Work & Interns
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Running an organic produce farm is hard work, one that requires lots of manual labor and willing hands. It is also a community resource and lifestyle that few get a chance to experience. To fulfill both these requirements, JenEhr Family Farm offers a host of internships and opportunities to work on the farm.
Benefits of Working for JenEhr Family Farm
JenEhr offers a unique opportunity to watch life emerge and literally taste the fruits of your labor. It’s a great experience and a good chance to get your hands dirty and grow food.
In addition to the practical knowledge you’ll gain, employees benefit from living in the greater Madison area, a thriving small urban area, home of the state’s Capitol and the University of Wisconsin. Madison is a recreational paradise, with a park system covering 400 acres and several nearby lakes, camping and hiking.
Available Positions:
We’re currently recruiting full-time employees along with a dozen part-time interns for the 2009 season. Start early by sending an email of interest and attached resume file. We find that each year, we start getting interest and resumes by Christmas time and complete the hiring process sometime in April.
Farm Manager position – filled 2012
Packshed Manager position – filled 2012
Full Time Seasonal Staff position – please only apply if you have at least one season farm experience
JenEhr Internship position – no experience needed, enthusiasm and hard work necessary
Interns – This is an opportunity to work on a farm for the summer. Minimium commitment is three months (12 weeks) starting as early as May, concluding as late as December. The internship is 20 hours per week, includes $400 per month stipend. This is an opportunity to learn by working on the farm. There are frequent informal training/learning opportunities with Farmer Paul, interns are invited to attend the CRAFT events, but this is not a classroom situation. You will learn by doing.
A few disclaimers and explanations –
- All wages listed above start at $8.50 per hour, with the exception of the internship, which is a stipend position ($400 per month). While the farm certainly isn’t rolling in the dough, we believe strongly that we must pay a living wage to the folks who have made organic farm work a career choice.
- All positions are seasonal, from as few as three months up to eight months. Our plans are to grow the farm so that we can offer year –round employment, but we’re not there yet.
- Really eating well is part of what an organic farm should be all about. We provide three meals per week to our staff, prepared by some pretty amazing farm chefs. We also make sure that everyone working with us has plenty to eat at home, with ample allowance for produce and chickens to meet your home eating needs.
- There is NO housing or health insurance offered with any of the positions offered at JenEhr Family Farm. We understand this is a huge issue in both society and at our micro level. But the economics of the farm simply make it impossible to offer any kind of housing or health insurance benefits
- To apply for any of the positions listed, please email or snail mail (6837 Elder Lane, Sun Prairie, WI 53590) a copy of your resume. Most positions are filled by March 15th, so please don’t delay.
- All applicants must go through an interview here at the farm with farmers Paul and Kay. We feel that it is very important that prospective staff members and interns see the farm and meet the farmers. Full time staff are invited back for a work day (paid) as a second interview, allowing the applicant to more deeply experience the farm. We do this because the work is long and hard during the season, working closely with the farmers and crew. We are all looking for a good “fit”, which requires a little extra time and effort in the hiring process.