TNT Farm N Greenhouse

Last Updated On: November 1st, 2023 at 01:24PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
32367 Taos Ln.
Meadowview, Virginia, 24361

Primary Contact: Tamara McNaughton
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 8282842877
    Email: TNTFarmNGreenhouse@gmail.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/TNTFarmNGreenhouse/

Internship information

General Farm Description: TNT includes a quarter acre field, one 30x100 high tunnel, and greenhouse/nursery plant production with a 30x80' and a 14x80' greenhouse. TNT sits on 80 acres including 60 in pasture and 20 wooded. We are 14 minutes from Abingdon, VA which is a four time winner of USA Today's "Best Small Town Food Scene". I grow mostly heirloom varieties of diverse vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers while concentrating on a few main crops. The farm was certified organic from 2012-2020. It was fallow in 2021 while I worked an off farm medicinal plant job. Shifting away from certified production, I grew as a solo operation in 2022 with some help from friends here and there. It would be great to have a teammate or two to work with me for the 2023 season. 2023 is TNT's tenth year in production. This is a production farm albeit a microfarm. It is a small space, intensively managed, so work weeks aren't overbearing. June-August is peak season with smaller volumes of crops grown throughout the year. Time is spent seeding, watering, planting, weeding, feeding, shoveling, hoeing and playing along with nature to produce high quality food and plants. I like to get out early in the day, take a good mid-day break, and work again in the evenings. You would determine best working times for yourself. Days are often filled with monotonous meditative tasks. Biodynamic signs are used to guide a day's efforts. I would like to include more Biodynamic and Permaculture approaches on the farm. The greenhouse and nursery produces a large volume of transplants for on-farm planting, other farms in the region, and home gardeners. One farmers market, Tuesday evening and Saturday morning, and a couple restaurant accounts are what I are currently able to supply with products. There is potential for additional markets and increased production with additional effort. The primary purpose here is to enjoy the outdoors while growing and selling high quality food for our community. The mission is to grow with adoration for the soil and appreciation for our customers and each other. Abingdon and Bristol VA/TN are nearby cities (within a half hour) where we have theater, breweries, yoga, and nightlife. Abundant outdoor activities exist nearby as well. Highway 81 is within ten minutes of our farm with easy access. Asheville, Boone, Knoxville, and Blacksburg are within a three hour drive.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: June 2023
Internship Ends: September 2023 with option for winter stay
Number of Internship Available: 3
Application Deadline: Open.
Minimum Length of Stay: 2 weeks

Internship Details:

TNT is looking for a Co-Farm Manager and Interns who love working smart and hard in the garden and greenhouse for the 2023 season.

The Co-Farm Manager will have at least 2 full seasons of experience working on farms. Management experience and understanding of the overall operation of a small farm aren’t essential but preferred. If you aren’t as experienced and questioning whether to apply, I’d love for you to apply anyway.  You will work side by side with me to develop necessary skills. You’ll also work independently as your skill and comfort grow.  This is an opportunity for someone who is ready to co-lead a fully operational mini-farm established in its production and markets. The Co-Farm Manager will need to be able to take the lead with confidence; schedule and prioritize efforts; plan and prepare tools and resources for daily tasks; instruct and motivate others in tasks at hand; and generally dig being a bad*ss farm manager working alone and with others.

Short term and full season Interns are also desired for 2023. We seek people who enjoy hard work outside in all types of weather and the rewards that come with it. Interns are self-directed/motivated, easily take direction, and like to work as a team as well as independently. Ideal candidates are creative problem solvers that also understand the monotonies of farm labor. These candidates apply themselves to learning the routines of the farm and patterns in nature so they can plug themselves into the flow of work and help things along with increasingly less direction as time passes. Previous experience as an intern isn’t necessary. You will need the passion to learn and desire to fully experience farm life because it is sometimes tedious and grueling work.  Often, farm life is highly fulfilling.  There are rewards only you can see the value in for yourself.

FARM MANAGER:
TNT provides:
1. Independent living space with shared bath, kitchen, and internet access.
2. $300 per week for 30 hours.
3. Produce for meals.
4. Additional incentives can be discussed/negotiated.
Farm Manager provides:
Full peak season commitment June-September exact dates to be agreed upon.
Thirty hours per week to include:
1. Directing and performing various on farm tasks:
Greenhouse work: mixing soil, seeding, transplanting, watering, fertilizing, ID, etc.
Field work: seeding/planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, pest/disease management including spraying organic materials if needed.
Post harvest handling: washing and packing for markets.
Maintenance of tools and work areas.  Tuesday and Friday help in picking and preparing for market.

2. Courteous customer service:
Possibly Saturday morning Farmers Markets starting at 10am to give me a break.
Delivery to restaurant accounts.
3. Authentic and honest communication skills.

INTERNS:
TNT provides:
1. Independent living space with shared bath, kitchen, and internet access.
2. $150 per week for at least 20 hours.
3. Produce for meals.
4. Additional incentives can be discussed/negotiated.
Intern provides:
1. Twenty hours, at least, per week performing various necessary farm tasks.
2. Tuesday and Friday help in picking and preparing for market.
3. Greenhouse work: mixing soil, seeding, transplanting, watering, fertilizing, ID, etc.
4. Field work: seeding/planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, etc. No spraying will be required.

There’s a lot of potential for TNT and southwest Virginia. I have seen increased demand for fresh farm products here and the growth of this little farm is limited only by the physical and mental ability of the people who work this land. A person with substantial skills who is seeking an autonomous farm management experience would be perfect. It’s possible that the co-farm manager could shift into full management and the details of that could be discussed.  I see this as a place where you can test the waters of running an operation and do amazing things with the infrastructure and resources here. Think of it as an incubation of your own operation supported by infrastructure, operational processes and resources, and a great community.

Please send an email of interest and include:
1. Resume or list of applicable experience with reference contact information.
2. Letter of interest including your farm experience and what you seek to learn.
3. Three work references including address and phone number.

 

I am a mini-farm operator who is unable to provide any type of Visa for those that may need one.

Educational Opportunities: Various opportunities on the farm, other farms, and with organizations in the region.

Skills Desired: Greenhouse work/management, organic vegetable production

Meals: Produce for meals on your own and with the team. A couple meals a week are made for everyone.

Stipend: $300:week for Farm Manager negotiable depending on experience. $150:week for Interns.

Housing: Yes, Independent living space with shared bathroom, kitchenette, internet, etc.

Preferred method of Contact: email at first