learn by doing at nightfall farm
We offer two ways to learn by doing on our farm. Check out these opportunities and contact us with questions, or apply today.
apprenticeshipBest for: Aspiring farmers
Commitment: Part time (20 hours/week) x 10 weeks Timing: 10 consecutive weeks, ending by Thanksgiving Compensation: $10/hr plus room and board; Paid, via the Savanna Institute's Agroforestry Apprenticeship Program Other Perks: On-farm housing, breakfast and lunch on work days. Savanna Institute's agroforestry curriculum is incredible, and you'll put your new knowledge to work on the farm. Also, you'll be part of a cohort that engages regularly one of ~20 apprentices working on farms across the Midwest. Learn More and Apply: By clicking here. |
internshipBest for: College-age students exploring careers in food and environmental justice, conservation, agriculture, etc.
Commitment: 2-3 days per week, for 10 weeks Timing: Summer/Fall 2023 Compensation: Unpaid internship. Lunch and snacks provided daily. We regularly work with interns to count their experience for academic credit. Other Perks: Part-time schedule lets you pursue other jobs/projects. A chance to ground your classroom learning in physical, meaningful work. Learn More and Apply: Details below. |
intern - - Learn to Save the Planet
Sustainable agriculture has the tools we need to sequester carbon, feed communities, and fight climate change. Get an up close and personal look at what it takes to farm in a way that heals the planet and builds strong food systems. Excellent foundation for a career in environmental justice, conservation, law, nonprofit work, and more…and of course, farming!
Our intern will learn by doing. You will help care for the animals we raise on pasture: chickens, pigs, turkeys, and lambs; help with farm, gardening, and homesteading projects; learn about food systems; know the joy of a hard day’s work; and dive into sustainability.
Apply by sending your resume and cover letter to: nightfallfarm@gmail.com
Details about our Summer 2023 Academic Internship
Here at Nightfall, we raise livestock on pasture, including lambs, meat chickens, laying hens, pigs, and turkeys. We sell meat locally through our meat CSA (a monthly meat buying club) and at small town farmers markets (including Madison). We also sell meat to chefs. We do not sell any vegetables, but we raise and preserve a large garden for our family.
We care about the environment, and we are already seeing how the land can heal as we bring our family farm back to life after years of conventional agriculture. We are deeply involved in our food system, working to build up area farmer’s markets, connect young farmers in the state, and engage our community with food.
We are entering our ninth farming season here at Nightfall Farm. We spent five years working on sustainable farms in Maine, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania. Farmers mentored us at every step, and we are eager to share our knowledge as well.
We offer an internship program that immerses our intern in the food system. This is our sixth year hosting interns. Our intern will:
We design our internship to be an opportunity for individuals interested in being more involved in the local food movement or those aiming to gain experience while moving toward full-time employment on farms. This will be our fourth year hosting an intern on our farm.
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
1. Ability to work as a team player.
2. Willingness to take initiative and follow-through on tasks.
3. Strong oral and written communication skills.
4. Pragmatic and outcome-driven, yet positive and forward thinking.
5. Experience or interest in working with livestock.
6. Experience or interest in working on a homestead, including gardening, canning, etc.
7. Ability to physically work in a variety of conditions (i.e. endurance to work long days, in diverse weather conditions), and ability to lift at least 50 pounds.
8. Reliable transportation.
9. Punctuality.
10. Interest in helping develop a thriving local food system that fights climate change.
What You'll be Doing:
1. Assist with daily care of livestock: feeding, watering, moving fences and shelters, etc.
2. Helping in the garden: planting, cultivating, maintaining, harvesting, and preserving.
3. Assist with the repetitive tasks that are inherent to farming: washing dirty feeders and waterers, mucking stalls, carrying feed, etc.
4. Assist with farming, homesteading, and gardening projects
5. Optional opportunity to help with farmer’s markets.
6. Talk and ponder and learn throughout, as we discuss farming practices, food system challenges and opportunities, sustainability, climate change, and so much more.
Time Commitment:
We work with our interns to set a schedule that includes 2-3 days per week, for 10 weeks. This set schedule can allow for off-farm, part time work. For instance, last year’s intern worked every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. We often work daybreak to sundown, but do not require the same of our intern. We ask for 8 hour days, preferably 7:00am - 4:00pm (which ideally includes an hour for lunch together). We can be flexible with our structure, and will come to an agreed expectation together prior to the start of the internship.
Compensation:
To Apply to the Internship:
Send your resume and cover letter to Liz and Nate Brownlee at nightfallfarm@gmail.com. Nightfall Farm welcomes everyone to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive community for everyone.
For more information on our farm, follow us on social media (Instagram and Facebook: @nightfallfarm)
Our intern will learn by doing. You will help care for the animals we raise on pasture: chickens, pigs, turkeys, and lambs; help with farm, gardening, and homesteading projects; learn about food systems; know the joy of a hard day’s work; and dive into sustainability.
Apply by sending your resume and cover letter to: nightfallfarm@gmail.com
Details about our Summer 2023 Academic Internship
Here at Nightfall, we raise livestock on pasture, including lambs, meat chickens, laying hens, pigs, and turkeys. We sell meat locally through our meat CSA (a monthly meat buying club) and at small town farmers markets (including Madison). We also sell meat to chefs. We do not sell any vegetables, but we raise and preserve a large garden for our family.
We care about the environment, and we are already seeing how the land can heal as we bring our family farm back to life after years of conventional agriculture. We are deeply involved in our food system, working to build up area farmer’s markets, connect young farmers in the state, and engage our community with food.
We are entering our ninth farming season here at Nightfall Farm. We spent five years working on sustainable farms in Maine, Vermont, New York, and Pennsylvania. Farmers mentored us at every step, and we are eager to share our knowledge as well.
We offer an internship program that immerses our intern in the food system. This is our sixth year hosting interns. Our intern will:
- Work. The intern will help with daily tasks on the farm, which means lifting, hefting, building, canning, weeding, and creating. Together, we tackle the everyday (daily care of the animals), the joyful (taking chicks out to pasture for the first time), the mundane (washing feeders and waterers), and the complex (finding solutions on the farm). We will work in all weather, including sunny hot days, sopping wet days, and beautiful clear days. We work long days, and enjoy seeing the tangible results of that work.
- Live. The intern will end the summer with a lived understanding of daily work and life on a sustainable farm. This will serve the intern well if they pursue farming or work within the food system, if they are simply a lover of good food, or if they are working for climate justice.
- Learn. The intern will gather a working knowledge of how we farm (rotational grazing, ethical treatment of our animals, family garden, homestead tasks)…but importantly, the intern will also gain first-hand insight into the food system. We do a great deal of food system work, connecting eaters, farmers, and others to their food. Farming allows for a great deal of conversation as we work. The intern can learn, ask questions, and consider the realities and opportunities of our food system in southeast Indiana, in Indiana, and beyond.
We design our internship to be an opportunity for individuals interested in being more involved in the local food movement or those aiming to gain experience while moving toward full-time employment on farms. This will be our fourth year hosting an intern on our farm.
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
1. Ability to work as a team player.
2. Willingness to take initiative and follow-through on tasks.
3. Strong oral and written communication skills.
4. Pragmatic and outcome-driven, yet positive and forward thinking.
5. Experience or interest in working with livestock.
6. Experience or interest in working on a homestead, including gardening, canning, etc.
7. Ability to physically work in a variety of conditions (i.e. endurance to work long days, in diverse weather conditions), and ability to lift at least 50 pounds.
8. Reliable transportation.
9. Punctuality.
10. Interest in helping develop a thriving local food system that fights climate change.
What You'll be Doing:
1. Assist with daily care of livestock: feeding, watering, moving fences and shelters, etc.
2. Helping in the garden: planting, cultivating, maintaining, harvesting, and preserving.
3. Assist with the repetitive tasks that are inherent to farming: washing dirty feeders and waterers, mucking stalls, carrying feed, etc.
4. Assist with farming, homesteading, and gardening projects
5. Optional opportunity to help with farmer’s markets.
6. Talk and ponder and learn throughout, as we discuss farming practices, food system challenges and opportunities, sustainability, climate change, and so much more.
Time Commitment:
We work with our interns to set a schedule that includes 2-3 days per week, for 10 weeks. This set schedule can allow for off-farm, part time work. For instance, last year’s intern worked every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. We often work daybreak to sundown, but do not require the same of our intern. We ask for 8 hour days, preferably 7:00am - 4:00pm (which ideally includes an hour for lunch together). We can be flexible with our structure, and will come to an agreed expectation together prior to the start of the internship.
Compensation:
- This can be a paid position ($2,500 for the summer) IF you are a Hanover College student. Apply via the "Good Neighbors" internship program. Contact David Harden (harden@hanover.edu) for more information.
- For all other college interns: This is a part time, volunteer (unpaid) internship. Interns receive a prepared lunch daily, including products from the farm and garden as available, and snacks. Many of our past interns have completed their internship for academic credit, and we are eager to work with applicants to add this structure and reward to the internship.
- We also a separate opportunity: an apprenticeship program through the Savanna Institute. This is a full time, paid position that lasts 10 weeks. To learn more, visit https://www.savannainstitute.org/apprenticeship-program/.
To Apply to the Internship:
Send your resume and cover letter to Liz and Nate Brownlee at nightfallfarm@gmail.com. Nightfall Farm welcomes everyone to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive community for everyone.
For more information on our farm, follow us on social media (Instagram and Facebook: @nightfallfarm)