The owners of this property, John and June Strothenke are selling in the most unusual way – an essay contest! It costs $1000 to enter but they are only accepting 420 applicants so that odds that you could win are relatively high! Continue reading
Category Archives: Work + Land opportunities
job opening: field manager at new morning farm pa.
credit: new morning farm
New Morning Farm are looking for an experienced Field Manager, who will be responsible for equipment, soils, crop establishment, etc. The successful candidate will work with a great team, the best equipment, excellent soils and incredible markets. This is the perfect opportunity that will allow you to see how your own decisions and efforts can result in high-quality, profitable, organic crops. The salary is $33-36K to start, plus profit share. This position is ideally a long term position that may include the possibility of work-to-own.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Applying amendments, tillage, plastic laying, bare ground, and stale bed preparation
- Operating and maintaining 50-70hp tractors, vacuum seeder, 2 types of transplanters, bed shaper/plastic layer, manure spreader, rotavators, etc.
- General maintenance and repair of buildings and vehicles, general facility and familiarity with tools and welding helpful
- Crop establishment including seeding, transplanting, and cover crop planting
- Record-keeping to meet requirements of organic certification, including soil amendment, planting, transplanting, and maintenance
- Training and supervision of others in the operation of various tractors, implements, vehicles and other equipment
- Work closely with farm manager and owners in establishing seasonal and longer-term strategies for crops, soil, and equipment
New morning farm also offer a number of apprenticeships each year, click HERE to read more about their apprenticeship programme, applications will be processed this month so don’t leave it too long to apply!!
Please email jobs@newmorningfarm.net, if you are interested in applying.
assistant gardiner position in vermont.
Bread and Puppet Theater, in Glover, Vermont, is looking for an organic gardener to assist the head gardener in the theater’s gardens which total about an acre.The position is for mid April to mid October of 2018. At the height of the season (June-August) the farm feeds 80-150 people. Storage crops and preserves from the garden are provisions for a small company of 2-12 during the rest of the year.
Applicants should have experience working on an organic farm and managing volunteers. Bread and Puppet Theater are looking for a candidate with good communication and self directed organizational skills as well as an enthusiasm for the grassroots life. The successful candidate will work closely on a daily basis with the head gardener, helping manage all aspects of the garden’s operation including planning in the spring, planting, cultivation, guiding volunteers, harvesting, maintaining a close association with the kitchen and community, and closing down the garden in the fall. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in living communally in a vibrant, socially active artist collective. Food, housing, and a small stipend are provided.
Ideally, interested candidates would be free to go to the far this summer to see the farm and meet the head gardener.
If you or somebody you know is interested in applying for this position, please send a letter of introduction which details your experience and interest in addition to your resume and contact information for two references to tamarschmnn@yahoo.com.
farmland for the next generation
credit: AFT
The success of the next generation of farmers and ranchers is crucially dependant on whether they can secure suitable land to start and expand their operations. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, the number of new farmers and ranchers in the United States decreased 20 percent from 2007 and hit a 30-year low. In acknowledgement of this barrier for young farmers, the American Farmland Trust have just recently announced that 24 experienced educators will serve as Land Access Trainers to help beginning farmers and ranchers secure agricultural land. This will be part of a nationwide, four-year-long project and the chosen trainers are located in each of the 10 U.S. farm production regions. The American Farmland Trust is a national nonprofit organization that works to protect farmland, promote sound farming practices and keep farmers on the land.
hudson valley farm incubator program– deadline to apply jan.6
Apply for Glynwood Farm’s Business Incubator!
The deadline for initial applications and letters of intent for Glynwood’s Hudson Valley Farm Business Incubator (HVFBI) has been extended to January 6, 2017, with the 2017 program beginning in early next May.
HVFBI is taking the “long view” on supporting a new generation of farmers in the region, equipping participants with the tools and guidance to successfully get there. Visit their website for more information.
another free farm offer
More info here.
know someone who knows someone in London that wants to save a farm ?
OgranicLea, a very awesome workers collective near London in the Lea Valley put out the following call for help on their blog:
“A coalition of growers is working with Haringey Council to explore taking on Wolves Lane, a 2 acre former plant nursery in north London. The goal is to turn the site into a centre/hub for community food enterprise and prevent the loss of the extensive rare urban glasshouse infrastructure.
The lead partner is Organiclea, an award winning and internationally renowned workers’ co-operative with over 15 years of experience doing similar work in a neighbouring London borough. They have a 12 acre site nearby and are currently supporting new groups of growers to take on sites under their farmstart program.
The aim is for an initiative that grows and distributes sustainably produced food to local residents and businesses; engages a wide range of people in learning and skills activities, and health and well-being benefits; establishes itself as a centre for promoting healthy eating; and offers space for community groups and social enterprises to run activities that benefit the community.
A presentation is being given to the council on 10th October and the pitch would be greatly enhanced if we could find seed funding of £20k. Given the tight turn around of this bid, we are seeking this from private donors and trusts; this money could be given as a gift or a ten year loan, if preferred.
Please contact Brian Kelly on 07816 930585 or brian@organiclea.org.uk if you want to find out more.”
apply for amazing farm incubator program in NC
(c) 2012 || http://www.studiomathewes.com/blog
The Roots & Fruits Farm Business Incubator in Black Mountan, NC provides the tools and resources aspiring agricultural entrepreneurs need to develop and manage viable farm enterprises in Appalachia. The Incubator reduces the traditional barriers to success for new farm businesses by providing access to land, shared equipment, infrastructure, low-interest capital, business mentoring, and training in advanced practical skills. Launching farm-based businesses in the supportive, low-risk environment of the Incubator greatly increases the likelihood of business viability and success.
Once their businesses have matured to the point of self-sufficiency, we will assist Incubator graduates in transitioning to longer-term landholdings in the region, ensuring they will have a place to operate their businesses independently while also bringing more land into production. Through the Incubator, we will be ushering in a new generation of profitable, conservation-oriented farm entrepreneurs while bringing more preserved farmland into production and investing in farm communities across the region.
We are currently seeking proposals for the 2016-2018 seasons. The length of the lease period will be 2 years. All needed infrastructure is in place, including water supply, irrigation lines, chicken coop & run, hoop houses, greenhouse, wash facilities, cold storage, and a multi-purpose shed. All business infrastructures are in place, including direct selling through Roots & Fruits market & café.
Jump-start your farm business on the Front Porch of North Carolina! Are you looking for a low-risk entry point for your organic and biologically intensive farm practice? Join us in our campaign to re-imagine human-scale food systems. Together we will empower through education and build an inspiring community through food.
Learn more and apply at: http://rootsandfruitsmarket.com/?p=326.
beginning woman farmer mentorship opportunity in iowa
The Women, Food and Agriculture Network is accepting applications for their Harvesting Our Potential program, an 8-10 week internship for women who are interested in farming/raising food or food products. The purpose of the program is to empower women who want to farm by providing them on-farm experience and a network of other women in food and agriculture. There is no cost to the intern, and they receive a small stipend of $500 if they complete the program and their evaluation forms (which are quite simple). They work with a female farmer who has been farming for at least 5 years. The intern would fill out an application, which allows them to share the type of farming they are interested in, then they will be matched with the best mentor for their interests. We have mentors across Iowa.
There are opportunities for the women to live on-farm or, if their mentor is close by, they can drive to the farm on their scheduled workdays. They set up goals with their mentor, and then track those goals over the course of the time they are involved.
To apply to be a mentee, click HERE!
Find more on the Harvesting Our Potential program and WFAN by clicking HERE.
Thanks to Anna Johnson for sharing this info with us!
sweet summer gig/farming opportunity at intentional quaker community in east chatham, ny
You could drive the scenic Taconic State Parkway to get there!
This just in from Quaker Intentional Village-Canaan:
“Two families in our community are looking to jointly hire a person to work 30-40 hours a week during the summer, starting as early as June 1. Duties include childcare for two small children, driving and errands for an elderly couple, and light household chores.
Payment includes free room and some board in the household with children, plus cash payment of $1000/month to $1500/month, depending on hours worked for the household with the elderly couple.
We are part of a small intentional community called the Quaker Intentional Village-Canaan, dedicated to seeking a more spiritually focused lifestyle and living more simply and sustainably. Our ideal candidate would be interested in intentional community and/or the Quaker way of life. You would be invited to use our land for gardening or other land-based projects, and you would also be welcome to join community events including our weekly Friday night potluck dinners.”
Interested?
Contact Hana Askren or Spee Braun at info@qivc.org – landline (518) 392-0289
usda makes another website
USDA has a new website and you can see it here. Its purpose is to support new farmers and is pretty awesome.
We are thankful for the websites, USDA!
What we’d like is a national land bank that holds land in transition and allows young farmers to buy their way into ownership over the course of 30 years without having to face the rapid fire/ long waiting lists/ prejudiced bankers.
We can dream.
uncle sam wants you to live and farm on a national park
For readers who are staring out the window of a chilly office on a sunny day, dreaming about a life digging into the land, with miles of hiking trails and quiet, pastoral valleys right outside of your front door…the National Park Service may have a job for you.
amtrak residency
an idea for the off-season, for our farmer/writers.
Amtrak is excited to announce the official launch of the #AmtrakResidency program.
#AmtrakResidency was designed to allow creative professionals who are passionate about train travel and writing to work on their craft in an inspiring environment. Round-trip train travel will be provided on an Amtrak long-distance route. Each resident will be given a private sleeper car, equipped with a desk, a bed and a window to watch the American countryside roll by for inspiration. Routes will be determined based on availability.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by a panel. Up to 24 writers will be selected for the program starting March 17, 2014 through March 31, 2015. A passion for writing and an aspiration to travel with Amtrak for inspiration are the sole criteria for selection. Both emerging and established writers will be considered.
Residencies will be anywhere from 2-5 days, with exceptions for special projects.
There is no cost to apply for the #AmtrakResidency program. For more information, please read our Official Terms.
the irresistible fleet of bicycles 