Company description

Scalawag Farm is a small goat dairy and creamery based in rural central Maine which features Nigerian Dwarf goats. We are licensed to sell bottled raw milk as well as fresh (soft) cheese like chèvre and aged cheese such as feta. We also sell ground goat meat. We use a variety of regenerative and organic practices and commodities. While our business focuses on our goats and their dairy products, our farm is centered around a desire to steward the land on which we reside, to hopefully leave it in better shape than when we arrived.

We are a relatively young farm -- we have both been on the farm full-time since 2024, and were officially licensed to start selling raw milk that same year.

We sell to a handful of small wholesale accounts and direct to consumers via farm markets, or via appointment to come to the farm to pick up orders. We may be adding at least one other market this season, but currently we will be attending Camden market on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the season. This will be our second year attending a farmer's market, and we hope to grow our customer base substantially in 2026.

We also grow a medium sized farm garden which features a variety of flowers, produce, and herbs. We have a small herd of 3 Hereford cows who graze the property, as well as a flock of Muscovy ducks and chickens who (sometimes) provide us eggs and definitely eat lots of bugs and pests on the property. All the animals play a role in our land stewardship journey.

We also have two livestock guardian dogs, who are excited to meet you as long as you are excited to meet them! They are omnipresent when working with the herd.

Job description

NOTE: this is essentially a part-time version of our full-time job posting. All the criteria remain the same -- this position differs in that it is 16-20 hours per week, and in that you will likely be asked to do anything on a given day, whereas the full-time position will have a good idea of their daily schedule before hand.

The main goal of any employee of Scalawag Farm is ensuring all of our goats can be the best goat they can be. This means providing an environment which is safe, clean, stimulating, and generally as stress-free as possible. Primary responsibilities will revolve around these ideals. Tasks include moving the goats rotationally through pasture, ensuring each individual is assessed for dietary or other health needs, maintaining a baseline level of cleanliness in their barns and paddocks, and making sure they have everything they need, nutritionally or otherwise.

As we are a dairy farm, a lot of the responsibilities for employees revolve around milking. We milk out of a retrofitted shipping container which was designed and built to satisfy requirements for the production of raw milk. Employees are expected to learn all facets of our dairy system from getting the goats in the parlor, milking them, getting milk to the bulk tank, cleaning the system and rooms, bottling milk, pasteurizing milk, and making cheese. While experience is not necessary, candidates who do have experience will receive priority. We will need to train any employees to the specificities of our system.

The right candidate is enthusiastic about farm life, eager to support small agricultural networks, loves animals and being outside. The job involves lots of walking and lifting, but also plenty of time to spend being tender with the animals, and just observing them.

This position prioritizes reliability and versatility. While we can be flexible with establishing a schedule, once it is agreed upon it needs to be stuck to.

We have Zero Tolerance Policy regarding cruelty or violence towards any animal on the farm. If you cannot be patient with animals or you have a "short fuse," this is not the job for you.

Employees must possess:

Transportation to and from the farm

Ability to lift 50 lbs

Ability to stand and walk for hours at a time.

Ability to work Saturday mornings from End of May Thru October

Comfortability with farm animals as well as dogs and cats

Good time management skills; Punctual and consistent

Good communication skills

Farm Responsibilities include (but not limited to):

Rotating the herd through pastures, herd management, identifying when a goat needs special supervision

All phases of milk and cheese production (will train if not experienced)

Garden upkeep; weeding, watering, harvesting

Some tractor work (will train if not experienced)

While there are certainly a wide variety of tasks on the farm, we are primarily seeking someone who really wants to work with goats and learn to milk/work in our system.

Compensation

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

Application instructions

If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free!

Deadline

May 15, 2026