Working on an Organic Farm

Volunteer Guidelines

Chef Exchange

Year-Round Positions

Apprenticeship Program


A lot of people wonder what it’s like to work on a farm.

Yes, it lets you be outside a lot (including in the freezing rain, and burning sun). Yes, it involves getting your hands dirty. And it does teach you a lot about the natural rhythms of the seasons and how to produce your own food, which is satisfying.

 

 

There are a lot of different things we do on the farm, depending on where we are in the season. We plant seeds in the greenhouse, transplant out seedlings into the field, weed the fields, pick flowers and harvest vegetables, feed and water chickens and other livestock, and collect and clean eggs, among other things.

 

VOLUNTEER

If you are interested in volunteering on the farm, please read our Volunteer Guidelines and then contact us by email to let us know when you'd like to come. We do take volunteers, sometimes have overnight acommodations available, and it can be a lot of fun to see the way a farm works behind the scenes. We ask you to dress appropriately and be ready for the fact that farming is hard work.

CHEF EXCHANGE

If you are a chef, personal chef, nutritionist, holistic health counselor, etc. you have special skills which can be valuable to our farm - and you will benefit professionally as well as personally from the first-hand knowledge you will gain from growing, harvesting, cooking and eating seasonal organic vegetables. If you would like to volunteer for a longer stay (i.e. two nights to two weeks) and we supply free housing, perhaps you can practice your skills by cooking us a meal, or offering a cooking demonstration at our farmstand, for example. Contact us with your ideas.

YEAR-ROUND POSITIONS for 2012-2013

FARM MANAGER: Work directly with owners, on busy and successful 35-acre certified organic CSA farm. Duties include: Managing 10 person field crew; tractor operation; planting; cultivating; harvesting; washing and packing; maintaining records; driving box truck; CSA deliveries.

salary, plus on-farm housing, produce, and performance bonuses. Year-round position with some unpaid winter vacation time. Min 2 years previous farm experience and multi-year commitment required. Email resume, letter of reference and 3 employer references to farmer@gardenofevefarm.com. On-farm tryout process required.

 

FARM MARKET & GARDEN CENTER MANAGER:

Duties include: Management of growing organic market business, including managing and training 5-10 retail staff, sourcing and ordering produce and plants, pricing and stocking of grocery, produce and plants, display setup and maintenance, customer interaction, sales, operating register, administration, coordination and planning of on-farm events, etc.

$25,000 starting salary (negotiable, depending on experience) plus produce and benefits. Year-round position with paid vacation time. Min 1 year previous garden center or farm market experience and 3-year commitment required. Email resume, letter of reference and 3 employer references to farmer@gardenofevefarm.com. On-farm interview required.

The Manager will need to be someone with strong initiative, self-motivated, and independent, someone interested in making their mark in a relatively young business. Candidate will have a genuine desire to assist and educate customers in product and plant purchases, as well as 2 or more years experience in a retail garden center with supervisory responsibilities, and a thorough understanding of product mix, seasonal sales, pricing, wholesale purchasing, etc. Candidate must be detail oriented with strong organizational skills and a desire to work in a family friendly organization. Other responsibilities include assisting with the following: establishing performance goals, allocation of resources and providing leadership support to achieve quality service and financial targets. Candidate must be available to work evenings and weekends.

Garden of Eve offers competitive wages along with opportunities for career growth. If you are enthusiastic and have a passion for organic and natural gardening and landscaping that will inspire co-workers and clients, we want you to apply for this position. Please e-mail cover letter, resume and salary expectations to farmer@gardenofevefarm.com

 Skills and Competencies:
* Ability to develop and train work force, build relationships, utilize skills of workforce most appropriately.
* Ability to manage garden center operations and merchandise effectively.
* Ability to provide outstanding customer service.
* Ability to adjust priorities and manage time wisely in a fast-paced environment.
* Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, understandable manner, and listen attentively to others, understands material, and provides instructions to all employees.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
* Recruit and hire staff, and Train and coach staff in execution of daily tasks and to maximize sales.
* Prioritize, plan, and coordinate work activities, and manage time and resources so that work objectives are met.
* Provide constructive suggestions and encouragement, set performance expectations, and provide honest feedback.
* Manage issues relating to Garden Center maintenance and safety.
* Coordinates sales promotion activities and pricing of merchandise.
* Oversees the preparation of merchandise placement and displays.
* Help solve problems that affect the Garden Center’s service, efficiency, and productivity.
* Plan and conduct monthly inventories ensuring its accuracy and completeness.
* Train store personnel on proper plant care practices and ensure compliance.

 

APPRENTICESHIPS

We also have a season-long apprenticeship program from April to November. By working on the farm for a whole season, our apprentices learn about all aspects of a diverse organic farm operation, and learn the skills needed to manage their own farm someday. If you think you might be interested in applying for an Apprenticeship at Garden of Eve, you can send us your resume and a letter of interest early in the season.

Click here to read "Apprentice Testimonials"

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APPRENTICES WANTED FOR 2012 SEASON

 

Positions Available Include:

Farm Manager

Apprentice Farmstand & Garden Center Manager

Farm Apprentice     

Children's Program Instructor

Novice Farmer

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FARM DESCRIPTION:

Garden of Eve is an 80-acre organic for-profit farm located in a beautiful area of Long Island’s East End (called the North Fork). We are about 2 hours from NYC in a great area of beaches, ponds, forests, farms, and great summer weather. We cultivate approximately 30 acres of mixed vegetables and 3 acres of cut flowers, focusing on great-tasting heirloom varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, potatoes, etc. We also have a flock of 1000 laying hens, and a few cows, sheep, and goats for milk, meat, and fun. We sell produce to approximately 700 CSA members at ten locations in NYC and on Long Island, to local residents from a busy farm stand on the farm, and at Greenmarket in Brooklyn and farmers markets on Long Island.

If you are interested in learning how to develop and run your own diverse sustainable farm to sustain you and your family someday financially as well as spiritually, you will find working with us very interesting. If you are just looking to learn how to grow your own food and relax in the country for a summer, you may not find it as enjoyable. We hustle.

EXPERIENCE DESIRED:
Experience preferred but not necessarily required. We are looking for apprentices who are self-directed and enjoy “attacking” the challenges that arise throughout the farm season, and who are interested in helping us improve the way we do things on the farm by sharing with us lessons from their experience on other farms and by taking responsibility for the parts of our operation that interest them. Drivers license and the ability to drive a truck, particularly in New York City, is highly desired. Sense of humor, independence, initiative, a good attitude, and a large dose of common sense are also desired. Mechanical experience, driving or fixing tractors and machinery is also highly desired.

HOURS: Approximately 55 hrs per week will be expected (i.e. 8 am – 5 pm 6 days per week), with one full day off, and some schedule flexibility upon advance request.

 

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

At Garden of Eve, education is mainly hands-on, learning-by-doing. There is no formal education at the farm. We talk while working and always make time to answer questions. We meet at least once a month and the farmers answer questions in-depth. We lend books from our sustainable agriculture collection and will make limited reading and writing assignments. We facilitate monthly visits and exchanges with other area farms, including vineyards, tree farms, etc. and other organic farm apprentices, as well as social events with neighbors and friends. Enjoy our area's natural attractions on days off including kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and swimming.

Special projects can include opportunities to make additional income through entrepreneurship, such as growing and marketing your own crops on unused farmland, pastured poultry, and production of pickles, cookies, jams, and farm arts and crafts for sale at farm stand. Other projects to improve the sustainability of our farm are welcomed including establishing educational gardens, teaching on-farm classes, and experimentation with alternative fuels (straight vegetable oil, bio diesel), etc.

 

PERIOD OF INTERNSHIP:

April 1 - end of Nov. Some flexibility is possible with beginning and ending dates, within the months of April and Nov. Novice Farmer: 1 or 2 month period during growing season. Please make the dates you are available clear in your letter of interest. Possibility to extend position through the winter for 1-2 exceptional individuals, based on performance during the regular season.

HOUSING:

We provide housing at a 5 bedroom farmhouse on the farm property which is fully furnished and includes bathroom and kitchen. Bedrooms are private but bathroom and kitchen facilities are shares. Within walking distance of beach, 5 mins drive from town (also bikeable).

MEALS: Vegetables, eggs, and other farm produce are provided free of charge. Apprentices take turns cooking lunch for the group, and Garden of Eve provides some free staples for these meals (beans, rice, pasta, etc.).  Condiments, dairy, snacks, and many other foods are available for purchase at our farm store at wholesale prices.

MATERIALS TO BE SUBMITTED: All interested applicants should submit a resume, three phone references (of which two of which should be former employers), and a letter of interest explaining previous experience and skills, and reasons for interest in this position via email to farmer@gardenofevefarm.com.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
In 2011 we expect to have approximately four farm apprentices who will each take on areas of specific responsibility as we learn your interests and skills including being the Greenhouse Manager, Flower Farm Manager, and Market Manager. Several more specialized positions are described below including Educator.

All apprentices will get a diverse experience in many different areas of large-scale commercial organic production, marketing of products and interacting with customers, as well as having days off to enjoy the sun and the beach.

 

FARM MANAGER

Duties include:

- Communicating daily with Chris regarding tasks for the day;

- Holding brief daily meeting with other apprentices to outline daily/weekly schedule;

- Directing daily activities including planting, cultivating, harvesting, processing;

- Driving tractor for most transplanting in the spring, and helping do tractor-mounted cultivating through the summer and fall;
- Maintaining all harvest data and records;

- Managing and working with farm crew and other apprentices;
- Helping harvesting, washing, packing, and loading produce with farm crew;
- Maintaining crew productivity data and time sheets.

- Monitoring packing room and inventory of harvesting supplies;
- Organizing and cleaning packing room, coolers and storage facilities;
- Analyzing and refining harvesting and packing room methods and efficiencies;
- Loading truck for delivery;

- Driving box truck into NYC for CSA deliveries.

Performance bonuses and year-round job and/or multi-year job would be available to a successful Farm Manager or couple.

QUALITIES DESIRED

• Tractor and cultivating experience highly desired
• Minimum one season's farm experience
• Some managerial experience and aptitude required
• Disciplined, Organized, Responsible, Independent and Positive.
• Basic Spanish language skills, or willingness to learn  
• A valid driver's license and ability to lift 40 pounds is required.
• This is an excellent position for someone planning to start their own farm in the next year or two, as the Farm Manager carries significant responsibility and decisionmaking independence.

STIPEND: Dependent on qualifications, plus on-site housing and income from entrepreneurial activities.

   

APPRENTICE FARMSTAND & GARDEN CENTER MANAGER

The successful candidate will be an apprentice to our year-round Farmstand & Garden Center Manager, and as such will learn the ins and outs of running a successful plant and produce growing and selling operation.

Daily tasks will include: Participating in perennial, herb and vegetable plant growing and care, including watering, transplanting, seeding, grooming, stocking, and pricing; harvesting produce daily for the farm market; caring for on-site demonstration gardens; helping with educational workshops; helping customers, cash register, stocking, pricing; planning special events and promotions; signage and displays; etc.

Farm Market tasks will include harvesting, preparing, and cooking produce for retail sale, preserving and canning, doing cooking demonstrations and possibly cooking classes.

Our vision for the garden center is to create lush, attractive environment including on-site plantings and demonstration gardens which will educate as well as sell organic and naturally-grown annuals, perennials, herb and vegetable plants.

Qualities desired:

- This will be a fun job for someone who wants to learn more about how local organic produce and plants are produced, enjoys retail and customer interaction, and will enjoy diverse daily tasks and a significant amount of independent responsibility. Reliability, attention to detail, and friendly and outgoing nature are a must. Cooking skills, retail experience, and familiarity with plants are a plus.

STIPEND: $1000/month plus housing on-site, free produce and eggs, and any income from entrepreneurial farm project.

  

  

FARM APPRENTICE

• Will participate in all aspects of vegetable farming including seeding, transplanting, weeding, and harvesting vegetables;
• Specific areas of responsibility for different apprentices will include: Greenhouse Management; Flower Farm Management, and Market Management of different markets.
• If qualified, driving and accompanying box truck into NYC for CSA deliveries, as well as driving to, setting up, and managing farmers market stand.
• Working at the farmstand and at farmers markets;
• Help pack and load truck;
• Presentation and marketing of vegetables;
• Basic livestock care of goats, sheep and chickens at the farmstand;
• Participating in all other crop-related tasks

Qualities desired:

- Ability to lift 40 pounds

- Serious Interest in the biological and entrepreneurial aspects of farming

- basic Spanish language skills helpful but not required

STIPEND: $1000/month plus housing on-site, income from entrepreneurial farm project including growing your own crops to sell at the market or farmstand, or other activities such as preserving, baking, drying herbs, etc.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR, and part-time childcare provider

If you like to spend time with kids and have a background instructing at a camp, environmental education, or other outdoor education experience, this could be a good opportunity for you.

The Children's Program Instructor will plan, promote, implement and teach classes at our farm markets on topics including organic gardening, cooking, preserving the harvest, etc. Our farmstand products and programming are oriented towards families with children and each year we look for someone with experience and interest in creating, scheduling, and teaching activities with preschool aged kids (i.e. 2-7) and their families (i.e. Bug walks, berry picking, seed planting, cooking projects, etc.) about 2-3 days/week. You may also plan, implement, recruit staff, promote and teach a small farm day camp on the farm during the summer months.

We are looking for someone who is highly self-motivated and independent, with prior experience as an instructor. The successful candidate will also have an entrepreneurial bent, with experience in creating and marketing programs successfully.

In addition, the person hired will care for Eve and Chris's 3 and 5 year old kids 2-3 days a week on the farm. Activities will include farm walks, going to the library or the beach, visiting friends, etc. Drivers lisence required.

Duties include:

30% : farm work with the other apprentices

30% : independently develop and teach weekly events for kids and families including playgroup, farm tours, cooking demonstrations, etc.

10%: help customers at the Farm Market & Garden Center

20% : help Eve with her kids (ages 2 and 4) on the farm i.e. walking around farm, in the house, some cooking (no cleaning required)- about two days/week;

Qualities desired:

- Enjoyment of small children and previous work experience i.e. babysitting, camp counselor, educator

-Experience in creating and marketing programs successfully

- Ability/interest in independently developing educational activities for kids to offer on the farm

-Self-motivated and independent, with an entrepreneurial bent

STIPEND: $1000-$1500/month plus housing on-site

NOVICE FARMER

We are willing to fill one position each month with a person who has a positive attitude and interest in exploring farming as a vocation, but who has little prior experience. The period of the “Novice” position will be between one and two months (i.e. you can select June-July, Sept-Oct, etc.).

Novice Farmers will start no earlier than June and finish no later than Thanksgiving. Email us with your interest and the months you are interested in.

Qualities desired:

• Ability to do physical manual work of farming, and interest in learning about farming and food
• Comm0n sense and a self-starter work ethic

STIPEND: $600/month plus housing on-site and & income from entrepreneurial activities.