Internship Opportunities
Spring/Summer 2016
Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture operates an innovative nonprofit farm and
education center, and works to create a healthy, resilient food system. Open to the public since
2004, Stone Barns is a laboratory for sustainable agriculture and for ideas that can create a
new food future that is better for people, communities and the environment.
By training farmers, educating children and raising public awareness, we aim to change the
way America eats and farms.
Stone Barns Center welcomes interns who are dedicated to our mission. We accept internship
applications on a rolling basis.
EDUCATION: EDUCATION INTERNSHIP
Availability Requirements: Internship duration is 1 – 2 months. Must be available weekdays.
Stone Barns Center seeks a motivated individual to work and learn alongside our team of
education staff. The education intern will learn about best practices in experiential farm-based
education, observe and teach field trip programs for K-12 students, assist with summer camp,
and meet regularly with a mentor for feedback.
Education programs are designed to integrate a farm tour, hands-on learning in the form of a
seasonal farm chore, and/or an activity that encourages students to develop literacy skills
related to ecological community-based food production. The farm can be used to teach
concepts ranging from life cycles to biodiversity to seed breeding, and our educators offer
developmentally appropriate and engaging farm experiences that enrich classroom learning.
The intern will complete a project designed in collaboration with the education programs staff.
Project opportunities include:
• Design new indoor learning experiences as companion lessons for existing programs
• Research and report on cutting-edge experiential education practices
• Design new post-trip material for school classrooms
• Create lessons and lesson materials for our Summer Farm Camp program
Desired Skills and Experience
The successful candidate will enjoy working with children in an outdoor setting and be excited
about learning. Candidates should be enthusiastic, flexible and creative. Experience and/or
education in Environmental Studies, Education, Agriculture, Museum Studies, Nutrition or a
related field is preferred.
Compensation
This internship is unpaid.
FOUR SEASON FARM: FIELD INTERN
Availability: Minimum requirement is 20 hours/week. Internship duration is 1 month.
By working in partnership with the environment, instead of resisting its natural tendencies,
Stone Barns Center farmers produce food without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or
herbicides. Our only amendments to the soil are compost, minerals and organic material. We
use an intensively managed rotation method in our garden and greenhouse beds, preserving
the soil and locking in important nutrients.
Opportunities and responsibilities include:
- Gaining an understanding of the technical skills necessary to grow, harvest and
process a diversity of high quality vegetables on a 5.5 acre growing space
- Learning and performing all of the daily field operations with the guidance of the field
foreman and field apprentices
- An introduction to the following skills and concepts:
o Regenerative and organic farming philosophy
o Bed preparation
o Hand weeding
o Transplanting
o Plant maintenance, pruning, irrigation and care for living plants
o Harvesting techniques
o Processing techniques
o Preparing vegetables for CSA boxes and other markets
o Care of tools and other farm equipment
Desired Skills, Availability and Experience
- Ability to work at least twenty hours, or three days a week (Monday – Friday) for one
month. Interns must have their own housing and transportation to and from the farm.
- Punctuality, readiness to work and eagerness to function as a member of a larger team
- Strong desire and will to learn about small-scale agriculture
- Willingness to work outside in adverse weather
Compensation
This internship is unpaid.
FOUR SEASON FARM: HERB AND FLOWERS INTERN
Availability Requirements: Minimum requirement is 15 hours/week. Internship duration is 1 month.
This internship focuses on annual and perennial cut flower and herb production on about an
acre and a half of garden, field and greenhouse space parceled throughout the Stone Barns
Center property. Interns will work alongside an apprentice under the direction of Shannon
Algiere, Flower and Herb Grower. Tasks are centered in ecological garden practices, which will
provide opportunities for learning about plant identification, flower and herb cultivation and
garden maintenance.
Opportunities and responsibilities include:
- Weeding
- Mulching
Harvesting
- General plant maintenance
Desired Skills, Availability and Experience
- Physically active and capable of moderate lifting
- Clear and effective communicator
- Strong desire and will to learn about small-scale agriculture
- Willingness to work outside in adverse, hot or sunny weather conditions
Compensation
This internship is unpaid.
FOUR SEASON FARM: FORMAL GARDENS INTERN
Availability Requirements: Minimum requirement is 20 hours/week. Internship duration is 1 month.
This internship focuses on edible and ecological gardening; it offers a hands-on, intensive overview
of interactive horticulture under the direction of Stone Barns Head Gardener Laura Perkins. This
intern will take part in a variety of horticultural activities and will include light landscaping
activities, organic soil preparation, garden maintenance, and vegetable, herb, flower and fruit
culture.
Opportunities and responsibilities include:
- Gain experience managing demonstration and habitat gardens
- Cultivate and harvest edible perennial and annual crops in the landscape
- Manage an orchard
- Maintain the landscape to provide an inviting, safe, and educational experience for
visitors
- Gain experience working with kids in a natural setting and educate them about
agriculture and ecology
Desired Skills, Availability and Experience
- Capable of lifting a minimum of 40 lbs.
- Ability to work safely under all weather conditions
- Ability to begin work by 8 am and work at least twenty hours, or three days a week
(Monday – Friday) for one month.
- Interns must have their own housing and transportation to and from the farm.
Compensation
This internship is unpaid.