Farmer Opportunity Details
Locations: Bergen, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Union County
Harvest Vista Americorps Member, Everett, WA, Nov. 2015-Nov. 2016 • Coordinated a farm-to-food bank program. Included organizing volunteers to harvest and/or collect locally grown surplus produce. • Molded program to work within a pre-existing distribution system that included 21 county food banks. • Utilized WSDA grant money to create and maintain purchasing contracts between local farms and food banks. Apprentice, Quail Hill Farm, Amagansett, NY, Apr. 2017-Dec. 2017 • 30 acre mixed vegetable/grains CSA and Wholesale operation. • Shared monthly rotational tasks with 3 other full-time apprentices including care for laying hens/farm shop inventory, propagation and irrigation, crew leading and maintenance, and wholesale/market harvest coordination. CSA Manager and Crew Member, The HOG Farm, Brookhaven, NY, Feb. 2018-Present Day • 15 acre diverse and ecologically focused vegetable farm that offers a Community Supported Agriculture Program, On-Site Farm Stand and Restaurant Wholesale. • Responsibilities include day-to day field work with special focus on cultivation, irrigation, harvest and distribution of all fruit and vegetable varieties grown. Responsible for the development of and execution of weekly CSA distribution. • Manages CSA Email and inquiries from 250+ members regarding application process, weekly newsletter, Pick-Your-Own access and Pickup scheduling and rescheduling.
I'm in search of land from which I can build both a homestead and corresponding farm business. My experiences have been mostly with diverse vegetable production that is ecologically focused but incorporated into more tillage dependent systems. I would like to move towards a smaller scale system with less tillage. I currently manage a CSA and I would like my future business markets to have a strong emphasis on community. I currently have a partner who runs his own construction business and thus has a lot of helpful experience when it comes to building, mechanics and business. I've fallen in love with the work and lifestyle that comes with being a smaller scale, diverse and community oriented farmer and it is very important for me to keep these value in my life as I move along on my journey.