Edwin County Farms in Picton, Ontario is seeking interns for the 2024 season!
ABOUT Edwin County Farms
Edwin County Farms is an organically managed, regenerative farm located in beautiful Prince Edward County, Ontario. Our 700-acre farm includes a 2.5-acre market garden and seasonal greenhouse facility. Using no-till and low-till methods we produce organically grown vegetables and cut flowers for local restaurants and our community. For the past 20 years, we have been raising certified organic beef, and practicing rotational grazing to help grow and improve our soils. Our large hardwood forest preserve also allows us to continue the age-old tradition of producing wood-fired maple syrup. Our small-batch syrup is sustainably produced and certified organic.
Edwin County Farms is affiliated with the newly restored Royal Hotel in Picton, Ontario, providing an array of organic produce, meat, etc. for the Hotel’s farm-to-table menu. We also supply more than a dozen other local chefs and restaurants in one of Canada’s premier wine regions. In addition, we feed our community through local farmers’ markets, growing a diverse array of produce year round.
Our mission is to produce the highest quality, naturally grown vegetables and flowers using organic and regenerative methods, to care for the land, nourish our community and provide a friendly and supportive environment and lifestyle for those who work and life on the farm. We have a work culture that strives to be inclusive, productive, efficient, organized, and fun! We work with other organic producers in the area to promote and foster sustainable and regenerative methods of growing. We continually strive to learn and improve our efforts to work with nature to grow healthy and delicious food.
DESIRED QUALITIES
We are looking for individuals who are:
- passionate about growing great food
- have a strong desire to work with their hands in the soil
- enjoy working hard out doors and,
- keen to learn and explore the challenges and opportunities of cultivating in harmony with nature
- energetic and enjoy the physical challenges and joy that comes from working outdoors
Previous experience in gardening and farm work is an asset. An interest in organic and regenerative cultivation practices is expected. Interns will be expected to represent the farm at our weekly farmers’ market so some facility with spoken English and an ability to interact with patrons is essential.
INTERN TASKS
- seedling production work (making potting mix, seeding trays
- establishment & upkeep of crops (planting and weeding)
- pest monitoring and management
- installation of field materials including caterpillar tunnels, geotextiles, row covers, irrigation
- vegetable harvest (possibly some flower harvest as well
- post-harvest operations: washing, sorting, weighing, bagging
- bed prep and amendment using the broadfork and BCS in the field greenhouses and tractor
- recording field and sales data
- preparation for and participation in weekly farmers’ market
JOB DETAILS
Instruction and Education
On the job training is provided by our experienced team working daily alongside our interns. We work closely with other organic farms to share experiences, insights and opportunities. A diverse variety of experiences and learning is offered beyond our market garden work including in our forest stewardship and native tree nursery program, our livestock program and our tea/medicinal herb garden. Experience in post-harvest processing and preserving is also offered.
Additional Learning Resources
We provide a full library of resources as well as online modules to support intern learning and growth. Two generations of organic gardeners are available to provide insights and support intern development.
Room & Board
Interns requiring accommodation have the option to rent on-farm accommodation for a nominal fee. (Fees range from $50/wk to $100/wk depending on the room). Accommodation includes separate rooms for each intern with shared cooking and common spaces. Interns are expected to cook for themselves and maintain their accommodation in good order. Surplus produce from the market garden is always available for interns and employees. Interns can also purchase farm products such as meat, eggs and syrup at employee/family pricing. Three generations of our family live on the farm and frequent farm dinners include our interns and employees.
Term: Full season interns are expected to be available from July to the end of October. Interns interested in shorter duration tenures can discuss options with the market garden manager.
Hours per week: Weekly hours vary depending on the time of year; however, interns are expected to work approximately 40-45 hours a week with additional mentorship and training time as required or requested. Interns must be able to work every other Sunday at the farmers’ market.
Wage: Internship remuneration varies depending on experience with the base wage at minimum wage ($16.55/hr)
A G-class driver’s license is strongly recommended. Some form of personal transportation, though not essential is an asset as the closest town is 24km away.
TO APPLY
Please submit your resume and cover letter describing any relevant experience and motivation for pursuing the position to info@edwincountyfarms.ca
Deadline to apply: August 15, 2024
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
LEARN MORE ABOUT Edwin County Farms
Website: www.edwincountyfarms.ca
Instagram: instagram.com/edwincountyfarms
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