Company description

Saxtons River, Vermont was traditionally pasture land for sheep and cows. An orchard was planted on the land that is Radicle Apple in the early 1900s and purchased by the family of the current stewards in 1961 shortly after they purchased the farm buildings to use as a respite from city life. Since then, the orchards have expanded and contracted. They have been tended by lifelong farmers as well as myriad weekend visitors who came from New York City to refill their bellies with farm bounty and refuel their souls by the labor they offered. After 2000, when the price of apples fell to a historical low, the business could not survive and most of the orchards were abandoned or cut down to stumps. The remaining orchards continued operation while struggling with the plight of small farmers everywhere—never having the scale to thrive or the budget to grow. Twenty years later, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original purchasers began to reimagine the land and, with a renewed sense of commitment, created Radicle Apple.

Working in tandem with the Vermont Foodbank, Radicle Apple is committed to understanding our role in a sustainable ecosystem that begins with promoting a healthy and thriving orchard and ends with fresh fruit, packed with care and delivered into the hands of Vermont’s food insecure population.

Funding in the forms of grants, donations, and earned income through added-value products will support the operations of the orchard and the creation of a vibrant ecosystem.

Internship description

The Intern Program at Radicle Apple is a hands-on learning environment for post-graduate young people who are interested in agriculture, sustainability, philanthropy, community building, and small business development. Interns will work with orchardists Zeke Goodband and Ali Stevenson and live on-site at Radicle Apple.

Primary responsibilities will include picking apples and other fruit in the orchard and packing the fruit for distribution to the Vermont Foodbank and other clients. Interns will also learn about the basic lifecycle of the orchard including Integrated Pest Management practices, the basics of pruning, ecological stewardship and participate in robust roundtable conversations about the business of agriculture and the basics of farm management from the leaders of Radicle Apple and several outside guest speakers. Additional intern responsibilities can include research and development of partnerships, management of social media strategy and platforms, special projects that align with unique interests, and more.

Compensation is $600 per 40 hour week and rooming as well as access to all of the amenities of the 1000-acre property. No one will work more than 8 hours a day or more than 5 days a week.

An undergraduate degree or work toward a degree is preferred but not necessary.

Radicle Apple is an equal opportunity employer who values an inclusive environment and takes seriously its responsibility to expand access to land and experience.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Commitment to kindness
• Commitment to undertake the ongoing work of dismantling personal bias and all forms of supremacy
• Accepting and Open-Minded
• Excellent work ethic
• Comfort working outside in all weather conditions
• Collaborative
• Strong communicator
• Attention to detail
• Curiosity and ambition for operational excellence
• Willingness to follow and develop protocol
• Ability to assume best intentions of all co-workers
• Desire to do things differently and a belief in doing well while doing good

4 ½ MONTH or 2 ½ MONTH TIME COMMITMENT:

June 15 – October 31

August 15 - October 31

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

Housing

COVID-19 NOTICE:

We are a fully vaccinated community and require all residents to be vaccinated and boosted, providing a vaccine certificate upon acceptance. We understand the ever-evolving nature of this pandemic and seek to create a healthy and thriving environment for all of our residents, employees, and partners by wearing masks when necessary, being thoughtful in our activities and exposures, and testing on a regular basis.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

May 16, 2022