Farm Manager Wanted - The Mountain School - Vershire, VT
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Farm Fresh RI
Nov 17, 2009, 5:08:54 PM11/17/09
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Position Available: Farm Manager
Beginning Winter 2010
THE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
The Mountain School of Milton Academy is an independent semester
program that provides high school juniors the opportunity to live and
work on an organic farm in Vershire, Vermont. During their four-month
stay, 45 students from all over the country experience a challenging
curriculum that links academic disciplines and inspires self-
reflection while pushing them to reach beyond the self and focus on
the common good. Outside the classroom, the program models the values
of simplicity and sustainability in practices such as food
preparation, energy use, and the maintenance of facilities. Through
the farm, students experience the satisfaction that comes from
physical work and also gain an understanding of the connections
between our everyday actions and our world.
THE FARM
The Mountain School’s farm is central to its mission and to its
landscape. The farm produces close to 70% of the school’s food needs.
The three-acre garden in the middle of campus produces the school’s
vegetables, and the ninety acres of pasture and hayfield support the
school’s livestock: beef cows, sheep, hogs, turkeys, and chickens. Two
hundred acres of managed forestland provide fuel, lumber, and over one
hundred gallons of maple syrup each spring. Under the direction of the
farm manager—and the two assistant farmers—students and teachers work
together daily to plant and harvest the garden; feed and care for the
animals; manage the greenhouses, apple orchard and sugarbush; as well
as maintain the fences and barns. Besides participating in the daily
work of this farm, students are exposed to a wide range of
agricultural practices in weekly seminars, designed by the farmers.
During the summer months the farmers are assisted by a small crew of
college students, often graduates with an interest in farming.
THE FARM MANAGER POSITION
The new farm manager’s responsibilities will include the following:
• Manage and instruct workers—including assistant farmers, the summer
farm crew, and student and faculty workers;
• Produce approx. 70% of school’s meat, vegetables, and fruit;
• Engage teenagers and teachers in safe, meaningful farm work;
• Articulate clearly the needs and values of the farm to all, keeping
all operations transparent so that students and faculty see
limitations as well as successes;
• Maintain clear and open communication with the Mountain School cooks
as well as other faculty and staff;
• Manage a budget and keep track of details such as seed and feed
orders, butchering schedules, and the purchase of supplies;
• Engage in strategic planning;
• Teach a weekly seminar on farming for students (with help of other
farmers)
• Maintain the farm in such a way that it is safe and attractive for
visitors.
The successful candidate must demonstrate…
• Extensive experience managing a diversified farm;
• Experience leading others and skills as an excellent collaborator
and communicator;
• Enthusiasm for educating teenagers and teachers in safe, real farm
work;
• Experience raising livestock for food;
• An understanding of the challenges of growing food in New England;
• A commitment to the daily practices that ensure soil fertility and
plant health;
• A love of physical work.
The successful candidate will probably demonstrate…
• An ability to maintain fences, barns, machinery, and other parts of
the farm;
• Energy for mentoring teenagers in their growth and personal
development;
• A spirit of innovation and experimentation;
• An enthusiasm for networking with other farmers in the Upper Valley;
• An ability to write clearly and effectively.
The farm manager reports to the Director of the Mountain School.
TO APPLY
Send a concise letter explaining your qualifications and reasons for
interest in the position, along with a résumé and three references
(contact info only) to:susie.r...@mountainschool.org
Or:
Susie Rinehart
151 Mountain School Road
Vershire, VT 05079
Tel: 802-685-4520 ext. 112
FAX: 802-685-331
Beginning Winter 2010
THE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
The Mountain School of Milton Academy is an independent semester
program that provides high school juniors the opportunity to live and
work on an organic farm in Vershire, Vermont. During their four-month
stay, 45 students from all over the country experience a challenging
curriculum that links academic disciplines and inspires self-
reflection while pushing them to reach beyond the self and focus on
the common good. Outside the classroom, the program models the values
of simplicity and sustainability in practices such as food
preparation, energy use, and the maintenance of facilities. Through
the farm, students experience the satisfaction that comes from
physical work and also gain an understanding of the connections
between our everyday actions and our world.
THE FARM
The Mountain School’s farm is central to its mission and to its
landscape. The farm produces close to 70% of the school’s food needs.
The three-acre garden in the middle of campus produces the school’s
vegetables, and the ninety acres of pasture and hayfield support the
school’s livestock: beef cows, sheep, hogs, turkeys, and chickens. Two
hundred acres of managed forestland provide fuel, lumber, and over one
hundred gallons of maple syrup each spring. Under the direction of the
farm manager—and the two assistant farmers—students and teachers work
together daily to plant and harvest the garden; feed and care for the
animals; manage the greenhouses, apple orchard and sugarbush; as well
as maintain the fences and barns. Besides participating in the daily
work of this farm, students are exposed to a wide range of
agricultural practices in weekly seminars, designed by the farmers.
During the summer months the farmers are assisted by a small crew of
college students, often graduates with an interest in farming.
THE FARM MANAGER POSITION
The new farm manager’s responsibilities will include the following:
• Manage and instruct workers—including assistant farmers, the summer
farm crew, and student and faculty workers;
• Produce approx. 70% of school’s meat, vegetables, and fruit;
• Engage teenagers and teachers in safe, meaningful farm work;
• Articulate clearly the needs and values of the farm to all, keeping
all operations transparent so that students and faculty see
limitations as well as successes;
• Maintain clear and open communication with the Mountain School cooks
as well as other faculty and staff;
• Manage a budget and keep track of details such as seed and feed
orders, butchering schedules, and the purchase of supplies;
• Engage in strategic planning;
• Teach a weekly seminar on farming for students (with help of other
farmers)
• Maintain the farm in such a way that it is safe and attractive for
visitors.
The successful candidate must demonstrate…
• Extensive experience managing a diversified farm;
• Experience leading others and skills as an excellent collaborator
and communicator;
• Enthusiasm for educating teenagers and teachers in safe, real farm
work;
• Experience raising livestock for food;
• An understanding of the challenges of growing food in New England;
• A commitment to the daily practices that ensure soil fertility and
plant health;
• A love of physical work.
The successful candidate will probably demonstrate…
• An ability to maintain fences, barns, machinery, and other parts of
the farm;
• Energy for mentoring teenagers in their growth and personal
development;
• A spirit of innovation and experimentation;
• An enthusiasm for networking with other farmers in the Upper Valley;
• An ability to write clearly and effectively.
The farm manager reports to the Director of the Mountain School.
TO APPLY
Send a concise letter explaining your qualifications and reasons for
interest in the position, along with a résumé and three references
(contact info only) to:susie.r...@mountainschool.org
Or:
Susie Rinehart
151 Mountain School Road
Vershire, VT 05079
Tel: 802-685-4520 ext. 112
FAX: 802-685-331
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