Company description

We are a for-profit, certified organic, family owned and operated farm, managed by two experienced owner/operators and three additional full-time managers. We distribute to 450 member families through a year-round CSA, our primary outlet. We attend one summer farmers market, offer retail sales during CSA pick-up, sell 120 bouquets/week from June to October, and sell over 1000 flats of certified organic seedlings at our spring seedling sale. Our goal is to distribute high quality produce and flowers, provide a meaningful employment opportunity for our team, continually refine our systems to improve soil fertility, crop quality, production efficiency, and achieve the financial success required to make our goals possible.

Our team
The foundation of our team is a close-knit group of five managers, including the owners, who have been working together for three years now. The owners, Kevin and Brittany, work full time on farm, and are very involved in daily operations. We have built solid working relationships and a culture of commitment to quality and efficiency as a team, with respect for individual well-being. We are supported by several year-round, part-time crew members, six work-for share members and a seasonal crew of 3-5 additional folks. We look forward to team lunches, birthday desserts and the moments of awe, wonder and deep satisfaction that come from working on a farm. We love the work that we do and the time we spend together making this farm possible.

Our Location

Close to the heart of New England, we are just 45 minutes from the Ocean, the Mountains and both Boston and Worcester. Our farm is 131 acres, abutted by open space and the Nissitissit River. There are places in town to swim and hike, a bike path that connects to other area towns, and a small grocery, pharmacy and other amenities.

Internship description

We are seeking someone with full-season farm experience who is interested in learning and practicing management responsibilities. This position includes training to operate as an independent manager of small harvests and production projects. Working from Wednesday to Sunday, this person will work closely with the managers Wednesday through Friday to understand the work plan for the week, and, after training, will manage workflow on Saturday and Sunday independently, or with a small crew of one or two additional team members. There is the possibility for this position to grow into a full-time management role.

Harvest management: work closely with the farm manager and assistant harvest manager to practice efficient harvest of a wide variety of seasonal crops and manage small harvests with one or two other staff members.

Propagation management: learn the important nuances of vigorous seedling production.

Production: practice all aspects of crop production as the season progresses, including bed preparation, transplanting, trellising, mulching, cultivation and pest and disease control. This position will also receive special training in irrigation management.

Qualifications

• Minimum one full season experience on a production farm
• The ability to work both independently and as a part of a team
• Capable of meeting the physical demands of the job including, lifting and carrying 20-40 pounds frequently, 50 pounds on occasion, completing most work while standing/walking/bending and/or squatting, using tools such as knives, hoes, rakes and wheelbarrows for extended periods of time
• Able to settle into, sustain and enjoy repetitive work.
• Willing and able to work outside in all weather conditions
• Able to accept, digest and retain constructive feedback
• Strong, clear and kind communication skills
• Strong observation skills
• Strong spatial perception and reasoning (eg, you're good at packing a full car)
• Able to receive and retain a series of detailed instructions (some of us have a good memory, some of us write things down, etc)
• Detail and quality oriented without being perfectionist (many of us here are recovering perfectionists)
• Self-aware. Able to practice self-care such as staying hydrated and nourished, knowing your limitations and boundaries, arriving to work with appropriate gear
• Adaptable and open minded. Our work varies from hour to day, to week, to month. Diversified organic vegetable production is highly complex. They way we harvest or care for a certain crop changes due to a variety of reasons and conditions. We are interested in working with folks who want to pay attention to, learn, and practice the complexities of this profession.
• Valid driver’s license. Our farm is separated by a road and we are required to drive on the road daily for regular farm tasks.
• Interest and ability to operate equipment such as trucks, small gas pumps, walk-behind tractors, skid steer, tractors. Training will be provided.

Schedule

Start Date: March 4th, we can accommodate a start date as late as May 13th.

End Date: November 16th. Extended hours through winter may be possible.

March, October and November: Tuesday-Friday 8am-4pm plus 6 hours of weekend duties every other weekend. (32 hours/week)

April-September: Wednesday-Friday 7am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am-3pm (37 hours/week) – there will be some flexibility on when weekend hours are completed.

Each shift over four hours includes a 15 minute paid break. Each full day shift included a 1-hour unpaid lunch break.

Sometimes additional hours will be made available. These hours are always optional.

Compensation

$17/hour, plus time and a half for overtime

1 hour paid sick time for every 30 hours worked

40 hours paid “wellness” time available after two months of employment

$200 gear stipend available after two weeks employment

A vegetable CSA share plus surplus and seconds when available.

Paid participation in local farm education opportunities through EMass CRAFT, 20 hours

Optional on-farm, furnished housing for $600/month incl: all utilities, internet, washer/dryer

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

May 01, 2025