Company description

Big Picture Farm is a goat dairy, (cheese) creamery and farmstead confectionary located on a beautiful hillside in Townshend, Vermont.  Our approximately 40 saanens, alpines and nubian goats live happy and healthy lives rotating through the rich pastures and leafy woodlands that characterize our hillside Vermont farm. We are animal welfare approved and the happiness of our goats is the highest priority. Most of our milk is transformed into our award winning goat milk caramels which are sold to 600 stores around the country. The rest of our milk goes into small batches of raw milk cheese which is sold at farmers market and by a local distributor here in Vermont. In addition to our goats we keep 24 laying hens, 3 hogs and tend an active flower, vegetable garden, and fledgling fruit orchard.

Internship description

We are looking to hire a Goatherd & Cheesemaking Apprentice starting June 15(though as late as July 1 would be considered). The health and happiness of our goats is the highest priority here on the farm -- that is what determines the high quality of our milk, which in turn sustains us. Our Goatherd will train over the summer with our current herd manager to learn the ins and outs of animal husbandry, sanitary milking practices,and herd management. In addition you will be working as assistant cheesemaker and learn the ins and outs of making a raw milk aged cheese as well as the wondrous intracacies of affinage.

We have 35 milking ladies who we treat as family. We welcome you to meet them by visiting www.bigpicturefarm.com/goats. They are moved to fresh pasture after every milking, so duties will also  include setting up and taking down the solar electric pastures as the goats rotate through over 130 acres of the hillside, moving the goats back and forth to the barn from the pastures, milking in an 8 stanchion parlor, chores and weekly mucking. In addition we have 24 or so hens, three pigs, 2 dogs and 2 cats who you will be partially responsible for feeding and looking after. Since a large part of a dairy is maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, a lot of time is spent making sure the barn and milking areas are meticulous to ensure that our milk is of the very highest quality, as well as the creamery when you are on cheese duty. No prior experience on a farm or with goats is required - we are willing to train anyone with a positive attitude, a love of animals and food and that enjoys hard and rewarding work. Since we milk at 5:30 am in the summer, someone who likes to see the sunrise is also a plus. And it is indeed a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise.

We have a great crew - in addition to the two of us (owners Luke & Louisa) we have 5 full time folk working on the farm year round. And that balloons to 10 or so in the fall. We also live in a valley with a great farming community. Housing is included. You will be living on farm in a charming two bedroom converted colt barn with one roommate. There is a large kitchen, living room and shared office/studio area as well. The farm is located on a rural hillside which means there are endless opportunities for long trail walks, hiking and foraging. Since it is quite rural and up a steep hill your own transportation is required. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate couples at this time. No pets.

Hours 40 to 45 hours a week, two consecutive days off per week
Commitment We are hoping for someone who can stay until Dec 21st -- the end of our milking season, but would consider someone who can stay until Oct 15th.

UPDATE. WE HAVE HIRED FOR THIS POSITION. WE WILL BE LOOKING TO HIRE AGAIN FOR A FALL GOATHERD BEGINNING IN AUGUST. IF THIS IS OF INTEREST, EMAIL US.

Compensation

this position is: stipend / non-monetary compensation

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline