Sustainable Living & Farming Jobs

In a world focused on technology and getting ahead at all costs, it might be time to look at life in a different way and focus on what's really important. This channel is virtually about the simple life and living more sustainably and organically!

It's for those who want to transform their world into something completely different—learning to become more self-reliant, connecting with the earth, integrating skills from the "good old days" that many of us take for granted, and leading a more balanced and harmonious lifestyle. It is the same spirit referred to by the poet Gary Snyder when he advised, "Find your place on the planet and dig in." This channel will give you the tools to do just that.

Working with acres of organic gardens and farm animals... teaching children about the wonders of our natural environment... dishing up garden fresh, family-style meals... enjoying beautiful swimming holes of the wild and scenic Eel River... got you interested? Explore the employment opportunities with Emandal—A Farm on a River: a unique place that not only provides a learning environment, but a chance to do something constructive while pondering life's options. This year's employment opportunities include naturalists, head gardener, garden assistants, facilities assistant & animal caretaker, cooking enthusiasts, clothesline concierge, guest relations/office coordinator, and seasonal support staff. Employment dates range from a full season running from early April to mid-October to partial season commitments ranging from ten weeks to three months. Benefits include a weekly salary, tips, meals (composed of home cooked delights, seasonal garden produce and in-house roasted coffee) and a private bedroom in shared housing. If you like the idea of working in the country away from the noise of the city with a congenial bunch of people, then working at Emandal might be for you. Explore current job openings or connect with Emandal for more information.

• Emandal Farm has been a place of learning, relaxation and exploration for over 100 years! Hosting environmental education school groups in the spring and family and private guests in the fall affords a variety of employment opportunities that are great for transitioning between jobs, investigating a new career path, or serving as a jumping off point for future exploration.

Connecting children, youth and the community to the earth and instilling a sense of responsibility for their environment, Hidden Villa is a nonprofit educational organization that uses its organic farm, wilderness, and community to teach and provide opportunities to learn about the environment and social justice. Stretching across 1,600 acres in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Hidden Villa features a multicultural summer camp, a school-year education programs for pre-k through 12th grade, a hostel, a CSA program and a variety of public programs. Yearlong Residential Internships in environmental education, community programs, animal husbandry, agriculture and development/nonprofit administration offer the unique experience of living and working on a small farm. Learning about sustainable living skills, animal care, environmental education, nonprofit administration and hands-on, interactive and creative teaching techniques round out the internship experience. Along with the chance to reside in a beautiful place, meet inspiring people and receive formal and informal educational training, interns receive a monthly stipend, shared housing and seasonal food from the farm. Hiring and start dates vary by internship; view current jobs, internships, & summer camp job openings, and learn how to apply.

Is it true that we can live out our dreams by creating our own realities? Find out how Cori Stennett's internship experience at Hidden Villa unlocked her door of opportunity. Read more "Day in the Life" accounts »

Urban Adamah (earth in Hebrew) is a community organic farm and Jewish environmental education center located in Berkeley, CA. The farm is run by groups of young adults ages 20-29 who participate in a three-month residential leadership training program.

The Urban Adamah Fellowship integrates urban organic farming, social justice work, and progressive Jewish living and learning. Twelve Fellows are selected each season to operate an organic farm and educational center, intern with community organizations addressing issues at the intersection of poverty, food security and environmental stewardship, and learn an approach to Jewish tradition that opens the heart and builds joyful community. Fellows come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. A farming background or Jewish knowledge is not necessary to participate; individuals who will leverage the gifts of the program to make a positive change in their own lives and in the world will thrive in this environment. The fee of $1,295 covers housing, food and educational expenses. Now accepting applications for fall Fellowships (September 2nd–November 21st), with admission done on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

• The Urban Adamah Fellowship curriculum is designed to equip Fellows with the tools to become agents of positive change in their own lives and in their communities. You will immerse yourself in four unique service components: earth service, community service, service of the heart, and service of the mind.

Explore Hawaii as a Wilderness Therapy Field Instructor! Come work with at-risk youth on one of five organic farms on the Big Island of Hawaii. Pacific Quest facilitates an environment for teens and young adults to recognize a desire for change. In addition to working with a counseling and treatment team to achieve weekly outcomes for students, a typical day consists of working the land, role modeling, teaching and helping facilitate learning about sustainability, basic living skills, and emotional growth. Advanced students go on day outings once a week. The staff team consists of a Lead Instructor, a Health & Safety Instructor, a Support Instructor and/or an Apprentice. Each staff member will work eight-days on, six-days off from Thursday to Thursday. Compensation includes a salary as well as room and board during the working period (on your week off, accommodations are not provided). At minimum, applicants must have a bachelor's degree preferably in psychology, farming or outdoor education/leadership. If you can make a one-year commitment and have experience and enthusiasm for working with teens in an outdoor therapeutic setting, apply with Pacific Quest! Now seeking a Staff Supervisor, Solo Supervisor, Field Supervisors and Field Instructors.

• Blending a wilderness therapy model on an organic farm, Pacific Quest facilitates an environment for students to recognize a want for change while learning about sustainability, basic living and problem solving skills, health and nutrition, emotional growth and Hawaiian culture.

With locations in the Boston suburbs and the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, Gould Farm is a compassionate, respectful family environment where people with mental illness learn to build more meaningful lives for themselves through work, recreation and community life. The services at the farm remain rooted in the belief that every person has something to contribute despite mental or emotional limitations. Serving as informal counselors, work team leaders and role models, most staff and volunteers engage small groups of guests through work tasks that are required to run this 600-acre farm. In order to provide the most fulfilling experience, volunteers are asked to be flexible and work on several areas of the farm, which may include gardening, farming, forestry, dairy management, crafts, cooking, restaurant & retail management, childcare, administration, maintenance, and/or residential support. Boston area program staff live in a smaller community and provide support, guidance, and advocacy for clients who are well on their way to leading more independent lives. A minimum commitment of 12 months is necessary, with opportunities available throughout the year. Benefits include a monthly stipend, housing in private rooms, wholesome meals and full medical coverage. Mature, well-rounded and people-oriented individuals who are interested in learning and living in a therapeutic community are encouraged to apply. GouldFarm.org

• The unique spirit that resides in the rural community lifestyle at Gould Farm offers both meaningful work coupled with recreation, singing, music, crafts and a celebration of farming and life.

As a certified organic vegetable farm located on 160 acres, Ploughshare Farm markets produce through a 400-member CSA and two food co-ops in the Minneapolis metro area.

Now accepting applications for the following 2012 positions:

Farm Supervisor (April 1st to November 1st, with long-term possibilities; applications accepted through March 1st or until position filled. Onsite interviews begin in early January)
You will be responsible for supervising and working with farm crew and interns; directing daily activities including planting, cultivating, harvesting and packing; and maintaining all harvest data and records. Compensation includes an hourly wage ($10-$14/hour), housing in a 3-bedroom, split-log home and produce from the farm. Applicants must have previous supervisor experience, minimum 3 years experience on a vegetable farm, and be highly efficient, disciplined, organized and a positive example to others. A couple or family is welcome to apply.

Interns/Apprentices (April 1st to November 1st; one-month minimum; entire season preferred; 8 positions available)
Interns work 60+ hours per week and will participate in all phases of the farm (from greenhouse operation and soil preparation to harvesting and marketing), and have opportunities to interact directly with CSA members and the public. In exchange for their time commitment and labor, apprentices receive hands-on training, experience-based education, room, and produce from the farm for personal consumption. Interns will also receive a stipend.

If you are serious about learning what it takes to establish an ecologically and financially sustainable farm, email Gary Brever for detailed information and an application.

• As a Ploughshare Farm intern you can expect many things. You can expect hard work with long days in the field. You will learn and participate in the everyday functions it takes to operate an organic farm. You will benefit from the observation, discussion and involvement with the farm staff and be able to further refine your future involvement in agriculture. And you will eat some of the best tasting and most amazing organic produce ever!

Featuring a biodynamic dairy farm, bakery, cheese-making operation, a 12-acre market garden, CSA, Farm Store, Waldorf school, and Farmscape Ecology Program, Hawthorne Valley Farm provides ample opportunities to learn in new and exciting ways throughout the year. During the spring (mid-January to mid-June) and fall (late August to mid-November) seasons, Visiting Students Program Interns teach school classes and conduct activities that focus on farm and country life for 3rd-10th grade students (including children's garden, farm & arts, and cooking internships). Summer at the Farm Camp helps children build a reverence for life and community awareness though living, playing and working together on an active farm. Summer Counselors and a variety of other summer staff (including kitchen assistants) work at either the House Camp (ages 8-11) or the Field Camp (ages 12-15). Whole Farm Apprenticeship Training in biodynamic farming and administration of the Community Supported Agriculture program is offered each year. This includes traditional Vegetable and Livestock apprenticeships as well as structured learning opportunities in the bakery, creamery, and kraut cellar. All staff members receive a stipend, housing, and tasty organic vegetarian meals. Contact Helen Enright for further information or explore details on all their programs and current job opportunities (including full-time job openings too!).

• Nurturing the land that nourishes us, Hawthorne Valley Farm teaching interns, farming apprentices and summer camp counselors work together on this unique 400-acre biodynamic dairy farm that combines care for the land and the creation of a welcoming place for children and young adults.

What is it like to work and live on an organic farm? Read Lisa's blog about her experience at Hawthorne Valley.

Are you interested in sustainable agriculture and eager to learn about how to manage livestock with a focus on animal welfare? Sweet Stem Farm is a small, sustainable farm located in Lancaster county, PA specializing in humanely raised pork, beef and lamb. As a "high-touch", community-oriented and intimate farm, they are committed to giving an extra degree of care and attention to each animal, acre of land, staff member and customer. Farm Interns will be working hands-on with the pigs, sheep, and cattle, with tasks that may include observing all livestock closely, scraping manure, loading and feeding hay, checking and cleaning waters, checking and grinding pig feed, providing bedding for the animals, storing and delivery of meat, assisting with fence maintenance, pasture renovation, or lambing and calving chores, and working on a variety of special-purpose projects. Compensation includes a $550/month stipend, shared housing (with 3 interns) in a neighborhood near the farm (vehicle provided), WiFi access, most meals (with farm delicious meats!), and solid vocational training. Applicants must make a one-year commitment, have the ability to work long hours in all kinds of weather, and be detail-oriented, dependable, and dedicated to the daily rhythms, chores, and care of animals. If you are interested in this unique sustainable agriculture experience, please look over the full listing and Intern Guide on their website. To apply, please email sweetstemfarm@gmail.com and they will send you an application to fill out.

• Did you know? Sweet Stem Farm has made appearances in Bon Appetit magazine and in the 2011 documentary American Meat, as well as being included in the PBS series e2, which features Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Everything raised is direct marketed, mostly to customers in and around Philadelphia, including Whole Foods Market. Come be a part of this special place.

Do you have a willingness to share life with a community of diverse people while helping those with mental illness cope with and lead more fulfilling lives?

Located on 600 acres in Vermont's Green Mountains, Spring Lake Ranch is a residential therapeutic community with a common purpose to engage in the lives of others and the life of the land, and in so doing, to engage more fully in our own lives. Your role as a House Advisors/Crew Leader will not only be an intensely rewarding experience, but one that will challenge you mentally, spiritually, and physically. Whether you're growing vegetables, building Adirondack chairs, collecting sap for maple syrup or helping a resident with sewing or cooking, the ranch program demands flexibility and emotional spontaneity from its staff.

Benefits include $281/week, private accommodation within a Ranch residence, all meals, full health and dental insurance, two weeks' paid vacation and sick time in the first year, educational opportunities, use of all Ranch facilities (including laundry, linen service, woodshop, auto shop, pottery studio, computers, and lake front with private dock and canoes), and the many less tangible benefits that come from living and working in a close-knit community. A minimum six-month commitment is necessary, with a rolling application and interview schedule throughout the year. SpringLakeRanch.org

• Become a Spring Lake Ranch House Advisor and gain experience in outdoor work, support the strengths and resiliency of others, make friendships that will last a lifetime, and see yourself grow and develop in a supportive vibrant community. Play in the beautiful Green Mountains, work hard and learn much. Be part of a dynamic therapeutic community by living and working at Spring Lake Ranch!

Set on a beautiful 500-acre campus in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Farm and Wilderness (F&W) summer and year-round programs blend wilderness experiences, organic farms & gardens, living in community, cooperative work & service, life of the spirit and homegrown (and unplugged) creative arts. Quaker values are woven into the fabric of the community, creating an environment where people develop a deep regard for one another and explore a style of life that is simple, rugged and exciting. Each year, nearly 250 staff members are hired for seasonal work (230 of them in the summer months). Positions include camp counselors, senior support staff, activity heads (waterfront, barns & gardens, outdoor living skills, work projects & more), carpenters, cooks & kitchen staff, drivers, farmers, gardeners, maintenance workers, nurses, outdoor educators, special event coordinators and trip leaders. Work can seem like play in the camps because a cooperative group spirit enriches all the experiences of swimming and hiking, building and farming, dancing and music, crafts and cooking, and sharing thoughts and emotions. F&W also employs seasonal crew and interns throughout the year in the areas of organic farming, maintenance, carpentry and retreat coordination. Compensation includes a modest salary, housing and meals (mostly from fresh organic produce grown onsite!). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

• The Farm & Wilderness staff is made up of "doers." They have backpacked in the Sierras, run food drives for the homeless, worked to clean up the environment, promoted the concept of world peace, played in bands, built houses, operated farms, and climbed in the Himalayas. In any given year, more than half are returning for another season.

The University of Vermont, in partnership with the Intervale Center is offering a 6-month intensive program for aspiring farmers and food system advocates that will provide a hands-on, skill-based education in sustainable agriculture. The Farmer Training Program offers participants the unique opportunity to manage their own growing site, take classes from professors and expert farmers, and rotate as workers and learners on successful, diverse farms in the Burlington area. The program will provide an intense, supportive experience where participants leave with a Certificate in Sustainable Farming, a deeper understanding of agricultural management and small-scale farming, and the entrepreneurial skills to start their own operation. Areas of study include organic crop production, essential farming techniques, CSA, farmer's market and grocery/restaurant marketing, business management, cooking from the farm, and independent projects. Strong applicants include those looking for a career in sustainable farming and food systems, desire a comprehensive and hands-on farm education, and want to play an active role in the sustainable food movement. This full-time, tuition-based program runs from early May to late October. Housing is not provided. Review the application process or contact Andrea Ziga for more information.

• Through the UVM Farmer Training Program, aspiring farmers will have the uncommon opportunity to live, work, and learn in the center of the sustainable agricultural movement over a six-month period. With a Certificate in Sustainable Farming, participants will be prepared to enter the world of small, organic, sustainable farming as farmers, activists, educators, and policy makers impacting our food system in a positive way.

Live Out Your Farming Dream: Become a Food & Farm Intern with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps! Help develop and expand this new sustainable agriculture program. Gain firsthand knowledge about farming, Vermont's food system, and the link between food, education and community. Participate in all aspects of farming: planning, planting, cultivating, harvesting and distributing. Receive a weekly stipend, room and partial board (CSA share, eggs, chicken), health coverage, and ongoing professional development training. These six-month residential positions begin in mid-April.

Set in the foothills of the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Innisfree Village is celebrating its 40th year as a lifesharing community for adults with intellectual disabilities. Coworkers and residential volunteers work together on this 550-acre farm in a model therapeutic environment emphasizing empowerment, interdependence and mutual respect of all community members. Serving as houseparents, Volunteers live together with coworkers in family-style homes throughout the village. After a one-month orientation period, responsibilities include cleaning, cooking, laundry, shopping, and finances of the house as well as caring for the personal needs of each coworker. Volunteers are also engaged in therapeutic and meaningful work in the bakery, community kitchen, farm, herb & vegetable gardens, the free school, weavery and woodshop.

Benefits include a private room, all meals, a monthly stipend of $250, 15 paid vacation days, access to onsite fitness facility, wireless Internet, medical insurance and two consecutive days off per week. Fifteen to twenty people, all with various backgrounds and nationalities, are needed each year. Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age, able to make a one-year commitment and be patient, empathetic, flexible and positive. Applications are accepted throughout the year; a visit to Innisfree prior to applying as a volunteer is strongly recommended. InnisfreeVillage.org

Learn how the Innisfree Village community empowered Lisa G. to find a new way to move through the world while volunteering again and again and again.

If you have a passion for flowers, Wollam Gardens is the place to work, learn, live and grow the floriculture dream. Over 80 varieties of cut flowers are grown on eleven acres on this northern Virginia farm. Of particular interest are unusual cut-flower woodies (Quince, Hydrangeas, Cotinus, Physocarpus, Viburnums), fragrant bulbs (Oriental Lily, Mexican Tuberose), and dahlias (about 8,000 plants!). Each year, Flower Interns have the opportunity to learn all aspects of a cut-flower growing operation over a ten-week period (although shorter and longer-term opportunities are a possibility). Activities include seeding, planting, weeding, cutting and bouquet making at the farm as well as selling flowers at Washington D.C. area farmers' markets and high-end florists. Positions are available beginning in March and continue through November (seasonally or the entire period). Compensation includes a $30/day stipend, private or shared room in a historic colonial farmhouse, meals, laundry facilities and Internet connection. Life on the farm is a communal-living experience—all apprentices will share in the chores of cooking, shopping, and cleaning. If you are creative, hard working, mindful, interesting, interested, social, thoughtful, and environmentally-friendly, visit the Wollam Gardens website to apply.

• The life-enriching floriculture internship at Wollam Gardens will teach you every aspect of a cut-flower growing operation—beginning with the magic of seed to flower in the fields to sharing your harvest with enthusiastic flower customers at farmers' markets and florists.

Working to build a truly sustainable community, Kalu Yala is founded on the core tenants of culture, new urbanism architecture, organic food, wellness, recreation, education, preservation, and conservation of the natural environment. The Kalu Yala Valley is located in the rainforest highlands of Central Panama in a 7,000-acre valley that backs up to the Chagres National Park. The internship program allows students and young professionals to come to Panama and gain cultural exposure, work experience, and knowledge in order to create a project that will ultimately help shape this sustainable community. The Summer 2012 Internship Program runs from May 21st through August 6th, with interns needed in the following areas: Agriculture/Animal Science (create a sustainable organic farming & livestock system), Outdoor Recreation (provide a variety of sustainable recreation opportunities for residents & visitors), Biology (catalog all varieties of flora & fauna and preserve the Valley's abundant biodiversity), San Miguel Community Outreach (grassroots community organizing, leadership training, and education in rural Panama) and Business (help accelerate entrepreneurship and shape the real estate development model). Tuition starts at $2,500 (for regular admission) and includes rent, meal plan, Internet access, laundry service, utilities, mailbox and transportation between locations. Connect with Ashley Davis for more information or to apply (view the internship packet). Applications are reviewed on a rolling admission basis.

• Interested in helping to create the world's most sustainable village? Discover a new and conscious way of living in Panama! Kalu Yala is seeking passionate, self-starting individuals from all backgrounds who would like to flourish in a whole-systems, entrepreneurial research environment. Watch more intern experience stories »

Whether you want to learn how to be a homesteader or live in harmony with your own land, The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live it will provide you with the tools and techniques to build a new way of life.

WWOOF Adventures
Working in exchange for your keep is the basis of Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF)—and you can do so in the U.S. and all over the world. Check out these links around the globe:
• Australia
• Italy
• Japan
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• International WWOOF
• WWOOF.org
• WWOOF USA
• NOFA Vermont

I envisioned roaming the picturesque New Zealand countryside, living cheaply on farms, and spending my days happily sweating in the sunshine with like-minded people.

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