If you like the idea of working in the country away from the noise of the city, then Emandal might be right for you… What is Emandal? Emandal has operated as a family camp/guest ranch since it was opened in 1908 by Em and Al Byrnes.  Since 1946, The Adams Family has continued the family camp tradition.  In addition they have added Environmental Education in the Spring and host the occasional wedding and private group retreat.  For 100 years Emandal has been a place for people to come and relax, learn, explore, reunite with friends and family, and meet new friends.  Emandal’s Seasonal Staff are essential in creating a quality experience for guests. Why do people come here to work? We have found over the years that Emandal has been a great place for people to come while pondering life’s choices.  Working a season or two on the farm is ideal for transitioning from one experience to another…whether the end of school, between jobs, prior to graduate education, before a trip around the world, or while making decisions about a career change. What sorts of jobs are available? We have a variety of positions available beginning as early as January, and a few more available in mid June.  End dates vary depending on the position, though usually late September-mid October.  Though we are a farm, we operate as a guest facility and the work reflects this.  We encourage people to stay more than one season so they can experience the farm’s life cycle.

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Life on the farm… We think of these as the “pros and cons” of life on the farm, but of course what is a benefit to one person, may be a drawback to another.  With that in mind:

Benefits of living and working at Emandal:

• Natural surroundings offer ample opportunities for getting out, exploring and even learning.  These include the Wild and Scenic Eel River, lots of hiking and biking trails on property and in the adjoining Mendocino National Forest, farm animals and a garden if you want to learn more in your spare time.
• Opportunity to meet lots of interesting people-both staff and guests- from all over the country (and occasionally all over the world).
• Great food and housing.  The food here is always yummy-and you are provided 3 meals a day as well as food for time off.  In addition, all housing has a kitchen (or access to a kitchen) and most housing has private bedrooms and shared bathrooms.

Things to Consider:

• Privacy can be an issue.  When you are living and working with the same people in a small community, it is not always easy to find time to yourself.  We encourage people to do so and as the spring turns to summer, this becomes easier as staff schedules will vary.  However, if you are a person very attached to lots of privacy, you may want to consider this aspect of life on the farm.
• Country Life.  Though we feel it has lots of benefits, if you are used to the instant gratification of city life, life at Emandal will be a big adjustment.  We are 40 minutes from a town (Willits) of about 6,000, and the road to town can be treacherous at all times of year.  If you do not have a car, you may be at the mercy of others to get to town.  Also, we have no cell phone service and referring to our dial up internet connection as slow is being generous.  We feel like the rewards outweigh the drawbacks, but it is something to really think about.
• Dietary Restrictions.  If you have severe dietary restrictions, communal meals may be challenging for you. Though we serve lots of veggies, there is not always a “veggie entrée” option, and many of our dishes contain dairy.  This said, we use our own meat and dairy when possible.

Essential Expectations for all Emandal Employees

• Flexibility: easily adapt to ever-changing needs, duties and situations
• Effective Communication Skills: ability to clearly and constructively communicate with co-workers, supervisors, and guests
• Ability to work as part of a team: ability to relate to peers, accept supervision and guidance; proactively and responsibly problem-solve and take initiative
• Satisfactory Physical Health: ability to lift, unload and move up to 50 lbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will I have access to internet and phone? We do have a staff computer in the office, and some houses can connect to the internet if you have your own computer, however the connection is always very slow.  All houses but one have phone lines, and there is a phone for staff use in the office
• What is housing like? There are 6 different staff houses.  Except for the ones used in summer (which are “Sweetwater Bungalow” tents), they are all heated by wood stove, have shared kitchen and bathroom (sometimes 2) and have private bedrooms.  Some have private yards, while the one closer to the main farm house does not.
• What is Emandal’s smoking policy? Emandal is a smoke free workplace.  We do operate as an education and guest facility and tobacco use doesn’t fit in to working in close proximity with guests.
• What is Emandal’s visitor policy? Though we are happy for staff to have visitors, realize that it is not always possible.  Usually if visits are arranged ahead of time, and do not interfere with your work time, they can be easily accommodated.  Just remember that communication is key.

So…if all this sounds good to you, please read on about our application process:

We will begin reviewing applications in January. Please download the application for the job that interests you and send it, along with a cover letter and resume, to us via email, fax, or snail mail.  We plan to begin making decisions for the Spring Season in February, but will continue to accept applications until all positions (for Spring and Summer) are filled.If you would like to apply about a position after March, please email to inquire about availability as positions sometimes become available.  Good luck and hope to hear from you soon!

Please let us know if you have any questions. Here is our contact information:

Emandal – A Farm on a River
16500 Hearst Post Office Rd.
Willits, CA  9549

Phone (707) 459-5439
Fax (707) 459-1808

Email employment@emandal.com

Current Openings

Head Naturalist/Environmental Education Director (1) Hiring for 2011 begins in fall of 2010