Company description

Namchak is dedicated to sharing one of the oldest forms of Tibetan Buddhist practice and making the teachings newly accessible to Westerners. Students learn from Tibetan masters as well as Western teachers and receive support from a vibrant community. We serve students on every step of the path, from those exploring meditation for the first time to more experienced students. In addition we have several permaculture sites throughout the property dedicated to regenerative agricultural practices to provide food for retreats.

Internship description

Schedule: Seasonal April 15 - Oct 31, 2025, 40 Hours per week

General Position Description:

The Permaculture Farm Hand will play a significant support role in the overall farming operation of the Namchak Retreat Ranch. The main goal of this position is to assist with the general upkeep of permaculture sites and complete general labor tasks. We are looking for a highly self-motivated individual willing to be flexible in weekly tasks to support all farming operations.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in all aspects of the permaculture program
• Assist in monitoring Permaculture sites
• Communicate issues within the food forest to the
• Permaculture Program Manager.
• Support the Permaculture Program Coordinator in the implementation of food forest systems
• Seed saving, sorting, curing, and storage
• General weeding and weed control monitoring
• Assist in animal husbandry program
• Install no-till vegetable beds
• Perform pest management tasks
• Compost tea fertilized prep and application
• General mucking out of animal stalls
• Compost collection
• Fence maintenance
• Watering new plantings
• Installation of permaculture designs
• Pruning
• Mulching
• Native and non-native plant propagation
• Grafting
• Harvesting
• Assist other departments when needed 

Qualifications (Preferred):

• Heavy machinery operation (skid steers, excavators, tractors)
• Comfortability pulling large trailers and towing loads
• Prior experience with organic farming or permaculture
• Knowledge of correct pruning methods for shrubs and trees
• Knowledge of Montana’s invasive weeds
• Able to lift 75+ lbs
• 1 year of experience in the horticulture field

Necessary Skills

• Technical Skills - tries to continuously build knowledge and skills.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and deals with problems in a timely manner. 
• Oral Communication - Listens and gets clarification when needed. 
• Interpersonal Skills - Remains open to others ideas and represents the organization positively within the community.

Values

• Diversity – Shows respect for cultural differences. 
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well to the pressure of the position.
• Teamwork – Open to others views and ideas; Gives and welcomes feedback from fellow co-workers; Contributes to building a positive team environment.  
• Ethics – Treats people with respect; Works with integrity; Keeps commitments; Upholds the organization's values. 
• Quality – Completes work in a timely manner; Works quickly on tasks. 
• Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures, Uses equipment properly. 
• Dependability – Follows instructions, quickly responds to management direction; Commits to long hours of work when necessary; Takes responsibility for actions; Keeps commitments.
• Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time. 

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

March 30, 2025