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 (4), Assistant Gardener, Animal Caretaker, Cooking Enthusiasts (3), Clothesline Concierge, and Seasonal Support Staff (7). 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. All positions have been filled for the 2013 season. Check back in the fall when Emandal begins accepting applications for the 2014 season.

• 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.

• 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 an hourly wage, WiFi access and room and board during the working period for the adolescent program (accommodations are not provided on your week off). Desired qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Psychology, Farming/Agroecology or Outdoor Education/Leadership, or a minimum of 3 years relevant experience. Specific experience with “at-risk” youth or within wilderness therapy a plus. 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!

• 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.

Ploughshare Farm is a 160-acre organic vegetable farm serving a 450 member CSA. The farm is well known for the quality of vegetables and as a successful CSA model, with recognition given through several awards including Farmer of the Year. They have gained this status through hard work and dedication—precisely the philosophy that will be taught in the Internship program. The farm has hosted 70 interns over the past ten years and is accepting Interns/Apprentices and Field Workers for the 2013 season.

Interns/Apprentices 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, produce from the farm for personal consumption, and an hourly wage. Eight positions are available from April 1st through November 1st with varied start/end dates. A one-month minimum term is required, although the entire season preferred. Already have more than one year experience working on a vegetable farm? Field Workers are hourly paid positions, which includes an option for housing. Pay is dependent on experience. Email Gary Brever for detailed information and an application.

• You can expect many things as a Ploughshare Farm Intern. 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!

Located on 50 acres in beautiful rolling New Jersey farmland, Sandbrook Meadow Farm is committed to preserving the integrity of the land and the joys of farm community through responsible organic farming practices. The spring of 2011 marked the farm's first growing season offering fresh organic vegetables to CSA shareholders and for the local farmer’s market. Interns are a key element of the farm and can expect to contribute and learn skills in greenhouse management, field production methods, harvesting, distribution, and planning. The Farm team values a cooperative relationship and is committed to making the internship an educational experience as well as a working one. Simple community housing and an $800/month is provided. Interns are also welcome to enjoy produce and eggs from the farm and are encouraged to can/freeze/dry food as it is available. Positions run from March 15–November 15 or April 15–October 31, with a 5 ½ day workweek (some weekend hours will be required). The daily hour commitment will vary greatly depending on seasonal demands. Applicants need to be fit, flexible, live a healthy lifestyle, and be team players. If you have enthusiasm for growing food and community, call or email Alex Sawatzky and an application will be emailed back to you. A phone interview and meet and greet (if possible) are the final steps.

• Beyond having a productive growing season, creating a fun and enjoyable working experience is a top priority at Sandbrook Meadow Farm. As farming can be a strenuous and draining vocation, it is very important to keep hearts and minds satisfied.

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.

Located in Southern Oregon within the shadow of Mt. Shasta, Dragonfly Transitions is home away from home for young adults who are struggling with the transition to healthy, productive independence. The Homestead at Transitions is a 30-acre farm where students work on therapeutic issues in a quiet, rural setting. Farm products are sold at the local farmer’s market as well as through a community supported agriculture program. Farm Mentors provide a safe and supportive environment for students by holding boundaries and working with students on their treatment goals plan; teach life skills, self awareness and other concepts; and plan, lead and facilitate daily activities including farm chores, cooking as a group, and group meetings. Compensation is based on experience, plus benefits that include 3 weeks paid vacation, health insurance, and 401k plan. The position does not include housing but does include some meals. A minimum one-year commitment is required. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree, a background working professionally with young adults struggling with diverse issues; a passion for local food, organic gardening practices, and sustainable living; and experience with farming skills such as animal husbandry, equipment maintenance, weeding, and growing delicious vegetables is preferred. To begin the application process, email your resume to Rebecca Carlin.

• Do you have a passion for organic gardening practices, local food and sustainable living? As a Dragonfly Transitions Farm Mentor, you will lead daily farm chores while teaching young adults how to live in a healthy and sustainable way.

Located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania (about 45 minutes outside of Scranton, PA and Binghamton NY), NatureScapes Living is a privately owned construction, landscaping, and farming company. Owner Brandon Flynn's true passion is working with water, capturing it for reuse, and managing it to prevent floods and crop damage. Now seeking a full-time Farm Laborer to begin work as early as April and continue through the fall/early winter season. The Laborer will work on an organic CSA, hog, beef and egg production farm. Responsibilities also include assisting with cutting firewood and picking stones as part of a clearing for a silvopasture (the practice of combining forestry and grazing of domesticated animals in a mutually beneficial way). Compensation includes $500 per month, plus housing and some meals. You will work hard, learn a lot and spend a season working on a beautiful farm. Applicants must be able to physically perform the work required for the job. If you are a hard working individual with a good work ethic and strong incentive, call 570-575-1744 or email Brandon Flynn to begin the application process.

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 $297/week, private accommodation within a Ranch residence, all meals, full health and dental insurance, three weeks' paid vacation (first year), 10 days paid sick time yearly, 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!). To join the Farm & Wilderness team, fill out the online application.

• 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 2013 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 through the end of October each year. Housing and meals are not included in the program fee. Review the application process or contact Susie Walsh Daloz for more information. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

• 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. Learn more about the program by watching this video »

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 $265, 15 paid vacation days, access to onsite fitness facility, WiFi access, 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, a shared room in a historic colonial farmhouse, meals, laundry facilities and WiFi access. Life on the farm is a communal-living experience—all Interns 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.

Now seeking two Farm Interns in Wisconsin!
As a 4th generation farm transitioning back to sustainable methods, Olden Produce grows over 50 different varieties of vegetables, and maintains a fruit orchard, 16 bee hives and over 400 free ranged chickens for eggs. Produce is offered through a 200-member CSA, at farmer's markets, wholesale to restaurants, and onsite farm sales. New for summer 2013 is a local food market and artisan incubator kitchen! Interns will have the opportunity to get involved in everything that it takes to run a successful small farm business, including harvesting, greenhouse production, open field production, CSA preparation & interacting with members, chicken care and egg collection, selling at markets, working at the onsite market/kitchen, conducting daily animal chores and crop maintenance, and working on special projects. Benefits include a weekly stipend based on experience, housing near the farm, and plenty of produce. Both interns will start in late May/early June; the summer intern will work through August, while the full-season intern will work through mid-October. Applicants should be passionate about farming, self-motivated and able to follow directions well, and not be afraid to try new things and get dirty. To begin the application process, email your resume and references to Richard & Tracy Vinz.

• My season spent with Olden Produce was the best decision I ever made! I learned so much both through having the opportunity to DO everything on the farm, and through the Vinz's passion for what they do and in turn SHARING that passion with anyone who wants to know. They are also so much fun to work with, and they're always trying something new, which makes every day an adventure!
—2012 Olden Produce Intern

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. Interns are needed in Agriculture/Animal Science (create a sustainable organic farming & livestock system), Anthropology (healthcare systems and body/folk remedies), Biology (catalog all flora & fauna and preserve the Valley's abundant biodiversity), Business & Entrepreneurship (help accelerate entrepreneurship and shape the real estate development model), Community Outreach & ESL (grassroots community organizing, leadership training, and education in rural Panama), Digital Development, and Outdoor Recreation (provide a variety of sustainable recreation opportunities for residents & visitors). Tuition includes rent, meal plan, Internet access, laundry service, utilities, mailbox and transportation between locations. Internships are available each season; now accepting applications for the Fall (September 2nd–November 15th) and Spring (January 13th–April 11th, 2014). Connect with Kate Stewart for more info or apply now! 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
• WWOOF International
• 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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