Beginning Farmers
Beginning Farmers - Practical Tools for Successful Family Farming
Living Roots Farm and Sustainable Living Center Assistant Farm Manager/Farm Staff/Work Exchange Positions Open - French Lick, Indiana - 2018
- One Assistant Farm Manager Open - these positions will share significant responsibility with Michael in operating the market farm. This includes annual and perennial fruits and vegetables and animals. Responsibilities may include working with the Living Roots Farm CSA, farmers markets, supervising others, etc. These positions are for those with more significant farm and/or leadership experience.
- One Farm Staff position - these staff positions will assist farm management in operating the farm. Will work in many aspects of the Living Roots Farm operation, including annual and perennial fruits and vegetables and animals. These positions are for those with a lesser amount of farm experience.
- Work Exchange Positions - This is similar to an apprenticeship program, but it is quite different. The work exchange is only 3 farm work days a week, giving the work exchanger 4 days of flexibility and more freedom to choose what they are interested in learning. During these 4 days, it's a possibility for the work exchanger to do more farm work (if they want a fuller experience), focus on sustainable living skills (off-the-grid/homesteading skills, culinary arts, healing arts, etc.), personal growth/reflection, or do whatever they like (such as work another job). See below for more info. More info about this on our website.
Farm experience is great, but aspects such as teamwork, communication skills, organization skills, dependability, and self-motivation are just as important.
Stipends are between $500 - $1000/month (for assistant manager and staff positions), depending on experience and specific roles assigned. Work is 40 hours/week (plus or minus a few hours depending on season, needs on the farm, and role of individual)
Housing is included on Living Roots Farm. Housing options include either the farmhouse, off-the-grid tiny house village (we have 6 cabins), or camper - depending on availability. Living Roots is a family-friendly farm and also has some family housing options.
Food is also included for individuals and their families. This includes produce from the gardens, eggs from the farm, and other bulk staples. The food supplied is predominately vegetarian; however, meat is sometimes available from our farm animals. All residents always get discounts on our grass-fed beef.
Other perks for staff at Living Roots Farm include: individual garden plot in shared garden space, use of wood fired cob hot tub, limited free wi-fi, use of arts center (healing arts, creative arts, culinary arts), and free access to any classes taught in the healing arts space (yoga, massage, acroyoga, etc.)
The Living Roots Farm owner, Michael Hicks, has been organic gardening and farming since 2002. Our market farm produces just about any vegetable you can imagine for our 110 family CSA, Farmers Markets, local coops/natural foods stores, and restaurants. Main crops are garlic/onions, brassicas and hardy greens, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, peppers, and beans. Other crops include: figs (in Hoophouse), strawberries, blackberries, melons, Jerusalem artichokes, yacon, eggplant, okra, other roots, etc. We grow over 300 varieties of produce each year. Also winter production in 3 hoop houses. And the farm now has chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, and grass-fed cows which you will also get to work with.
Living Roots Farm is within walking distance of Tucker Lake (Springs Valley State Recreation Area) and the Hoosier National Forest (lots of trails), and biking distance from Patoka Lake, French Lick, and Paoli.
To Apply Please download the application (please make sure to download pdf application to your comuputer, fill out, then save) and email completed application, along with a current photo of yourself, to Michael Hicks, at michael@indianacommunity.org. Contact us if there are any questions.We welcome you to join us in sharing the abundance of this land!
Please see our website for more info: www.livingroots.org
To learn more about farming jobs and internships or to post an opportunity on beginningfarmers.org, go to: http://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/