Farm Internships – Organic Berries, Veggies, Beekeeping and More!

Farm Internship Available for 2018!

About Hope Mountain Farm

Our diversified organic family farm is located in the beautiful Upper Valley region of North Central Washington, about 25 minutes from Leavenworth.  We are surrounded by a wealth of recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, rock climbing, and biking.  Over a dozen varieties of berries in addition to over 50 varieties of vegetables are grown on our farm.  In addition to growing produce, we have a licensed food processing facility, we keep honey bees, and we maintain a small flock of poultry.  We market our produce to schools, stores, health bars, restaurants and farmers markets and also offer direct sales from our farm.  2018 will be an exciting year for us as we nearly doubled our revenue this year, and are planning similar growth in the coming year.  We are focused on working smarter, not just harder, and we are open to experimenting and keep learning from our mistakes.  Some of the changes we will be implementing in 2018 come from the inspiring examples of two successful market growers who are leading the way in profitable farming – Urban Farmer Curtis Stone and J.M. Fortier.

Internship Job Description

The goal of our internship program is to provide aspiring farmers with practical training and hands-on experience to give them the skills to start their own operation.  Summer internships run from April through October, with expected hours averaging 40 hours per week.  Preference is given to those who can commit to the entire season, since that gives you the best experience, but there may also be an option for a partial season.  We offer paid room and board for our interns through a partnership with the Grunewald Guild, a retreat center within walking distance.  A stipend of up to $500 is offered upon successful completion of the program in addition to a weekly supply of fresh produce.

Farm activities include a wide range of tasks, such as planting, weeding, managing irrigation, building trellises, pruning, thinning, fertilizing, transplanting and harvesting.  The work is physically demanding, but the personal satisfaction can be very rewarding.  There will always be more tasks than there are hours in the day, so you need to be comfortable with changing priorities and not always having a sense of completion.

Educational Opportunities

The farm internship positions are certified through the State of Washington Farm Internship Project.  Our curriculum will teach you the basics of organic berry production, vegetable growing, irrigation, high tunnel growing, and beekeeping.  In addition to personal instruction, you will be assigned a small amount of reading material on specific topics related to farm activities.  Pre-field and post-field meetings will review areas of instruction, and you will have ample opportunity for questions and answers.  You will also learn about merchandising, marketing and selling, and will have an opportunity to interact with customers at farmers markets.

Qualifications and Skills Desired

We are looking for reliable, responsible and hardworking individuals with a strong desire to learn new skills.  The ability to work independently is essential, and good communication skills are a must.  The ideal candidate is passionate about organic agriculture and is looking for real-world experience to help start his or her own farm in the future.  The single most important requirement is having an awesome work ethic – you will bring your very best to every task, push yourself to work faster and more efficiently, approach new challenges with enthusiasm, and stick with a project until it is completed.

Physical requirements include standing for long periods of time, enduring a variety of weather conditions including heat, humidity and rain, kneeling, lifting, twisting, and the ability to lift up to 60 pounds on occasion.  Farming requires physical stamina, including the ability to work at a fast pace for a prolonged period of time.  We frequently start our day as early as 6AM, and being punctual is critical to help the team make good use of time.

Other Requirements

There is no smoking on the farm.  Applicants must have reliable transportation and be willing to work a flexible schedule based on the needs of the farm.

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter via e-mail to [email protected].    Visit us at www.hopemountainfarm.com  to learn more about us!