Company description

Blue Pepper Farm is a pasture-based sheep dairy on 156 acres milking +/- 42 ewes and producing sheep milk yogurt right here on the farm. We are certified by Animal Welfare Approved for our high welfare standards for our sheep. We also raise about 150+ laying hens. We sell sheep milk yogurt, lamb, mutton, yarn, woven wool blankets, tanned sheepskins, and eggs. We practice regenerative farming techniques, rotational grazing, and follow organic standards (though not certified organic). A key goal of our farm is to work with the land and soil in a way that will increase biodiversity, build soil organic matter, and sequester carbon.

We also have a busy AirBNB farmstay business renting our farmhouse, yurt and a tiny house. We live across the street from the main barn and we have a studio apartment available for farm hand housing.

Job description

We're looking for a bright and energetic person (or couple) to join our farm for the 2026 season, working 5 days a week with 2 consecutive days off. As a small dairy with a small team, we look for folks that are detail-oriented and can show initiative and independence, taking part in all aspects of our operation. Shannon manages flock health and heads up the dairy side of things. Tyler is the grazier, focused on our soils and pastures, as well as the yogurt maker. We work closely with our farm hand to help them understand our choices and give them the tools and guidance to most effectively accomplish the day's tasks. We strive hard to manage the health of our flock and keep an eye on our own health - making sure we get up in the mountains or for a dip in the river/lake as often as possible.

The very basics of this position include:
1. Daily chores for sheep and chickens.
2. Milking the sheep 5x per week (5am and 4pm).
3. Washing and packing eggs.
4. Assist in the creamery with yogurt making, labelling, and washing returned glass jars.
5. Moving lots of fencing for rotational grazing!
6. Miscellaneous jobs include weed whacking/mowing fence-lines, fence troubleshooting, stacking hay, compost management, small repairs, unloading grain deliveries.

For interested applicants, we have a far more detailed description of the experience and a sample schedule from past seasons to share. We like to connect potential new hires with past farm hands to ask questions and get another perspective on the job. We've been hiring this position since 2017, so the next person will be our tenth farm hand.

Dates: April 15 - October 31

Compensation is $16/hr plus subsidized housing. The housing option is a studio apartment above our attached garage with your own kitchen, bathroom, and internet. This is a great educational opportunity (ecology, small business finance, animal husbandry, marketing) to learn first-hand about small-scale, diversified farming in the mountains. In return, we ask for 5 days of hard farm work, some early morning milkings, and a positive outlook. All this while being in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains.

Compensation

Application instructions

Deadline

February 27, 2026