Sky High Hybrid Fellowship
Last Updated On: noviembre 1st, 2023 at 01:02PM MST
Contact information
Farm Address:675 Hall Hill Road
Pine Plains, New York, 12567
Primary Contact: Phillip Haynes
Primary Phone:
Type: Cell
Number: 9086428826
Email: fellowship@skyhighfarm.org
Website: http://skyhighfarm.org
Internship information
General Farm Description: Sky High Farm is a non-profit organization working to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to sustain themselves, including high-quality, culturally appropriate food. Since 2012, we have committed to regenerative farming practices and an environmentally holistic, equity-focused approach to promoting food sovereignty. This includes support for burgeoning farmers through formal training and mentoring; grants to catalyze a more equitable and community-centered food system; public programming; and food access partnerships - 100% of food produced on-site is donated to community partners in our collective effort to achieve long-term solutions to food insecurity.CRAFT Member Farm? Yes
Internship Starts: March/April 2024
Internship Ends: December 2024
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: 2/1/2024
Minimum Length of Stay: 6 Months
Internship Details:
About the position:
The Sky High Farm Hybrid Fellowship provides an educational work experience focused on livestock and vegetable production at our integrated vegetable and livestock farm. This position will require candidates to straddle responsibilities between both Vegetable Production and Livestock teams. As a result, the ideal candidate will have some experience in either vegetable production or livestock, OR demonstrable experience in a field that requires regular adaptability and physicality. As a Hybrid Fellow, the candidate is provided a comprehensive experience in livestock management, animal husbandry, and food processing AND experience in no-till garden management, propagation, and vegetable washing and packing. Throughout the program, approved educational opportunities are coordinated and/or facilitated, which include classes taught by our management staff or outside educators, visits and work days at other farms, and a reading list of texts that pertain to farming and food justice.
Compensation:
- $17/hr, 5 days a week, estimated 40-45 work hours per week. Average 8 hour work day including 1 hour paid lunch. Workers compensation.
- Paid time off: up to 5 vacation days, 5 sick days and paid holidays.
- Average of 5 paid flex hours per week primarily dedicated to enrichment, and extracurriculars, but may be allocated to farm work when needed.
- On-site housing in a shared loft apartment with private bedrooms, shared kitchen, central air, wifi, washer/dryer. Bathrooms, kitchen, and cleaning supplies replenished by Sky High. Produce and eggs from the farm at no cost.
- $1500 professional development stipend for conferences, workshops, classes. Hours devoted to professional development are paid.
- Optional 2 month paid research project at end of fellowship.
- 2 paid volunteer days at other farm operations in the region.
- On and off-site education/participation opportunities scheduled and facilitated by Sky High and partner organizations.
Responsibilities:
Report to work on time when scheduled and work closely with the Livestock Manager and Vegetable Production Manager on daily tasks and weekly planning.
Livestock Tasks
- Learn and distinguish animal welfare queues and signals and report to manager
- Comfortable working with large animals such as cattle in handling equipment like a corral or livestock trailer
- Move livestock across fields daily and use portable fencing such as poultry netting, polywire and energizers
- Operate small engines such as string trimmer
- Drive farm trucks and other vehicles safely
- Opportunity to learn how to operate small tractor or BCS for jobs around farm property if proven to be a safe and competent operator
- Assist with on-farm processing of poultry and eggs
Garden Tasks
- Participate in market garden upkeep – bed prep, planting, weeding, fertility applications, irrigation
- Work in propagation house seeding flats, watering, thinning, potting up plants
- Operate small engines such as string trimmer
- Drive farm trucks and other vehicles safely
- Use small tractor or BCS for jobs around farm property if proven to be a safe and competent operator
- Harvest, wash and pack produce for distribution to donation partners
Work Environment, Evening and Weekend Work
Most of the work is performed outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. The 40-45 hour work week will include once a week evening livestock checks and some basic weekend work on a rotating basis (once a month, Friday – Sunday) that includes evening checks on the animals and watering the greenhouse.
Requirements
The Hybrid Fellow must be able and willing to:
- Repeatedly lift and move up to 50lbs
- Complete daily tasks around the farm in an efficient manner
- Perform other physical activities as needed for performance of livestock farming
- Work outdoors in inclement weather. (Working outdoors is not required when conditions are hazardous to human health and safety)
- Willingness to communicate in a direct and healthy way with teammates and supervisors
- Willingness to receive feedback and comfortable asking questions
- Alignment with Sky High Farm’s mission and values
- Valid US Driver’s License and in good standing
- Eligibility to work in the US
Preferred Experience and Attributes
- Positive, open-minded attitude. Willingness to adapt to change in plans throughout the day or week
- Reliability – show up to work on time and communicate clearly about sick days/day off requests
- Flexibility – willingness to change schedules if another team-member is out sick or in the event of an emergency
To Apply: Fill out the Google Form and attach your resume to the space provided.
Educational Opportunities: Hudson-Valley Farming Community Opportunities to attend Hudson-Valley CRAFT events Workshops and classes hosted by organizations in the region focused on farm or food sovereignty education Volunteer days with other farms in the Sky High Farm network Sky High Farm Intensive orientation at start of Fellowship focused on building general farm awareness and familiarity with tools and equipment Sky High hosted workshops taught by outside educators One class per month taught by a different Sky High staff member related to their work and contributions to the organization Fellowship Research Project Each fellow has the opportunity to extend their employment with Sky High through a research or project-based opportunity related to food systems, sustainable agriculture, or another topic aligned with Sky High’s mission. Pending approval by Sky High’s management team, fellows may engage in a structured project or research around a topic of their choosing during the months of November and December after completing the bulk of the experiential farm work portion of their fellowship. These pursuits can be ranging: from working on a specific farm of interest to conducting a study on a topic related to the Fellow’s passion or Sky High’s work. The goal is to complement the Fellow’s experience and interests and help them develop their next steps. Compensation and housing will continue during these months to facilitate the proposed research or project. Fellows may be asked to work up to 10 hours a week on the farm during this period if they choose to remain on-site. Other relevant details To successfully support our work, Sky High reaches beyond conventional philanthropy, collaborating with a diverse and inspiring network of fashion brands, artists, and designers to generate resources that sustain our work locally and cultivate awareness around food justice and sustainability worldwide. As such, the farm is a frequent host of visitors, volunteers and press. The Hybrid Fellow may be asked to participate in said events in some capacity. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Skills Desired: Demonstrated interest in farming or food-related fields. No previous farming experience required.
Meals: No. Produce and eggs at no cost for the Fellow's consumption.
Stipend: $17/hr. 40 - 45 hours a week.
Housing: Yes, shared housing on farm with other Fellows.
Preferred method of Contact: Email