education and cultural relationships we aim to rejuvenate the soils and souls we cultivate.

Calder Farm is a noncommercial, diversified farm on 100 acres in Roxbury, CT.  We grow three acres of vegetables, raise pastured poultry for both eggs and meat, raise cattle for beef, produce maple syrup and honey, and are maintaining and expanding our fruit orchard.  Our farm is focused on activating and improving our land in addition to building our community.

Mission Goals

• Encourage the adoption and expansion of sustainable agricultural practices by providing training to farm apprentices
• Harvest a great diversity of nutrient dense heirloom foods produced in a restorative & regenerative way, inspired by permaculture and indigenous land practices
• Build a farm that is active and in production all four seasons
• Provide a place for community to gather, form, and interact

Values

• We believe that by working with the natural rhythms of the soil, plants, people and microorganisms we can grow excellent tasting, nutritious food.
• We always seek to meet and exceed not only the letter of organic farming rules but also their intent. We never use chemical fertilizers, chemical pesticides or genetically modified plants. Instead we rely on things like compost, crop rotation and cover crops to keep our land and crops healthy and productive. We are committed to building healthy soil as a core principle to support regeneration efforts locally and globally.
• We believe that every effort should be made to keep farmland from being developed. It is important to preserve the open space in our community and reactivate it in order to both improve the land for future generations and pay homage to history and past land use. Farmland and open space contribute to the overall well-being of any community. Farms and forests are critical to preserving the purity of our water resources, they support wildlife, and provide places to connect with nature.

Job Description

Calder Farm is looking for a candidate experienced in regenerative farm production and interested in developing and expanding their skills in all aspects of farm production from seed to harvest.

Ideal candidates will be punctual, detail oriented, practical, organized and efficient but also possess a positive attitude, sense of humor, and common sense. We are looking for people who know how to have fun while taking pride in the completion of tasks. We are looking for individuals who are eager and enthusiastic to improve their skills and are open to constructive feedback. We are eager to train the right candidates.

Our intention is to root our practices even deeper into restoration, regeneration, permaculture, and indigenous land tending. The ideal candidate is passionate and may have an interest or experience that can contribute knowledge and skills. Herbalism and natural wellness experience is a plus.

We are hiring for the 2021 season, approximately April - November. Year-round employment opportunities are possible for the right individual. The farmer will work autonomously under the Director of Agriculture and manage 1-2 apprentices.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Greenhouse work: propagation, care of greenhouse seedlings/environment, preparation of seedling for transplant to field
• Field work: weeding, cultivation, bed preparation, transplanting, irrigation
• Harvesting a wide variety of crops
• Postharvest handling: wash, pack, store crops
• Tractor work: mowing, field prep, mechanical cultivation, etc.

Required Qualifications

• 2 years experience in related fields
• Ability to safely lift 50 pounds
• Willingness to work regardless of weather conditions, safety permitting
• Flexibility of schedule, ability to work longer days if necessary and adapt to seasonal changes
• Working on weekends is required