Farm Management Internship – Growing Gardens
Last Updated On: noviembre 20th, 2023 at 08:38AM MST
Contact information
Farm Address:1630 Hawthorn Ave
Boulder, Colorado, 80304
Primary Contact: Sarah Kell
Primary Phone:
Type: Office
Number: 3034439952
Email: sarah@growinggardens.org
Website: https://www.growinggardens.org
Internship information
General Farm Description: Growing Gardens operates a 6-acre mixed vegetable urban farm and orchard. We grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for a CSA program, weekly farm stand, and a donation program. We work with all ages and folks of many different backgrounds and abilities.CRAFT Member Farm? No
Internship Starts: 3/5/2024
Internship Ends: 11/1/2024
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: None, reviewing applications and starting interviews as they are received
Minimum Length of Stay: 8 months
Internship Details:
Organic Farm Management Internship
Full Season 2024
March 5 – November 1
Reports to: Boulder Farm Manager
Job Status: Intern
Compensation: $15.66/hour plus paid time off and weekly produce, seasonally
Location: Boulder, CO
Check out our Internship Digital Booklet!
Growing Gardens’ mission is to cultivate community through sustainable urban agriculture. Our programs empower people of all ages, income levels, and abilities by connecting them with their local food system, each other, and the environment.
Our organization values the diverse skills and individuals that come together to create a thriving community and workplace. We are committed to the work we do, and bring our best selves each day, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, have fun, and enjoy the process of doing good in our community. We take care of each other and put people at the center of everything we do.
The Farm Management Intern works in all aspects of the Boulder farm with the dairy and growing teams, Cultiva youth, and volunteers to support a CSA program, donation program, and farm stand. The Farm Management Internship is fast paced and requires a great deal of hard work, focus, and care.
Farm Intern Duties
- Assist the Farm Manager and growing staff in all aspects of farm operation:
- Weekly chore shifts at the goat dairy, including aspects of milk production, animal care, grazing and rotational management, and educational events for the public
- Planning, installation, and operation of irrigation systems
- Bed preparation and planting
- Seeding, transplanting, thinning, and fertilizing both seedlings in the greenhouse and field crops
- Early season greenhouse growing for the plant sale and field crops
- Cultivation and weeding
- Pest and disease management
- Harvesting, washing, and packing of crops for CSA, farm stand, wholesale accounts, and donations
- Help to manage and run CSA pickups and the farm stand
- Cover cropping, soil sampling, and understanding of soil health on the farm
- Operation of tractors, mowers, and other farm equipment
- Maintenance of grounds and site infrastructure
- Record-keeping
- Assist with produce donation program
- Assist, teach, and work with diverse populations and ages in greenhouse, wash station, and field-related tasks
- Lead volunteer projects with people of differing abilities
- Assist with other operations of the non-profit, and help with set up and execution of other farm-based events
Structure of Internship
- Internship duration is March 5 – November 1, 2024
- Interns are paid hourly at $15.66/hour. Note: we do not provide housing as part of this internship.
- Intern position is 30-40 hours per week. Intern can expect to work 20-30 hours per week in March, and then usually 40 hours per week the rest of the season. Some of those hours will take place on evenings and weekends.
- Weekend watering shifts are required March-September.
- Intern will attend the internship orientation meeting.
- Intern will work closely with a mentor who oversees daily activities and supports each Intern’s growth during the season.
Benefits of Interning with Growing Gardens
- Experience working on and managing a diversified vegetable operation.
- Hands-on experience making a positive impact in the lives of children, teens, and adults.
- Community connections and networking within the burgeoning local food movement.
- Friendly, relaxed environment.
- Develop marketable teaching, leadership, and management skills.
- Classroom training offered through Growing Gardens classes.
- Access to a wide variety of discounted organic seeds and plant starts including 50% off at our Plant Sale
- Fresh weekly vegetables from the farm as the season permits June-October (about $25 per week)
- 50% off additional produce grown on our farm from our Farm Stand June-October
- All Growing Gardens internships qualify for university credit if that is desired by the intern
- Site is centrally located and easily accessed via public transportation.
- 40 hours of PTO for the season, in addition to 3 federal holidays and 2 growing team shut down days. Total of 80 hours of paid PTO and Holiday leave.
Qualifications
- Responsible, dedicated, and organized individual
- Strong work ethic and a passion for learning how to grow food and develop community
- Ability to work early morning, evening, and weekend hours
- Ability to hustle and thrive under pressure
- Physically capable of manual tasks, including lifting 40 pounds
- Some growing experience is desired, but it is not required for this position.
- Applicants must be CPR and First Aid certified by March 5, 2024.
Bonus Points
- Fluency in other languages
- Experience working in adverse conditions
- Experience in community building, education, and volunteer leadership
Growing Gardens prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment and will take affirmative measures to ensure against them, especially if they are carried out on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, neurodiversity, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation or political affiliation. This policy applies to all employees or potential employees, volunteers, participants, members of the Growing Gardens Board of Directors, people who serve on Growing Gardens’ committees, and anyone attending Growing Gardens’ events. This policy extends to all aspects of employment at Growing Gardens, including hiring, transfer, promotion, training, working conditions, policies, compensation, evaluation, discipline and termination.
To apply:
Send resume and cover letter that includes below information to Sarah Kell: sarah@growinggardens.org with your name and “Full Season Farm Management Intern Application” in the subject line.
We will review application materials and interview on a rolling basis.
In your cover letter, please include:
- Any previous volunteer and/or work in an agricultural setting
- If you do not have previous agricultural work, have you done any work that required you to be on your feet and physically active for the majority of the day?
- What skills or experiences you will bring to this internship
- What you hope to gain from this internship
- What are your personal goals related to farming
- This internship is 8 months long, March through October, working mostly full time. Please share how this internship will fit into your life.
Educational Opportunities: We will provide learning seminars and farm visits during the course of the season. Some example topics: greenhouse management, pests and diseases, irrigation, farm equipment care and maintenance, organic certification, crop planning, farm business management
Skills Desired: Some growing experience is a plus but is not required for this position. We are looking for someone who has a strong work ethic and a passion for learning how to grow food and develop community and an ability to work early morning, evening, and weekend hours.
Meals: No.
Stipend: Internship pays $15.66/hour plus weekly produce June-October.
Housing: No.
Preferred method of Contact: Email