Company description Big Picture Farm is a goat dairy, (cheese) creamery and farmstead confectionary located on a beautiful hillside in Townshend, Vermont.  Our approximately 40 saanens, alpines and nubian goats live happy and healthy lives rotating through the rich pastures and leafy woodlands that characterize our hillside Vermont farm. We are animal welfare approved and the happiness of our goats and the land they graze is of the highest priority. Most of our milk is transformed into our award winning goat milk caramels which are sold to 600 stores around the country. The rest of our milk goes into small batches of raw milk cheese which is sold at farmers market and by a local distributor here in Vermont. In addition to our goats we keep 24 laying hens, several hives of bees, 3 hogs and tend an active flower & vegetable garden, and have a fledgling fruit orchard. Internship description

We are looking for someone eager to learn the ins and outs of all aspects of a farmstead goat dairy and creamery. We are hoping for someone to start March 1 so that you can get to know our wonderful herd of ladies before kidding season begins in April. During kidding season we make sure all the needs of our goats are met as they bring new life into the world. It is an exciting time as we expect around 70 kids to be born on the farm over a one month period. After that the routines slowly fall into place of milking, rotating pastures and making cheese. As an apprentice you will learn the ins and outs of everything we do here on the farm from holistic health management of the goats & milking, to rotational grazing, to cheesemaking & affinage, as well as tending the homestead scale gardens and orchards. For the right person there is also the opportunity to work on the confectionary side of things helping with caramel and our new line of chocolate confections. In addition you will be in charge of feeding the pigs, hens, cats & dogs and occasionally help with bee work as it is needed.

You will live in a charming old colt barn right in the middle of the farm that has a large kitchen, two bedrooms and a shared office/studio space as well as living room. You will be sharing this house (but have your private bedroom) with another farm employee. 

We are looking for applicants who have a positive attitude, an excellent work ethic, are easy to get along with and have a strong passion for farms, great food and do not mind living rurally. Our mountain is a beautiful one, but it is a bit isolated and as such we do require that you have your own vehicle.

We ask that you work 40-45 hours a week over a 5 day period in exchange for housing, heat, and all utilities including phone/internet and a stipend of $200/week. Potential for this to rise as you become speedy and efficient.
Start Date: March 1-April 1. Finish date: Oct 1- Dec 22.

Sorry, because we have two very large Maremma dogs who live outside year-round we have a no pets policy. 
 

Compensation this position is : stipend / non-monetary compensation
Application instructions Deadlineno deadline