Position Description: Grower plans and manages an established 12-acre organic vegetable operation as an integral aspect of the curriculum for students participating in the Learn to Farm Program at The Farm School. Is responsible for producing beautiful vegetables for an established 200 member CSA, seasonal weekly Farmers’ Markets and wholesale accounts while building student knowledge and confidence in the field in horticultural skills, growing and marketing methods and tractor skills and safety.

Experience: At least 5 years of production vegetable farming experience, with at least 2 years in CSA management. Ideal candidate will also have academic experience related to agricultural as both a student and a teacher.

Hours of Work: Full time with seasonal fluctuations.

Start Date: December, 2015

Compensation: Competitive salary based on experience + full medical benefits.

This is an incredible job, and a great place to work. We expect to be selecting from among the best and most committed farmers in the country. For more information and to apply, please email patrick@farmschool.org.

The Farm School provides equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age or disability in any of its school administered policies or programs.

Please send letters of inquiry to Farm School director, Patrick Connors, patrick@farmschool.org.

The Farm School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in any of its school administered policies or programs.

Driving directions from Boston:

Take Route 2 West past Templeton. Not long after you pass the exits for Templeton, Route 2 will narrow from 4 lanes to 2. Shortly after that, take the first exit for ATHOL (marked: Athol, Route 2A). At the end of the ramp, go LEFT onto Route 2A west. Follow 2A down through Athol straight through the stoplight in the center of town (about 3 miles). After 1/4 mile, cross the bridge and turn RIGHT just before the “Country Convenience” store/Citgo station onto North Orange Road. After a couple of hundred yards, bear RIGHT at the first Y in the road, and proceed with the graveyard to your left and river on your right. After about 3/4 of a mile, turn LEFT onto Brooks Road. Pass one house on the right and take your next LEFT and go steeply up Moore Hill Road. Continue RIGHT onto Sentinel Elm Road, a dirt road. Finally, follow the sign for Farm School Parking into the lot on the right and walk up to the bunkhouse on the hill.

Directions from the West:

Take Route 2 East to the exit that says “Rt. 202, Athol, Belchertown” (lovely!). Turn right at the bottom of the exit ramp. Continue until the road makes a T next to McDonald’s and turn right (which puts you on Rt. 2A in Athol traveling east). Just after the “Country Convenience” store/Citgo station on the left, take a LEFT and head towards North Orange. After a couple of hundred yards, bear RIGHT at the first Y in the road, and proceed with the graveyard to your left and river on your right. After about 3/4 of a mile, turn LEFT onto Brooks Road. Pass one house on the right and take your next LEFT and go steeply up Moore Hill Road. After the road levels out and takes a sharp right it becomes Sentinel Elm Road, a dirt road. Finally, follow the sign for Farm School Parking into the lot on the right and walk up to the bunkhouse at the top of the driveway (directly across from the big white barn).

Follow the activities at Learn to Farm, Erik’s blog, Plough and Stars blog .

Agroecology – An information resource for developing sustainable agroecosystems, emphasizing international training, research, and application of agroecological science to solving real world problems.

American Farm Bureau – To implement policies that are developed by members and provide programs that will improve the financial well-being and quality of life for farmers and ranchers.

ACES – College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. ACES facilitates and promotes research and education which protects Illinois’ natural and human resources while sustaining agricultural production.

Canadian Organic Growers – Canadian Organic Growers Inc. is Canada’s national membership-based education and networking organization representing farmers, gardeners and consumers in all provinces.

CARI – Center for Applied Rural Innovation. Its purpose, to help create a rural community and agricultural structure that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially acceptable and sustainable into the future.

Cornell Small Farms Program – A Cornell program for providing easy access to information (grants, business management, marketing and more) for small-scale farmers and those who work with them.

Education Revolution – Building the critical mass for the education revolution by providing resources which support self-determination in learning and the natural genius in everyone.

Farm-Based Education Association – We are founding members of this great new organization – check it out!

Gaining Ground – Growing food for hunger relief with the help of a diverse group of community volunteers, based in Concord, MA. All of our produce is donated to Boston-area meal programs and shelters.

The Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance (MOFFA)– Advocates of the local organic food systems movement. Helping to create the necessary connections between healthy people, communities and the earth.

NOFA/Connecticut – Northeast Organic Farming Association, Connecticut chapter. They’re an independent non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the practices of ecologically sound farming and gardening, and to the development of local sustainable agriculture.

NOFA/Massachusetts – Northeast Organic Farmers Association, Massachusetts chapter. NOFA/Mass welcomes everyone who cares about food, where it comes from, and how it is grown.

NOFA/New Jersey – Northeast Organic Farmers Association, New Jersey chapter. Serves the NJ/PA region as a catalyst in the development of a sustainable organic agricultural system; educates diverse audiences about the significance and meaning of organic practices for food and the environment; helps organic and progressive conventional farmers build and maintain sustainable operations; and offers USDA-accredited third-party certification to organic farms and processors.

NOFA/Rhode Island – Northeast Organic Farmers Association, Rhode Island chapter. NOFA/RI is an organization of consumers, gardeners, farmers and environmentalists working to promote organic farming practices and supporting all efforts for a healthier, sustainable agricultural system.

Petersham Common – An online community bulletin board and community events calendar for the town of Petersham, Massachusetts.

Small Farm Center at UC Davis – Providing production and marketing information to farmers in California not reached by traditional extension programs. We also work closely with farmers’ market organizations to ensure alternative and profitable market access for small- and moderate-sized producers.

UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture – Bringing people with a diversity of interests together to foster an understanding of agricultural issues that will lead to personal, institutional, organizational, and community decisions that encourage farming in Vermont.