Clay Hill Produce & Flowers


Contact information
Farm Address:
2848 North Township Road 165
Tiffin, Ohio, 44883

Primary Contact: Aaron Buskirk
Secondary Contact: Kristy Buskirk

Primary Phone:
    Type:
Cell
    Number: 614-949-0755
    Email: clayhillproduceandflowers@gmail.com

Secondary Phone
    Type:
-----
    Number: 614-949-9874
    Email:

Website:

Internship information
General Farm Description: "Kristy and Aaron run an organic produce and flower farm in rural northwest Ohio outside the small town of Tiffin, about 1 hour from Toledo, 1.5 hours from Cleveland, Columbus, or Detroit. After traveling and working on many different farms, we moved back to the family farmland where Aaron grew up and converted 52 acres from conventional grains to organic vegetables and flowers. 15 acres are rotated for field crops while 15 are in cover crops and native grassland and 22 acres are woods with a ravine and stream. There is a wood heated greenhouse, 3 high tunnels for season extension, a walk-in cooler, and a covered washing station. For tractors there is a small 'G' cultivator and 2420 John Deere with a series of implements, old and new. We sell vegetables and flowers at 3 local farmers markets, to a CSA, some wholesale, and design flowers for special events."

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 5/1/2023
Internship Ends: 11/1/2023 or later
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: "04-15-2023, but inquire anytime"
Minimum Length of Stay: "full season preferred, some part time available"

Internship Details:

“We are a small certified organic vegetable and flower farm looking for 2 full time farm workers. One position will be on the vegetable crew with a focus on cultivation, harvest and post harvest processing. The other position is on the flower crew with a focus on flower management, harvest, and bouquet making. Tasks for both positions will overlap and include all aspects of the farm from greenhouse propagation to planting, weeding, irrigation, harvesting, washing, and selling at market. The work is physically demanding, fast paced, can be repetitive and is almost all outdoors, no mater how hot or if raining. The work week is 45 hours, sometimes a little less in the spring, but overtime is possible in mid-season. Any worker who fits well here and stays a second season could expect a raise, a manager position and potentially year round work.”


Educational Opportunities: "Workers will be trained in all parts of running and working on an organic farm, including soil improvement, cover crop management, and tractor operation. We will share our spreadsheets for seeding/planting/harvesting/selling. Visiting other local organic farms in our area are possible. For interested people we can teach (during off hours) some general homesteading skills like preserving and fermenting food, plant and tree identification, wild food harvesting, mushroom hunting, wood splitting and stacking and maple syrup production, as well as caring for chickens (and maybe pigs).

Skills Desired: "Previous farm or garden experience is preferred. A candidate should definitely have experience with outdoor physical labor, along with a willingness to stay motivated in all conditions. Best candidates are aspiring to be farmers themselves."

Meals: "We don't provide prepared meals, but farm workers will receive all the food we grow, including black beans and eggs from our chickens. Quality food available at our farmers markets from other vendors (bread, coffee, kombucha, butter, milk, meat, etc.) can round out food needs. Throughout the season we will host some communal meals and potlucks."

Stipend: "We pay a wage of $12-$16/hour, depending on experience and commitment. The workweek is on average 45 hours.

Housing: We have an old 27' camper on the property, but there are also affordable apartments to rent nearby. The camper has electric, a small kitchen (fridge/stove/water), a sofa, a queen-sized bed. Anyone staying in the camper must be comfortable with using an outhouse as well as setting and maintaining mousetraps. For more rustic lodgings one may set up a tent and make a campsite in the woods or the grassland. There is a private outdoor shower (with hot water) attached to the side of the barn.

Preferred method of Contact: email or call