Company description

We are a community-run small-scale woodland goat dairy. Our Nubian milking does are co-owned by our herdshare, and we have a thriving work-learning barter-ship program . We make herbal-infused goatmilk soap and host spring baby goat cuddles and year-round goat hikes. We have a reverance for our herd's wisdom and they harvest their own food and medicine during the growing season, supplemented by local hay and grain.

Job description

ROLE: Part time weekend farmwork on small-scale Nubian goat dairy leading goat hikes, hosting baby goat cuddle sessions, and assisting with goat care.

PERKS:
+Weekly quart of milk and monthly soap share provided
+Biweekly meetings with owner for further farm education
+Balanced mix of goat farming and interpersonal communication
+Endless goat hugs
+One paid weekend off

ADDRESS:
Dreamgoats at Idlewild Farm (on site of flower farm)| 10594 Button Rd Belding, MI 48809 (half hour drive from Grand Rapids, MI)

HOURS & SEASON: 15-18 hrs/week, $17-20/hr based on experience, Fridays (~3-8p), Saturday-Sunday (~10a-3p), mid April-November

IDEAL CANDIDATE: You have at least one full season of experience working on a farm (or in a similar outdoor role, i.e. landscaping, trailwork, etc.) with excellent recommendations. You are able to work confidently on your own, ask good questions, and communicate effectively in writing and in person. You are excited by the vision of Dreamgoats and motivated to learn about the full life-cycle of goat health. You are equally capable of addressing a group of strangers and forking manure into a wheelbarrow in the summer heat. Others would describe you as adaptable, empathetic, tenacious, and eager to learn.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

+Training under owner for two weeks, plus biweekly meetings and weekly check-ins
+Assisting with kidding season early to mid May (hours may differ from regular weekend shifts)
+Leading twelve cuddle sessions per weekend mid-May-June
+Practicing for goat hiking season during cuddle season
+Leading six community hikes per weekend, July-November
+Facilitating positive and impactful visitor experience
+Communicating with guests via phone and email in the case of event cancellation
+Maintaining an organized barn
+Performing basic goat chores and herd management (varies throughout season)
+Sending volunteer updates for those on Saturday & Sunday night shifts
+Managing the sale of merchandise at agritourism events
+Learning to identify and problem areas (herd health/infrastructure/operating procedures) and making plans to ensure solutions are reached

Applications accepted until March 1st, 2025.

Compensation

Application instructions

Deadline

March 01, 2025