North Star Orchard LLC

Last Updated On: febrero 10th, 2021 at 03:45PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
3226 Limestone Rd
Cochranville, Pennsylvania , 19330

Primary Contact: Lisa Kerschner
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 610-406-1780
    Email: Lisa@northstarorchard.com

Website: https://northstarorchard.com/

Internship information

General Farm Description: North Star Orchard is a 20-acre farm where our focus is on unique and heritage varieties of fruit (over 300 varieties of apples alone!) and a wide selection of vegetables. We operate a large fruit CSA, sell at area farmers’ markets, and have an on-site farm store (and offer community classes), so there is a lot going on for you to enjoy being involved in. We grow non-certified organically-grown vegetables on 5 acres and IPM tree fruit on about 12 acres. We also have an extensive, multi-year apple breeding program and have been developing new varieties of certain vegetables as well. For more information, visit www.northstarorchard.com We have a great team of folks who are passionate about farming and sustainability issues. If you’re someone like that, we’d like to learn more about you.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: May 2021
Internship Ends: Thanksgiving, 2021
Number of Internship Available: 2-4
Application Deadline: 3/01/20
Minimum Length of Stay: 6-8 months

Internship Details:

Vegetable Apprentice: Opportunity to learn: planning, planting, greenhouse management, cultural practices, harvesting, handling, and retail marketing of 20+ vegetable crops using non-certified organic practices on 3 acres. Learn to operate many hand and small power tools. Learn to safely operate tractors of various sizes, as well as front end loader, seeders, water wheel planter, mulch layer, compost spreader and other equipment. Learn to install and manage both drip and overhead irrigation. Learn to manage a team for various tasks including harvesting.

Orchard Apprentice: Opportunity to learn: pruning, planting, cultural practices, handling, and retail marketing of apples, pears, Asian pears, peaches, nectarines, Asian and European plums and grapes on 10 acres. Learn to operate many hand and small power tools. Learn to safely operate tractors of various sizes, as well as air blast sprayers, mowers, weed boom sprayers and more. Learn to manage drip irrigation system. Learn to manage a team for various tasks including thinning and harvesting.

Well-Rounded Farming Experience: Help with all phases of fruit & vegetable production, harvest, and marketing. No experience necessary, although a genuine interest, education, or self-education is required

Marketing Assistant: Staff our farm store 2 to 3 days per week (including most Saturdays, June until Thanksgiving). The successful candidate for this position will have previous retail experience and be motivated to help further the farm’s goals to make the farm store a great part of the community via special events and classes, in addition to regular sales-related activities. Round out a FT schedule (if desired) with field work and/or in helping to operate/plan/pack/deliver the farm’s CSA Fruit Share and other marketing efforts (planning, customer connections, farmers’ market).

Educational Opportunities: Learn skills as needed. Free classes, if desired and available, from those offered to the public in our farm classroom (kitchen arts, etc)

Skills Desired: See job descriptions on website, plus: 1. Be highly motivated, efficient, and detail-oriented with strong work ethics and the ability to work well with both staff and customers. 2. Be physically fit: able to repeatedly lift 40-50 pounds, climb a short ladder on a frequent basis on orchard work days, squat and bend repeatedly on garden work days, and work in all weather conditions. (All employees, regardless of specific role, may have to help in various tasks all around the farm, depending on need) 3. Have a license with a good driving record. 4. Supply own work boots, clothing, gloves, and sunscreen. 5. Not smoke or chew tobacco on the farm premises.

Meals: No All staff working more than 20 hours a week receive a 50% price discount on first-quality produce and free second-quality produce. Staff working under 20 hours a week receive a 20% discount on first-quality produce.

Stipend: Hourly wages (see employment page on website for details)

Housing: On-farm shared housing in a large house at reasonable rent is a possibility if there is space available. Rent includes heat, A/C, trash, water, and wifi.

Preferred method of Contact: Email