Company description

Bear Creek Organic Farm is widely recognized as a leader in their farm, food and greater business community. They are the first B Corp Certified Farm in Michigan and one of only a handful of B Corp farms in the United States. They've been named Local Food Heroes by the Local Food Alliance of Northern MI in 2015; Entrepreneur of Year in 2017 by the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce; and nationally, Top 40 Under 40: Fruit + Vegetable Industry in 2018 by Vegetable Growers News. Bear Creek Organic Farm was the first certified organic farm in their community, instrumental in starting two area farmers markets, planning the state’s largest small-farm conference, creating a micro-loan fund for beginning farmers, and serving on various community, non-profit, and county-level boards working towards furthering local economic and social goals.

Bear Creek Organic Farm, has grown in eight years from an apiary and field-focused market farm to a rapidly growing regional supplier of multiple greenhouse products and bustling on-farm market. With increasing demand and regional grocers adopting a more localized approach, BCOF has adopted and grown a retail-forward marketing and distribution approach to their tender greens and living herbs business.

Our farm is situated on 75 acres in pristine northern Michigan and we cultivate our crops on 3 acres. We grow in 10 greenhouses and hoophouses that account for about an acre under cover and 2 acres of intensive field production. We specialize in salad greens, microgreens, tomatoes, garlic, living herbs and spring transplants.

Apprentices on our farm would work alongside our seven full-time staff members with years of experience in the field and on our farm. We accept up to 3 apprentices per season.

Internship description

Assist in all aspects of teamwork to grow, harvest, wash/pack, and sell the highest quality organic produce in northern Michigan. Growing produce efficiently in our climate requires adaptability, quick-thinking, and an assertive approach to completing tasks. An ability to stay focused, work quickly and independently, ask good questions, pay attention to detail, and be a team-player is essential to this role. You will be involved in all aspects of our farming operation and will be expected to positively represent the brand, act with integrity, treat others with respect and kindness, and maintain a can-do attitude. You will be getting paid to learn on a fast-paced, highly productive, and dynamic market farm. This position is ideal for a self-starter who is interested in working, managing, or owning a market farm.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Possess a strong work ethic, a desire to learn, a positive attitude, and a passion for plants
• Ability to work in a greenhouse, lift 50 lbs regularly, receive direction, and enjoy problem-solving
• Ability to effectively be part of a team working collaboratively on various tasks
• Ability to learn, implement, and master the Bear Creek Process for farm tasks
• Have experience or willingness to learn to operate all farm equipment and machinery
• Basic greenhouse and hoophouse knowledge and experience is a plus but not required
• Must be 18 or older, with good personal hygiene - no vaping, smoking, or tobacco use of any kind

Compensation:
Base Pay: $12.00/hr for 40-45 hours per week plus $1000 completion bonus
One week paid time off per apprentice term.
Work shirts, books, and boots are provided.
Start date between 4/19/21 - 5/11/21.
End date between 8/13/21 to 09/30/21.
Shorter terms available on a case by case basis.

We have 3 apprentice positions available for the 2020 season.

To learn more about life on our farm, scroll through our Facebook and Instagram pages where we post daily!

https://www.facebook.com/bearcreekorganicfarm/

https://www.instagram.com/bearcreekorganicfarm/

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $7.25/hr to $15/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

February 19, 2021