Job description

Big Picture Farm is a goat dairy and farmstead confectionary located on a beautiful hillside in Townshend, Vermont. Most of our milk is transformed here at the farm into the goat milk caramels that are then shipped direct to over 300 stores nationwide. The rest of our milk goes into small batches of raw milk cheese that we make in the spring and summer and age in our cellar and distribute regionally in the fall.

We are excited to announce the launch of our Farm Apprentice Program that will commence Spring of 2014. Beginning in March we will host a series of apprentices on the farm to engage in the everyday work of farming, farm upkeep, and food production. The duration of each apprenticeship with be approximately 1 season (4-5 months). As an apprentice you will learn all aspects of our farm. As we are a seasonally shifting operation, the nature of the duties will vary from month to month. While much of the work will consist of milking, pasture-work, and other farm tasks, there will also be opportunities to learn about cheese making, cheese affinage, as well as partaking in the everyday shop work of packaging and shipping caramels.

We expect you to commit to the full time period of 4-5 months (depending on which slot you are welcomed into). As apprentices, we are happy to share and teach everything we know about running a dairy, pasturing animals, running a value added business, making cheese, processing caramel, and growing a wholesale business. In exchange, you will be filling in the nuts and bolts and everyday needs for us and working long hours on a variety of tasks from milking to mucking out barns to mowing the grass to scrubbing cheese molds to labeling caramel boxes and stuffing caramels in bags—in essence you will cover all the bases. In order for it to be worth our while to slow down and teach you these things, we expect you to commit to doing them with a positive attitude for the entire period of the internship. It would be difficult on our lives and our business if you decided mid-way through that the hard labor of farm work is not for you. We cannot emphasize this point enough: please do not apply unless you are ready to jump into this with your whole body and heart.

It is important to note that 2014 will be our fourth year in operation. With that in mind, changes are in store and we are excited that you will be here to evolve with us. We plan on adding farm dinners in the summer/fall of 2014 as well as creating a farm store and opening the farm to the public for farm tours. This will add a new dynamic to the farm and you will be asked to help make that happen and be flexible with chores as the farm evolves. Eagerness and a positive attitude are essential.

Housing & meals: Housing is provided in a spacious and charming two bedroom house, a former colt barn, right here on the farm smack in the middle of it all. You will share the colt barn with the other apprentice but each will have his/her own private bedroom. Internet, phone, hot water, heating, and all utilities are provided. There is a big kitchen for cooking but we do not provide food or meals. You will be expected to do your own shopping and prepare your own food. Our location is on the top of a hill in Townshend. It is extremely isolated. It is not realistic to think you could walk or bike to town as the mountain is quite steep. Having your own form of transportation is a requirement.
Compensation: In addition to housing you will receive a small stipend.

Hours: You will be expected to work 45 hours a week with 1.5 days off per week.

Couples: We would be happy to fill the position with a couple or two close friends if both candidates seem right for the job. However, given the nature of the work and scheduling on the farm, you should not expect to enjoy the same days off.

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