Road's End Farm internships

Road's End Farm

Small working farm; 80 acres total, about 9 currently under cultivation. Certified organic by NOFA-NY. Vegetables, berries, melons; a few fruit trees, herbs, and edible flowers. Marketing through Finger Lakes Organic Growers' Cooperative, farmers' market, on-farm sales. Two interns accepted.

Training available

On-the-job training in planting, transplanting, weeding, cultivating, mulching, harvest, packing, seed-saving, etc. (all primarily by hand); tractor work including cultivating, seeding, fertilizer application, maintenance, etc.; spraying (organically-permitted materials only); marketing; organic certification process; planning crop rotations; preventing erosion; canning and freezing produce; other areas according to your interests and skills. Considerable handwork required, plus share of housework if living on farm. Tractor work is optional. Interns may be able to take considerable responsibility in some areas.

Hours

Hours will be variable. 40 hours/week or more is expected, but this is not a 9-to-5 job; weekend work will be necessary and some days will be long. Specific time off can be negotiated according to intern's needs. Experience is not required, but you must be enthusiastic and willing to work and to learn.

Season

Season is early May to early November. A stipend is available for person staying all or most of season. Will consider part-time or short-term interns, room and board only. Long-term arrangements with winter housing are possible, as is an eventual partnership.

Accomodations

Bedroom in farmhouse, full house privileges, and board. No smoking in house or fields; should like cats and dogs. Not vegetarian, but can accomodate vegetarians.

Other opportunities and recreation

Other organic and alternative farms in area, including a neighbor with a wide variety of (semi-organic) livestock. Visits to other farms in intern-training group. Beautiful Finger Lakes area; local festivals, hiking, lake access about 5 miles. Rural area; small towns 5-12 miles from farm; one hour drive to Ithaca/Cornell college community. Lots of books in house on almost any subject. (No television.) Enthusiastic and sometimes wild conversations about almost everything.

Contact information

Rivka Davis, 362 Smith Road, Dundee, NY 14837-9131. +1 607 243 5234. An advance visit is required. References from previous apprentices available.