Farmer needed in the Berkshires Stanton Home
- Date Posted January 23, 2019
- Location Great Barrington, MA
- Category Agriculture / Production
- Job type Full-Time
Our garden and farm is part of Stanton Home. Stanton Home provides residential care and a comprehensive day program for adults with special needs. Job description
Stanton Home Farm is looking for a crew member for the 2019 growing season. We are a very unique farm and social services program located in the Berkshires, just a few miles from downtown Great Barrington.
Stanton Home Farm is part of a community that provides residential care and a comprehensive day program for adults with special needs, and the Stanton Home farmhouse is the hub of our community. The entire community gathers here for communal meals and our day program. Our team is a mixture of local and international volunteers, and employed staff. Our young volunteers devote up to a year of their lives to live and work at Stanton Home. On days off there are always people to hang-out with and have fun!
The ideal candidate is someone who has some experience with planting, weeding, and harvesting, either from a garden/farm education program, WWOOF or CSA volunteer experience, or prior farm work. In addition, because our farm focuses not only on growing healthy organic foods for our day and residential programs but also providing an enriching garden/farm experience for our program participants, it is important that you are not only enthusiastic and energetic about sustainable agriculture but are also open to working side by side with adults with developmental disabilities.
In 2019, we will be growing on just under 2 acres of land, this includes a small garden, two fields, and two high tunnels. In addition to expanding our growing space, we will be experimenting with growing dry beans. As well as vegetables, there are also perennial/annual herbs, fruits, and flowers. Neighboring farms have livestock operations, so if this is an interest it may be possible to gain some experience in this area as well. Finally, there is plenty of opportunity for someone to contribute their skills in farm-related building and carpentry skills, if this is an interest.
The position runs from May through September, but if you are a college student we will do our best to accommodate your school schedule. The work week is generally 40-50 hours, but may vary, depending on tasks to be accomplished; you will always have at least one full day a week off, the goal is for everyone to have two consecutive days twice a month. Compensation is $12 per hour, plus room and board at the farm. No worries if you do not have a car, downtown is a quick bike ride, there are also vehicles available for volunteers and staff to use on a limited basis.