Farm Assistant - Fall/Spring Semester

Butler University•Indianapolis, IN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Farm at Butler is a one-acre diversified farm on Butler’s campus. It produces a variety of food crops for the Butler community and demonstrates sustainable urban agriculture. The farm also supports place-based learning for classes and groups focused on food systems, agro-ecology, and sustainability. Farm Assistants perform a range of farm and garden tasks to support daily operations and the farm’s educational and community goals. The position offers opportunities to develop attention to detail, initiative, observation, systems-thinking, resilience, and responsibility to a team. The schedule is 8–10 hours per week, to be determined around the student’s class schedule, with availability to work approximately one hour every two to three weekends. Applicants must submit a professional resume and a cover letter describing their interest, skills, career interests, and professional goals for the internship. Students who do not submit both documents will not be considered. Butler University is a private comprehensive university with approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and doctoral students. The university describes its community as dedicated, innovative, and supportive, and is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

Availability to work 8–10 hours per week and approximately one hour every two to three weekends.
Commitment to the job schedule.
Willingness and ability to perform physically demanding work and meet job deadlines in potentially all types of weather, with appropriate clothing and footwear.
Capacity for detail-oriented tasks and creative problem-solving.
Submit a professional resume and a cover letter; the cover letter must describe why the applicant is applying, skills they bring, career areas of interest, and professional goals for the internship.

Nice To Haves

Appreciation for food production in the context of enhancing the ecological quality of the space.
Interest in feeling shared ownership of and responsibility for the farm.
Ability to notice and care about the broader context beyond an assigned task.
Value for providing sustainably grown food to Butler dining from the campus farm.

Responsibilities

Harvest, wash, record, and package produce according to its intended use.
Manage weeds and soil by hand and with appropriate farm tools.
Amend beds, including loading, transporting, and unloading wheelbarrows of compost.
Clean and organize farm containers, tools, and spaces, and store items neatly.
Mow grassy walkable areas of the farm.
Manage pests through cultural practices such as physical exclusion or hand-picking.
Plant crops by transplanting or direct-seeding.
Prepare beds, including removing old crop material, measuring and reforming permanent beds, managing weeds, and amending soil.
Complete other tasks identified by the farm manager.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance, comply with University standards and policies, and ensure confidentiality of information.