Join Us

Spring, Summer, or Fall

This position is available during the spring and fall semesters, as well as during the summer whenever there are openings on the team.  New crew membes are typically hired at the end of the fall semester for the Spring Crew, or at the end of the spring semester for the Summer Crew.  The Fall Crew is typically made up of returning student workers.

Incoming first years who want to get involved at LaFarm during their first fall semester are encouraged to volunteer with LaFFCo and apply to the Spring Crew position or the DVP Apprenticeship.

Duties & Details:

A passion for sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and environmentalism is encouraged though not required. No experience in farming or gardening is necessary; a proclivity toward being outdoors, an appreciation for plant life, and/or a penchant for tinkering with tools & machinery is beneficial.  Preference will be given to students who have been involved with LaFarm already though volunteering and or coursework.

Work May include:

• Use of machinery (tiller, mower, weedwhacker, flame weeder) to prepare beds, weed crops, and maintain gardens
• Weeding, planting, harvesting, washing, and packing vegetables and flowers, using basic skills, hand tools, and common sense
• Setting-up displays and helping customers during the weekly On-Campus Market and/or On-Farm Pick-up
• Leading tours or work parties of local classes, groups, schools, and your Lafayette College peers
• Setting-up irrigation systems
• Harvesting and arranging flower bouquets
• Designing and implementing building projects, including use of basic power tools, hand tools, and human ingenuity
• Sharing reflections of your LaFarm work experience with the community at large through photos, creative writing, film, or other media for our LaFarm website
• A whole host of other work: web design, event planning, garden design, tree planting, soil testing, cover crop management, cooking demos, marketing, data organization, carpentry, farm art installations, sign-making, screen printing, leading farmer meditation & yoga… if you’ve got a skill, we’ve probably got a farm-based application. Join us.

Schedule and Compensation:

• Pay starts at 9.50$/hr.
• Raises may be offered based on performance and total hours of work experience
• For Summer Crew Members working over 30 hours per week, housing will be provided.
• Free farm vegetables available
• Commitment of a minimum of 4 hours per week if working during the school year; minimum of 8 hours durring the summer
• Flexible hours and schedule based on your needs and availability

Food and Farm Apprenticeship

This position is an opportunity for students to work closely with the farm manager for a full season and learn about all aspects of small-scale diversified vegetable production.  The position starts at the beginning of classes in the spring semester, continues throughout the summer, and ends at the end of the fall semester.  All applicants must be willing to commit to the full length of the position.

The apprentice will work 10 hrs/wk during the spring and fall semesters, and full time during the summer.  The apprentice’s schedule can be flexible during the semester, but during the summer they will work Monday through Friday, with one half day of their choice.  Occasionally the apprentice may need to work on a weekend for a special event.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice will gain a state certification for their accomplishment through Pasa Sustainable Agriculture’s Diversified Vegetable Pre-apprentice program.

Students who have completed the apprenticeship, will also be highly preferred for future leadership positions at LaFarm.

Duties & Details:

The apprentice will assist the farm manager in all aspects of running our campus farm.  They will learn about regenerative agriculture, crop planning, and farm profitability and marketing.  They will also acquire leadership skills by directing teams of students and volunteers.  Finally, they will learn about food access issues and community food programming by interacting with our community partners in Easton.

In the spring semester, the apprentice will attend the annual Pasa sustainable agriculture conference (early February) and meet with apprentices at other farms.  They will then learn about crop planning and greenhouse management, helping to prepare for our annual plant sale in May.  

In the summer, the apprentice will gain a wealth of farming skills (from tomato pruning to pest/disease identification) while learning proper harvesting techniques for a wide variety of vegetables.  

In the fall semester, the apprentice will apply the skills they’ve learned so far to lead and teach other students about farming.  At the end of the fall semester, the apprentice will look over all the notes from the season and make adjustments to the crop plan with the farm manager.

The accepted applicant will have good leadership and communication skills, and take the initiative to ask questions and learn through on the job experience.

Work May include:

• Use of various machinery: 2-wheel tractor, weed whacker, flame weeder, etc.
• Setting-up, repairing, and maintaining irrigation systems and other farm infrastructure
• Greenhouse watering and seedling production
• Planting, weeding, irrigating, fertilizing, and otherwise caring for crops
• Harvesting, washing, and packing products for distribution
• Harvesting and arranging flower bouquets
• Driving farm vehicles to make deliveries, support on campus events, etc.
• Setting-up displays and helping customers at our farm stand
• Maintaining accurate records of production, crop health, and produce distribution
• Tabling for the farm at various on campus events
• Creating content for social media and marketing
• Leading tours or work parties of local classes, groups, schools, and your Lafayette College peers
• Planning and hosting events on the farm
• Assist with budgeting, crop planning, and seed ordering at the end of the season

The Food and Farm Apprentice must be willing and able to:

• Interpret spreadsheets to carry out seeding and planting tasks
• Keep detailed records of harvest weights, labor hours, fertilizer applications, etc.
• Ensure that your team comes prepared for work (appropriate clothing, water, etc.)
• Show-up to work a little earlier than everyone else to prepare (when possible)
• Be able to demonstrate proper harvesting and production techniques to new crew members
• Keep student employees on task and working efficiently
• Work in all weather conditions, including rain, cold, humidity, and heat
• Lift at least 50 pounds

Compensation:

• 11$/hr
• Housing on campus during the summer
• 10 unpaid days off during the summer (please request these at least 1 week in advance)
• Free farm vegetables

Students in these positions retain the higher pay rate of the DVP program and go on to specialize in a particular aspect of the farm.  The exact nature of these positions fluxuates each year, since they are tailored to individual student interest, but all involve continued education and working closely with the Farm Manager.  Here are some roles that members of the leadership team may fill:

• Communications Manager
• Events and Volunteer Manager
• Farmstand Manager (summer and fall)
• Plant Sale Manager (spring semester only)
• Specific Crop Manager (e.g. microgreens, salad greens, tunnel tomatoes)