Sustainable Farming Internships, Grafton/Harvard

Internship: Sustainable Farming for Hunger Relief (Grafton, Massachusetts)

Spend your summer working with a leading Central Massachusetts non-profit organization as they continue to improve operations and expand their reach of healthy produce to Worcester County’s most vulnerable. Gain valuable experience and learn about mid-size farming practices, the basics of non-profit operations, and volunteer organizing while you spend your summer outdoors working with a diverse group of staff and volunteers.  Be part of a dynamic team aiding hunger relief in Worcester County while exploring your future.  

Responsibilities

Our Interns will participate fully in all aspects of operating a non-profit volunteer farming organization.  They will have direct hands-on engagement in farming over 10 acres of vegetables and 30 acres of fruit trees.  The internship includes working with and leading volunteers in farm activity while gaining valuable leadership and communication skills.   

Tasks include but not limited to:

• Lead diverse groups of volunteer farmers in daily activities at our farms primarily in North Grafton, MA. 
• Assist with maintaining a positive volunteer experience for all who visit the farm
• Support farm maintenance tasks (mowing, harvesting, weeding, irrigation, etc.) 
• Occasional visits to work with our orchard team in Harvard, MA will be required    
• Support and work on some organizational events as needed 
• Other tasks as needed

Educational Components 

• Interns will have the opportunity to work with and learn from all staff members of the non-profit and will gain insight into the multi-faceted operations of the organization 
• Interns will be responsible for completing a group farm project to be completed by the end of the internship.
• The internship also includes off-site visits to partner organizations which allows students an opportunity to learn more about local hunger relief efforts and non-profit partnerships.

Preferred Qualifications, qualified applicants will:

• Be an excellent communicator and be able to demonstrate previous leadership responsibility
• Have interest and/or some experience in farming or gardening
• Be able to lift farm equipment and/or produce weighing up to 50 pounds
• Be comfortable using or learning to use power tools like weed-whackers and lawn mowers 
• Be prepared for work in outdoor weather conditions, we operate rain or shine
• Work within a team or independently, be self-motivated, with great attention to detail
• Have reliable transportation   
• Be available for 30 hours per week, June through August, working primarily-morning hours with an occasional late afternoon/early evening or Saturday.  Unique scheduling needs may be negotiated in advance and are subject to operational needs of the organization. This internship can be extended through the fall season. 
• Be flexible and have a sense of humor! This is a true farming operation and we operate at the whim of nature, so flexibility is key. 

Farming for Hunger Relief; Sustainable Orchard Internship (Harvard, Massachusetts)

Spend your summer working with a leading Central Massachusetts non-profit organization as they continue to improve operations and expand their reach of healthy produce to Worcester County’s most vulnerable. Gain valuable experience and learn about a sustainable orchard and volunteer organization, the basics of non-profit operations, and volunteer organizing while you spend your summer outdoors. Work directly with an experienced Orchard Manager, responsible for 30 acres of fruit trees. Be part of a dynamic team aiding hunger relief in Worcester County while exploring your future.  

Responsibilities

Our Interns will participate fully in all aspects of operating a non-profit volunteer farming organization at our orchard. They will have direct hands-on engagement in farming 30 acres of fruit trees. Including 3,200 apple trees and 150 peach trees nestled on a 75 acre property in Harvard, MA.  They will be involved in orchard operations and have opportunities to participate in special projects.  Tasks include but not limited to:

• Assist with orchard tasks such as pruning, fruit thinning, fertilizing, crop/growth analysis, mowing, irrigation, pest control, weed management, and property upkeep under the direction of our Orchard Manager and Orchard Assistant. 
• Assist with maintaining a positive volunteer experience for all who visit the farm
• Occasional visits to work with our farm team in North Grafton, MA will be required.    
• Support and work on some organizational events as needed 
• Other tasks as needed

Educational Components 

• Interns will have the opportunity to work with and learn from all staff members of the non-profit and will gain insight into the multi-faceted operations of the organization. In addition they will have the opportunity to complete an optional group orchard project. 
• Interns will have the opportunity to complete a group project by the end of the internship.
• The internship also includes off-site visits to partner organizations which allows students an opportunity to learn more about local hunger relief efforts and non-profit partnerships.

Requirements, qualified applicants will:

• Be an excellent communicator and be able to demonstrate previous leadership responsibility
• Have interest and/or some experience in farming or gardening
• Be able to lift farm equipment and/or produce weighing up to 50 pounds
• Be comfortable using or learning to use power tools like weed-whackers and lawn mowers 
• Be prepared for work in outdoor weather conditions, we operate rain or shine
• Work within a team or independently, be self-motivated, with great attention to detail
• Have reliable transportation   
• Be available for 30 hours per week, June through August with the opportunity to extend the internship into the fall season with adjusted flexible hours. Unique scheduling needs may be negotiated in advance and are subject to operational needs of the organization
• Be flexible and have a sense of humor! This is a real farming operation and we operate at the whim of nature, so flexibility is key

Organization Information: 

Community Harvest Project (CHP), a 501(c)3 organization, is dedicated to improving access to healthy foods through community engagement.  Through their volunteer farming, volunteer programs and partnerships, they bring thousands of community members together each year to build an engaged and healthier Worcester County.  In a typical year working together with over 7,500 volunteers they produce over a million servings of fresh produce for donation to individuals and families in need throughout our community who otherwise may not have had access.  The produce is donated through numerous partner organizations such as The Worcester County Food Bank, Community Servings, Loaves and Fishes, Jeremiah’s Inn, and The Hector Reyes House.  CHP operates at Brigham Hill Community Farm and White’s Farm in North Grafton, MA and at Prospect Hill Farm in Harvard, MA.  

For more information about our programs and impact, please visit www.community-harvest.org. 

Contact

To apply send letter of interest and resume via e-mail to Wayne McAuliffe, Manager of Volunteer Programs, at wayne@community-harvest.org