Common Thread CSA

Last Updated On: December 18th, 2023 at 09:41AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
3424 Lake Moraine Road
Madison, New York, 13402

Primary Contact: Wendy Burkhart-Spiegel
Secondary Contact: Asher Burkhart-Spiegel

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 315-882-0086
    Email: info@commonthreadcsa.com

Secondary Phone
    Type: Cell
    Number: 315-882-2458
    Email:

Website: http://www.commonthreadcsa.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Common Thread CSA is located in beautiful Central New York, next to a college town and near several state forests. We grow 17 acres of mixed vegetables and cover crops using an innovative permanent raised bed system and several forms of season extension. We have a vibrant free choice on farm pick up and do custom CSA boxes delivered to nearby Syracuse and Utica, and some wholesale. We work to make our food and farm accessible with our sponsored share program and food donations. We use sustainable growing practices emphasizing soil health and cultural methods of pest control. We don't use synthetic pesticides or herbicides, or GMOs. We, the farmers, have been growing vegetables on sustainable farms in the Northeast for over 20 years each. We have trained over 80 apprentices and interns over the years and find working and sharing with others who are motivated to play positive role in the food system to be one of the most rewarding things we do.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: March or April
Internship Ends: December 1 with possibilities of part time winter work and continuing another season
Number of Internship Available: 3
Application Deadline: Ongoing until positions are filled
Minimum Length of Stay: 8 months

Internship Details:

We are looking for apprentices and field crew members who have a passion for farming, as well as more experienced farm crew members to join our team. We will help you gain knowledge and skills to manage a vegetable farm. We train participants in all aspects of mixed vegetable farm management from seed to distribution to business management. We are at a scale where apprentices who are focused on learning can be involved in many aspects of the farm including tractor work, CSA management, irrigation, season extension, greenhouse management, harvest management, pest management, wash and pack, working with volunteers, and more. There are possibilities for multi-year learning and continuing in advanced positions in future years.

Educational Opportunities: Training is accomplished though biweekly evening education sessions (either on farm workshops or field trips to other farms) and by practicing skills and discussing "hows and why" in the field. We pass on information about farmer education events going on in our county and region and make sure that interested apprentices have time off to participate in learning opportunities that conflict with work time.

Skills Desired: We require at least 3 months of gardening or farming for an apprenticeship. We seek apprentices who already know that they love doing physical work outdoors and are curious to learn all aspects vegetable farming. The scale of our farm creates a lot of opportunities for motivated apprentices to learn a wide variety of skills and we love to teach folks who are eager to learn. We encourage apprentices who enjoy the farm work to return in positions of greater responsibility in future years.

Meals: All employees receive a CSA share and access to storage vegetables in the winter.

Stipend: $15.50-$16.50/hour depending on experience for 40-45 hours/week. Apprentices also receive vegetables, access to educational workshops and sick pay up to 40 hours/year.

Housing: There are affordable housing options locally. We can assist apprentices in locating housing nearby.

Preferred method of Contact: Email