Grass-Based Sustainable Creamery Internship

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Grass-Based Sustainable Creamery Internship in New Jersey

Passionate about farming? Interested in grass-based, sustainable farming?

Take an internship at Cherry Grove Farm, a grass-based sustainable creamery in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. We have an opening for a farm production intern beginning in Spring 2017 .

Learn a variety of skills in the grass-based sustainable creamery internship:

We are a farmstead creamery, but as a diversified farm, we raise a small number of beef, sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and bees, in additional to our dairy herd. Farm work varies with the seasons, allowing an intern to develop a wide range of skills related to animal care, production, and the business of a sustainable farm and creamery. You will learn milking, herd care, pasture management, herd record keeping, food safety, tractor & equipment maintenance and operation, and be exposed to cattle herd management, our breeding philosophy, grassfed dairy production and milk quality issues, grazing rotation planning, as well as overall herd health management.  Interns should expect to milk some mornings and some evenings every week.

Special “behind-the-scenes” learning:

Interns will get some exposure to the business aspects of running a farm including sustainability and community connection, and planning and management. We’ll also dip into our holistic approach to animal and crop production planning, and cheese production. Interns will also gain experience in product marketing, promotion, and customer relationship management, helping out at a weekly farm market and making periodic deliveries for the wholesale team.

Build community:

Farm work is team work, so an intern must have good people skills and enjoy interacting with the public. Intern will take part in our monthly farm pot lucks that bring farm staff, local farmers and vendors together to talk and share the fruits of our labors. Intern also takes part in some community events that help educate the public about the farm and what we do, including the Annual Cow Parade.

Stipend and Housing:

This internship is an 8-12 month position emphasizing on-the-job training with a $200/week stipend for living expenses plus, on-farm housing, and $25 a week store credit for products we produce on the farm.

The right candidate for the grass-based sustainable creamery internship: We are looking for an enthusiastic person with a passion for farming, not afraid of hard work, and interested in learning about sustainable diversified farming. The ideal candidate is down-to-earth, positive, and non-smoking, with some prior exposure to farm work. Valid DL required. Experience with large or small animals is a plus. Like any experience, you get out of it what you put into it. Your “off time” would be your own and we would encourage you to explore the area. We can tap our network to set up visits to other farms/producers to round out your experience. This position reports to the farm manager.

To Apply for the Grass-Based Sustainable Creamery Internship: Please send email to kathys.cgf@gmail.com with resume, references, dates available, and cover letter including what intrigues you the about the internship.

About the farm: Cherry Grove Farm is a diversified, sustainable dairy farm and creamery situated on 480 acres of woodland, wetland and pasture in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from our grass-fed raw cows’ milk. Our cheeses are made in small batches and aged on the farm, with attention paid to the craft of artisanal cheesemaking. Each piece reflects the distinct flavors, aromas and seasonal variations of our unique terroir.

As part of our sustainable ecosystem, we also raise a small number of heritage breed pigs, lambs, chickens and beef cattle, producing grass- and whey-fed meats, raised without hormones, antibiotics or steroids. By raising a variety of animals and using our resources efficiently, we create a farm that is sustainable not only in production, but also as a business. With this ethos comes a commitment to the long term health of our land. We believe in building from the soil up, working to ensure that our organically certified pastures are nourished and thriving. Good soil = Healthy Forage = Healthy Cows = Quality Milk = Quality Cheese.

Our commitment as a farm is to be transparent, to educate and engage with our community, reconnecting our neighbors to the land and the source of their food. We offer a series of cheesemaking and homesteading classes on the farm, as well as farm tours for schools, private groups, and the public. Our cheeses are sold wholesale and retail to a variety of distributors, markets, and restaurants in the New York/Philadelphia area, and through regional farmers markets and events. Pasture-raised meats are sold through our retail channels.

Learn more at www.cherrygrovefarm.com, visit us on Facebook and Instagram @cherrygrovefarm

Applications will be taken through April 30, 2017