Farmhand Organic Dairy Tuscany
Last Updated On: January 10th, 2024 at 08:22AM MST
Contact information
Farm Address:Località Eremo, 58
San Godenzo, Italy, Yukon, 50060
Primary Contact: Jason Whitmire
Primary Phone:
Type: Cell
Number: +4915170616722
Email: jasondwhitmire@gmail.com
Website:
Internship information
General Farm Description: We are an organic hermitage-farm and artisan cheese dairy located in the Tuscan-Apennines, near Florence (Italy), dating back to the 11th century. The farm, which focuses on pastoral agroecology and overlooks a valley in the San Benedetto range, comprises 500 mixed hectares of meadows, forests, and grassland.CRAFT Member Farm? No
Internship Starts: 15 February 2024
Internship Ends: 22 December 2024
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: 31 January 2024
Minimum Length of Stay: 6 months
Internship Details:
Opportunity to work in a beautiful, secluded valley in the Tuscan-Apennines and support a well-run organic farm and cheese dairy comprising 500 mixed hectares of meadows, forests, and grassland (ca. 1 ½ hours northeast of Florence). We are looking for a self-starter as a junior farmhand who can support the farm’s role-model reputation in the Tuscan region for pastoral agroecology, where environmental stewardship and animal welfare are combined in a sustainable agricultural enterprise. This is position includes company benefits.
About the location
The hermitage farm is a very old monastic retreat and organic farm located in the Tuscan-Apennine mountains near Florence, dating back to the 11th century, surrounded by alpine meadows in a picturesque landscape that overlooks a valley in the San Benedetto range, at the gates of the Casentinesi Forests. The farm has been making cheese, honey etc. for at least 750 years. Today at the farm the family owners raise a mountain breed of goats and sheep for producing a high-quality organic cheese.
About the Role
- Supporting a renovated small craft cheesemaking operation with all phases of a artisan dairy operation.
- Assisting with the day-to-day care of a dairy goat herd including livestock husbandry, with high farm animal welfare (including caring for horses, donkeys and sheepdogs)
- Helping to cultivate a vegetable garden and (limited) arable operations (potatoes, legumes etc.)
- Support the day to day running of the farm including: daily chores, alternating cooking, hosting visitors, and positively engaging with the local community
- Participating in farm health and safety courses.
Qualifications / experience:
The ideal candidates would have:
- A passion for sustainability, caring for animals, and the organic way of farming
- Being very comfortable living and working in a beautiful but remote mountainous environment
- Ideally a basic education in agriculture, biology, sustainable food, wildlife management or similar (e.g., degree, diploma, or training courses), or willingness to quickly learn!
- Ideally some experience working in a farming, slow food or wildlife context, but not required
- Interest in finding innovative and sustainable ideas suitable for agriculture in mountainous areas especially in view of climate change.
- Ability and interest to learn dairy production (milking and cheese making)
- An enthusiastic team member capable of a “farming mind-set” with emphasis on initiative, responsibility, and attention to detail
- Naturally curious, attentive, and humble enough to admit own mistakes and be willing to constantly improve
- Driver’s license mandatory; can later possess required licenses/certificates (mainly to drive farm vehicles etc.)
- Non-smokers only
Please include a motivation letter with your background and resume to eremodeitoschi@gmail.com
Educational Opportunities: Yes
Skills Desired: Ideally a basic education in agriculture, biology, sustainable food, wildlife management or similar (e.g., degree, diploma, or training courses), or willingness to quickly learn! Ideally some experience working in a farming, slow food or wildlife context, but not required
Meals: Yes
Stipend: No
Housing: Yes
Preferred method of Contact: Email