millbrook, ny estate seeks farmer

We are looking for a farmer to design and manage a new, two to three acre market garden operation on a beautiful Hudson Valley estate. This is a hands-on position with lots of autonomy and responsibilities.

The applicant must be able to create and implement a business plan that allows the farm to be economically self-sustaining by selling at an on-site stand, local markets as well as to restaurants. In addition to the market garden, the farm will include chickens and goats/sheep for the production of dairy products.

The farm will eventually be part of a larger agritourism business on the property that will include a farm-stay, a food, and an education component. Because of the nature of the future business, the garden must be both productive and attractive with flowers and thoughtful design. Once established, a portion of what is produced will be consumed as part of the larger business.

apprentice at great song farm, hudson valley

Great Song Farm — located in New York’s Hudson Valley, across the river from Kingston and the Catskills –  is looking for an apprentice this coming season, April through November. Great Song Farm is a community centered farm, providing fresh vegetables for 90 member families through the summer and 25 families through the winter months through an on farm CSA. We cultivate 5 acres, around half planted to vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and manage 25 acres of pasture, 50 in forest, 10 wetland, and an adjacent property of 40 open acres for hay and 50 in woods. Along with our two draft horses who help us with all of our fieldwork, we have 2 heifers we will begin to milk this spring and create yogurt and butter as well as a young bull.  There is also a small flock of 25 chickens for eggs.Our workweek is Monday through Friday and Saturday Morning. Hours will vary throughout the season; we will usually work 10 – 12 hour days with an hour for breakfast and an hour for lunch included, 6 hours on Saturday.

a local history, almost forgotten

In the Gilded Age and beyond, high fashion decreed that violets were the flower of choice for Valentine’s Day, Easter, and a fragrant corsage.

At its height, in the years before World War I, Rhinebeck, New York growers shipped millions of sweet violets (viola odorata) to New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and beyond.

The history of Dutchess County violets includes the first commercial cultivars brought over after the Civil War by British brothers William and George Saltford, and the “Violet Kings” like Julius Vonder Linden, A.E. Coon and the Trombini Brothers. Dutchess County, New York, was known as the violet belt, and Rhinebeck was the buckle on the belt. At one time nearly 400 violet houses dotted Rhinebeck and surrounding villages supplying 25% of the U.S. violet crop. Cultivars like Marie Louise and Swanley White were very popular, and large fragrant corsages were the preferred flower for the Harvard-Yale football game, and the National Horse Show.

job posting in the hudson valley!

Herondale Farm a mixed-livestock, grass-based, holistically managed farm in the Hudson River Valley is looking for interns/apprentices/willing workers for the 2011 Season. Ideally April through October but the start and end dates are flexible with May through August being the most critical periods.

We raise grass-fed cows, pigs, sheep and chickens and sell to high-end restaurants, in farmers markets, and on-site at our farm store. We also share a portion of our land with Sol Flower CSA — so there is the opportunity to learn about vegetable farming as well if you’e interested.

We are currently seeking one worker for the season. The ideal candidate has:
* A strong interest in local, sustainable agriculture, specifically a desire to work with livestock.

* No experience necessary (though it would be great) We want to encourage students or aspiring farmers to come learn

* Eager, polite, able to follow direction;

* Hard-working and highly motivated. Prepared to work in the heat for long hours. Being fit and energetic helps with this.
* Good communications skills; able to work and live in a cooperative environment

Continue reading for full job description and how to apply!