Mountain Bounty Farm

Last Updated On: March 4th, 2024 at 08:55AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
14579 Blind Shady Road
Nevada City, California, 95959

Primary Contact: Maia Lipkin
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 5305745748
    Email: employment@mountainbountyfarm.com

Website: https://mountainbountyfarm.com/

Internship information

General Farm Description: Mountain Bounty is a 50 acre organic family farm located high on the forested contours of the San Juan Ridge near Nevada City, California. We currently cultivate 18 acres, and the rest of the land is a beautiful mosaic of forest and meadows. We are the oldest and largest CSA farm in Nevada County. The farm's founder, John Tecklin, has been farming since the early 1990's and started Mountain Bounty Farm in 1997. Since then Mountain Bounty has become an increasingly collaborative effort, with a team of farmers making decisions and working together. Through careful management we achieve surprising yields of exceptional quality produce. We grow an incredible diversity of vegetables, fruits and cut flowers for our year-round CSA program. We also sell to local stores and restaurants, and participate in the Nevada City farmers market on Saturday mornings from June through November.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 3/29/24
Internship Ends: 11/23/24
Number of Internship Available: 3
Application Deadline: 4/1/24
Minimum Length of Stay: 8 Months

Internship Details:

First-Year Farmers are a core element of our 12-14 person farm crew and they participate in all farm activities from greenhouse work to harvest, delivery, and farmer’s markets. First-Year Farmers work closely with the farm managers to maintain our complex and dynamic vegetable farm. This includes driving tractors, seeding, transplanting, lots of weeding and other crop care, irrigation, harvest, washing and packing produce, driving deliveries, working farmers markets, and other farm chores.
First Year Farmers work Monday through Friday, 8+ hours per day, two Saturday farmers markets per month, and occasional minor irrigation duties after-hours. We average a 40-hour work week over the season, with slightly shorter weeks in spring and fall, and slightly longer weeks at the height of summer.
First-Year Farmer positions at Mountain Bounty Farm are challenging, highly sought after, and immensely rewarding. The vast majority of Mountain Bounty alumni go on to either work at other farms or start their own farms.
First-Year Farmers who excel in their first season may be offered management positions and permanent employment here at Mountain Bounty. Please see our website for detailed application instructions.

Educational Opportunities: The majority of the educational component comes through the experience of working directly on the farm; learning by doing. Over the years, we have developed a successful system that is also relatively simple and elegant. As a farm crew farmer you reap the bounty of our many years of learning, passed along over the course of your season. Farm Crew farmers are gradually given more and more responsibility, to the extent they are individually ready. We believe that being allowed to take charge of something important, and also being allowed to make mistakes, is one of the richest and most effective ways to learn. Toward the end of the season, we occasionally take field trips to other farms in the area. We love to teach and are stimulated by people who are excited about learning. Long hours in the field provide the perfect opportunity to see what works and what doesn't, as well as plenty of discussion about why. First-Year Farmers will also participate in some of the Sierra Harvest Ag Skills classes at other local farms.

Skills Desired: Successful candidates have experience with some type of outdoor labor and/or a strong athletic background. We are also looking for people who are serious about farming as a career. This is a top notch training opportunity for someone who is ready to take on the challenge. We are looking for people who are organized, curious, outgoing and personable, wacky and fun, and very motivated. Applicants should be able to work hard and fast in all weather (it can be cold and wet here in spring and fall, and summer temps are very hot) do heavy lifting, standing, bending, and lots of walking. Although we keep the work varied, farming is inherently challenging. Ideal candidates are committed to the farming lifestyle and all that it entails. Please see our website for detailed application instructions

Meals: Farmers are responsible for their own meals and have full access to all farm produce including fruit.

Stipend: $17/hour (includes vegetables and fruit) 8 days of PTO, plus 10 more days if returning for a second season

Housing: Affordable off farm housing is available to rent

Preferred method of Contact: email