Organic Farm Internship in Northeast Pennsylvania

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Old School Farm is a total of 50 acres overall. There are a variety of terrains including: river bottom, pasture, wetlands, woods, moss glades, and two small orchards. The sound of a small creek’s falls flowing behind the house can be heard throughout the year. The view from the farmhouse kitchen and upstairs bedroom overlooks 15 acres of floodplain pasture ending along the meandering Dyberry Creek. The surrounding area is a mixture of wooded hillsides and rolling pastures, populated by local farms, vacation homes, local homes, and summer camps.

For 2016, Old School Farm will be maintaining our organic vegetable growing areas of over 1 acre. They have five Icelandic sheep with more lambs expected to arrive in late spring 2016. They also have bee hives, a flock of free ranging laying hens, heritage turkeys, and two small orchards. A timber frame/Amish-built barn was completed in 2012; and, occasional Sunday pizza night/jam sessions center around the wood-fired earthen oven behind the barn. There is also a commercial grade kitchen for interns to use in the barn. Old School Farm’s long term goal for the farm is self-sustainability; operating on its own with zero off farm inputs.

The farm also recently set up a small scale, gravity fed maple syrup operation and are growing mushrooms. If you like diversity and experiencing a lot of variety of work and learning opportunities on a small farm in a bucolic location, then Old School farm is a good match

Internship Opportunity:

Old School Farm is looking for two or three English speaking volunteers who can start work sometime between the middle of May or early June (or possibly sooner) and stay through the summer (at least to August 10th), preferably through the September harvest season. Interns will stay in a newly erected cabin with internet and phone, will have their own outdoor showers, and their own kitchen and lounge area in the barn. Work day lengths and tasks will vary and include but are not limited to: planting, harvesting, and cleaning vegetables; preparing orders for delivery; weeding; helping to cut and haul firewood; property maintenance (weedwacking fence lines, mowing fields, etc.).

One of the interns’ responsibilities will be managing the roadside farm stand. Management duties consist of keeping record of inventory and sales, stocking the farm stand, and culling older produce.

Interns will have the opportunity to work with the Farm Manager as well as Roger Hill, a veteran organic farmer and soil expert who oversees the fertility of the vegetable plots. Interns will also have the opportunity to meet with other sustainable and organic farmers in the area, go on farm tours, and partake in potluck dinners with the local chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture.

A strong work ethic and the willingness and flexibility to help out with various projects on the farm is key. The farm embraces the work hard – play hard/have fun credo.

Activities available in the area include: hiking, fishing (trout stream borders property), swimming, canoeing, biking, golf, shopping and museums. There is also a movie theater close by and the famous Wayne County Fair. The Coopereage is now also open for live musical entertainment and other social and cultural activities.

All food for meals are provided by the Farm and are typically based around what is available on the farm; however, interns are expected to prepare their own meals in the barn kitchen. Eggs are usually available. Some items not available on farm such as milk, cheese, etc. are purchased by the farm for the use of the interns.

Special Note: For 2016 Old School Farm is looking to engage a “proof of concept” for a weekly farm pizza night to generate on farm revenue. They would like one of the interns to lead this endeavor and handle not only preparing the pizzas but also working the earthen, wood-fired pizza oven. They would also like this individual to take on the coordinating and promotional activities associated with this weekly event. The farm plans on sharing the financial success with the individual that can make this happen. A flair for cooking and/or event planning and marketing a big plus.

How to apply:
Potential interns should apply before April 1, 2016 by sending a resume and cover letter to the farm owner, Al Benner at alanbenner@gmail.com; or, by calling the Farm Manager, Dave at 570-253-1393. After April 1, please call to see if any positions are still available.