Garden Crew Intern (2025 Season)

Dates: April-October Or May-August

Compensation: $15/hour paid biweekly with time-and-a-half for overtime

Turner Farm is one of two working farms remaining within the village of Indian Hill, and has been in operation since the 1800s. In 1994, under the stewardship of Bonnie Mitsui, it became a farm devoted to growing organically. Turner Farm fosters stewardship of the land, ourselves, and development of a nurturing community through organic, low-impact food production.

Turner Farm’s vegetable production consists of approximately eight acres under intensive, primarily market-garden style cultivation, with a small amount of acreage in row crops. Crops supply our on-farm market, a 80-member CSA, and a local farmers market. We use a unique mix of hand tools, tractors, and draft animals in the fields. All production is certified organic by the USDA and Real Organic Project.

Job Description:

Applicants should have demonstrated interest in and commitment to agriculture. Interns will develop a well-rounded foundation in the best practices of vegetable crop production from an established farm that has been refining its systems over decades. Formal classes and field trips are offered throughout the season, but individuals who have been the most successful in this program have been self-motivated in learning and absorbing through day-to-day field work. Curiosity is encouraged. Personal and professional growth and development is fostered through meaningful work assignments and other learning opportunities. Farming is an incredibly rewarding job, but the work is often strenuous, repetitive, and performed in adverse weather conditions. We are looking for people who, despite challenges that may arise, are motivated and overall deeply committed to and engaged in their work and experience here.

Applicants have the option to join the crew for the full season, April – October, or the summer season, May – August. Exact start and end dates are flexible. Our schedule is typically Monday – Friday, from 7:30 – 4:00 with a one hour unpaid lunch break. Interns will work closely with our garden team of seven full-time staff, and one to two other interns. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Duties:

Interns will be a part of every aspect of vegetable production. This list goes over the main day to day tasks that we will be completing, but is definitely not comprehensive. Working on a diversified farm can bring new changes every day, and we are looking for applicants that are flexible and willing and ready to work, whatever that task might be.

• Assist in field work, such as soil prep, planting, cultivation, irrigation, maintenance
• Fulfill harvest lists and carryout post harvest processes
• Follow and maintain relevant records for the farm and organic certification
• Participate in farmers markets and CSA distribution
• Utilize seed schedule and perform seeding in greenhouse
• Communicate and collaborate with a team
• Safely operate vehicles and machines
• Execute tasks in all weather conditions

Requirements:

• Must be over the age of 18
• Must have a valid Drivers license
• No previous farm experience is required
• While there are no strict physical requirements for this position, the daily work involves a high level of physical activity and repetitive bending, lifting, crouching, kneeling, and other bodily motions that can present challenges or issues for some individuals, especially over time. We ask that applicants thoughtfully consider their own physical needs, abilities, and level of comfort with such conditions when applying.

Application Process:

To apply for the 2025 season, please email a resume and responses to the following questionnaire to johanna@turnerfarm.org. An in-person interview with our crop production team is required.

1. Which time frame, full season (April-November) or summer season (May-August), are you applying for? Please explain any restrictions on your availability.
2. What attracts you to organic farming rather than conventional farming?
3. What kind of knowledge, skills, and experiences are you interested in gaining during your internship? Please be as specific as possible.
4. Please list any books, films, podcasts, or other resources (such as specific farms or farmers themselves) that have influenced your interest in agriculture.
5. Are you comfortable working on a farm that raises animals for meat?
6. Please describe your experience with tools and farm equipment. Hand tools? Tractors? What’s your favorite tool and why?
7. What approaches do you use to remain productive during physically demanding times or extreme weather conditions?
8. How would you describe your communication style?
9. What is a previous experience that has taught you resiliency and problem solving in the workplace?
10. Is there anything else that you would like to add?