Green Mountain Girls Farm is recruiting to augment our small team. We seek folks who work to
continually improve, think systemically, are keen to accept responsibility, learn and contribute to our late-stage start-up multi-functional farm.
We are currently recruiting for one additional year-long apprentice to start by September 1, and some additional 3-4 month apprentices focused on harvesting and food processing, both veggies and meat, as well as some possible short-term contract work related to weeding, veggie processing, and poultry butchering from August – October/November.
Green Mountain Girls Farm links interrelated enterprises to maximize our land, talents and built infrastructure. We farm relationships and produce an intentional blend of value. Our complex bottom line insists upon financial profitability, delighted customers, engaged neighbors, well functioning natural systems and thriving farmers. We rotationally graze Tamworth pigs, dairy and meat goats, turkeys, and chickens and grow vegetables, primarily for retail sale. We follow organic standards. We also offer people the opportunity to experience a bit of farm life through lodging or events in our Barn Guest House or paid farm experiences.
Apprentices Attending to Takamba after she delivered
We are optimistic for the success of our small hill farm and the potential for geotourism1 to make a significant and positive impact here and more generally on Vermont’s working landscapes. We seek to match individual’s strengths, that is the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance in a specific activity, with farm priorities. Therefore we are interested to learn about you; the ways you most naturally think, feel and behave as well as how you have built on that to acquire knowledge and skills and contribute. We are also keen to learn about your aspirations to see whether our farm is a good match for your preferences and direction.
Ultimately we design custom role bundles for each team member. This demands an ongoing and rigorous process to identify and clarify roles which need to be filled for our success. We have intentionally avoided the temptation to pre-align these roles in a job description. Rather we recruit for the key talents and experience we require and responsibilities will be solidified as we integrate successful candidates with our existing team. Currently we need people to fill the following roles:
- consistent care givers (animal chores, weeding orchard and crops)
- charismatic sales people (attracting and retaining farm shoppers and hosting farm visitors)
- haulers (physically exert in all types of weather)
- farm geeks (excel excellence, generally tech savvy)
- activators, strategists and closers (helping us make better instead of making do)
- organizers (helping us emerge into flow across all domains of our linked micro-enterprises)
- communicators (narrative and visual)
- detail oriented folks with fine motor skills
- “handy-hand” with small motor, mechanical and/or carpentry capabilities
- record keepers and individuals driven to design systems to capture learning available from records.
Exposure to organic crop growing and/or livestock in rotational grazing is a benefit and required for any hourly paid role. Number crunchers and foodies with knife skills are also a desirable addition to our team. Poultry processing and hand milking experience aren’t required, but are a plus.
All open positions will require:
Milking Time
- full time availability with some weekend hours,
- the ability to legally drive, proficiency with standard transmission preferred,
- agility to adapt and surf the edge of chaos typical of start-up enterprises,
- patience with repetition and/or work, and
- desire to explore the far reaches of what you are capable of, what is possible for this team, farm and the working landscape of Vermont.
Remuneration for Apprenticeships
- Farmer’s Farm Share (value $40 week of Farmer eggs, milk, veggies and meat)
- Lunch: Responsibility for preparing lunch with farm supplied food for the entire team will be shared amongst all team members
- Housing or housing stipend will be provided
- $200/year of workshop and conference fees covered and work time to attend. Can be from NOFA, Vermont Grass Farmers Association, UVM Extension, Highfields Composting or other related organization.
- Support to develop and achieve a personal learning agenda in the context of farm goals.
1Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.
Applying for work at Green Mountain Girls Farm
To apply for work at Green Mountain Girls Farm, please email cover letter and resume to hiring@EatStayFarm.com and share with us with all the following information:
- Position(s) you are applying for (year-long internship with stipend or seasonal, short-term paid hourly)
- Housing needed?
- Earliest availability? End date of availability?
- Name
- Address
- Phone
Be sure you include the following information in your cover letter and resume:
- Past work experience and/or leadership or management responsibilities
- What exposure and responsibilities do you seek? What are your small business development, farming, gardening, and/or tourism goals? How does this fit with your other life aspirations?
- Tell us about your wiring. Share vignettes on conditions when you perform at your best, what are your best times of day and types of work? Which typically recharges you more flying solo with tasks or working with others? How much physical and mental challenge you seek? Do you tend more towards optimism or realism with time and tasks?
- 2-3 work references, including previous employer, whether farming related or not, and any farm-related work references.
- If you are interested in a position with housing options, please include 2 housing references.
We will assemble material from applicants and contact you for follow up if there appears to be match potential. We encourage you to use email for all associated communications.