2026 Summer Sustainable Farm Internship

Saint Mary's College

About The Position

The Saint Mary's College Sustainable Farm is an educational farm located in Notre Dame, Indiana. We provide students with hands-on learning opportunities through education, spirituality, and food justice. Food grown at the Sustainable Farm is distributed through community partnerships to contribute to reducing food insecurity in our region. Interns participate in all aspects of farm operations and maintenance, and will have the opportunity to learn how an educational sustainable farm operates. Every other week, interns will visit another food justice or sustainability project in the South Bend area, allowing them to experience the breadth of the community food system in which the Sustainable Farm is located, and to learn about the variety of ways to get involved with social change in food systems. Partners will introduce interns to topics such as reducing food insecurity, urban farming, social-mission farming, aquaponics, lean farming, and food cooperatives. Interns receive a $2000 stipend and housing at Saint Mary's College for the summer if needed. They also have the option to complete 1-3 credits toward an Environmental Studies internship. This 10-week internship starts Tuesday, May 26, 2026 and ends Friday, July 31, 2026 and requires 20 hours per week of work.

Requirements

Able to move at least 50 pounds, stay in one position, and make repetitive motions over long periods of time (reasonable accomodations can be made)
Willing to work outside in a variety of weather conditions (i.e. extreme heat and cold)
Demonstrated ability to complete independent tasks and responsibilities reliably
Excited to work on a team of peers and professional staff
Experience working with diverse populations in a spirit of cultural humility
GPA of 2.5 or higher
Enrolled at Saint Mary's College
Show up for shifts on time and complete the full 20 hours each week unless previously excused
Participate fully in weeklong orientation and biweekly site visits
Engage in all learning and field tasks with perseverance and enthusiasm
Embody respect, dignity, friendliness, and radical hospitality in interactions with community partners
Communicate proficiently, promptly, and professionally via phone, text, Slack, email, writing, or in presentations
Security reliable transportation to the Sustainable Farm if living off-campus
Follow Sustainable Farm safety procedures

Nice To Haves

Experience volunteering on the Sustainable Farm
Experience with gardening or farming
Interest in sustainable farming, environmental studies, environmental education, and other related fields

Responsibilities

Participate in ongoing farm maintenance, including chicken care, sowing, transplanting, weeding, mulching, and harvesting
Specialist in and have primary responsibility for one of the Sustainable Farm's areas of strength
Manage volunteers, guide you-pick operations, and lead tours of the Sustainable Farm
Assist with the weekly distribution of vegetables and flowers at Veggies on Main, a partnership between the Sustainable Farm and local nonprofit, For the Good, that provides fresh, nutritionally dense produce to neighbors who would not otherwise have access to sustainably grown food
Performs other duties as assigned to fulfill the mission of the Sustainable Farm and abide by the values of the Center for Faith, Action, and Ministry (CFAM)