Working Farmers

 

Working Farmers is for youth ages 11 years old and up who’d like to roll up their sleeves, get their hands in the soil, and really learn what it’s like to be a farmer.  Working Farmers work right alongside the year-round farmers, taking care of all aspects of our busy organic farm in the summer. They do animal chores, plant, weed, and pick crops, operate the vegetable stand, and light construction work.  At the end of the year, Working Farmers take home a share of the money earned from the harvest.*  We aim to train the participants in the culture of work, job responsibilities and working well with others. Working farmers are never bored! Please read the Working Farmers Guidelines before signing up for the program.

 

When: June 18 - August 24; weekly sessions run Monday through Friday with the exception of weeks 3 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) and 8 (Monday through Thursday). There is a mandatory meeting on Wednesday, June 6th for all Working Farmers from 4-5 PM!
Times: (A) 8:30 AM - 12 noon or (B) 1 PM - 4:30 PM
Fee: $180/week (members $145); fees for weeks 3 and 8: $145 (members $115)

 

A Typical Day:

  • Sign-in
  • WF meeting (get job assignments)
  • Farm work (usually one or more of the following:  animal chores, harvesting, market stand, light carpentry)
  • Snack upon completion of work
  • Farm work (one or more of the following:  animal chores, harvesting, market stand, light carpentry)
  • Sign-out

 

Special Projects/Responsibilities:

  • Running the market stand on Route 16

 

crew chief in training

Working Farmers who have participated in the program for one or two summers may be invited by Farm Director Lynda and the Assistant Director Jean-Claude to become a Crew Chief in Training (CIT). Qualifications to become a CIT are a strong work ethic, sense of responsibility and enjoying the work on the Farm. CITs have to commit to a minimum of four sessions (half days) over the course of the summer. They will assist a Crew Chief in guiding a work crew of two to four Working Farmers to accomplish a given job. CITs will receive a slightly higher rate than regular Working Farmers in the Income Sharing from the proceeds of the Market Stand.

 

crew chief

Working Farmers who have been a CIT for one or two summers may be invited by the Farm's Director Lynda and the Assistant Director Jean-Claude to become a Crew Chief (CC). Crew Chiefs lead a work crew of three to five children under the supervision of a Farm staff. CC commit to a minimum of four weeks working the morning and afternoon session. They receive a slightly higher rate than CITs in the Income Sharing from the proceeds of the Market Stand.

 

Register now!
(Priority Registration for members with a membership of $100 or greater until March 15, 2012)

To check on your membership status please send an e-mail to tumbrell.ncorganic@verizon.net . If you would like to become a member or would like to renew your membership you can do so at the same time you sign up for a summer program.