Farm Assistant - Fall/Spring Semester

Butler•Indianapolis, IN

18h•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, demonstrates sustainable urban agriculture, and supports place-based learning related to food systems, agro-ecology, and sustainability. Farm Assistants perform farm and garden tasks that support daily operations and advance these goals. The role 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 based on class schedules, plus availability to work about an hour every two to three weekends. Applicants must attach a professional resume and a cover letter describing their reasons for applying, relevant skills, career interests, and professional goals for the internship. Applicants who do not submit both documents will not be considered.

Requirements

Availability to work 8–10 hours per week and about an hour every two to three weekends.
Commitment to the job schedule.
Willingness to perform physically demanding work to meet job demands and 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 cover letter as attachments; the cover letter must describe reasons for applying, skills, career interests, 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 shared ownership of and responsibility for the farm.
Ability to consider the broader context beyond assigned tasks.
Value for providing sustainably grown food to Butler dining, grown on campus.

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; wash items as needed and store them neatly.
Mow grassy walkable areas of the farm.
Manage pests using practices such as physical exclusion or hand-picking.
Plant by transplanting or direct-seeding.
Prepare beds, potentially 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.
Ensure confidentiality of information.