Pond Hill Farm

Last Updated On: marzo 9th, 2021 at 03:48PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
5699 S Lake Shore Drive
Harbor Springs, Michigan, 49740

Primary Contact: Nick Freeman
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 231-526-3276
    Email: nfreeman@pondhill.com

Website: https://www.pondhill.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Pond Hill Farm is an eclectic family farm located in Northern Michigan on 197 acres in the lakeside community of Harbor Springs. Starting as a vegetable farm in 1995, it has grown to become an agricultural tourism destination known for its free-spirited and welcoming vibe that is enjoyed by all generations. Visitors are warmly embraced while connecting with the farm’s bounty within a relaxed and beautiful setting that produces vegetables, berries, grapes, meat, beer, wine, flowers and canned goods, which are shared via the café, tasting room, market and farm-to-table events. As a seasonally driven business, operations fluctuate depending on the time of year, which fosters an innovative, flexible and cross-functional work environment. This unique community-eco system has created an environment that attracts tens of thousands of customers each year who come from all around the country to enjoy the experience.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: Trainees Arrive: May 2, 2021 Traineeship Starts: May 4, 2021
Internship Ends: Traineeship Ends: October 31, 2021
Number of Internship Available: 3
Application Deadline: May 1, 2021
Minimum Length of Stay: 26 weeks

Internship Details:

As a trainee, your main focus will be vegetable production, general farm operations, farmers markets, the tasting room, and our Fall Festival Weekends. You will have the opportunity to explore other areas of the farm as time permits.
Areas of focus:
Vegetable Production: production schedule/calendar, seeding, planting, cultivating, weed/insect control, pre/post harvesting techniques, storage, selling/marketing at farmers’ market, record keeping, reporting on profitability and more…
Vineyard: pruning and training, canopy management, trellis maintenance, harvesting, and more….
Livestock: feeding goats/chickens/pigs, maintaining shelters, and more….
Tasting Room: learning our products and sharing with customers about all you are learning. Introducing wines/beers/hard ciders to new and returning customers, promoting the farm and performing sales and service of wine, beer and food.
Farmer Markets: represent, promote, and describe the farm to farmer market patrons, greet customers and sell vegetable produce/canned goods/other products and more…..
Fall Festival: serve food and beverages, sell tickets, manage game booths and more…..

Educational Opportunities: You will have the opportunity to learn many different aspects of farming, sales, product knowledge and promotion of a unique agri-tourism business. Plans to dive deeper into specific aspects of agriculture available according to interest/time.

Skills Desired: Trainees need to be prepared for a wide range of challenging experiences, and be ready to take on a significant degree of responsibility on a farm that does much more than just grow vegetables. Farming is physically and mentally demanding, but fun and rewarding too! Trainees must have the following characteristics: Desire to learn Self-motivated Hard working Creative Curious Energetic Attention to detail Strong communication skills Can work independently Exceptional customer service skills Ability to lift at least 50 pounds repetitively Previous farm experience not required

Meals: Trainees prepare their own breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vegetable produce is provided. There is a discount on food from the Farm Market and Café onsite.

Stipend: $9.65/hr. Tips available when working in the tasting room. Employee discounts on farm merchandise. Produce provided as well as wild protein (lake trout, salmon, and venison) when in season and the hunting/fishing is good.

Housing: On property housing with two kitchens and two bathrooms is provided in a rustic shared cabin. Each trainee has their own room. Wi-Fi, washer, and dryer available on site.

Preferred method of Contact: Please email a letter of interest, resume and contact information of three references to nfreeman@pondhill.com