Vegetable Apprentice

Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming•Nelsonville, NY

35d•$16•Onsite

About The Position

Glynwood’s Advanced Vegetable Apprenticeship Program is designed for individuals with full-time commercial farm experience who are seeking to deepen their farming knowledge and prepare for a career in vegetable cultivation. Glynwood's certified organic vegetable operation spans 5 acres, producing over 60 crops for its CSA, farm store, and food access partners. The program utilizes two distinct production systems: a low-till permanent bed system on 0.75 acres with high tunnels, and a mechanized, tractor-based tillage system on the remaining acreage. Apprentices will acquire a strong foundation in managing a small commercial vegetable operation using both low-till and traditional tillage methods, covering aspects from tractor operation and business planning to compost production and crop rotations. This 9-month intensive vocational training program involves full-time field work as part of the vegetable crew, contributing to planting, crop care, and sales. Beyond hands-on experience, apprentices receive substantial educational support, including in-field training in farm management and decision-making, skill and progress assessments, and a 60-hour classroom curriculum, all integrated into the full-time schedule. Apprentices are also expected to support Glynwood’s philanthropic culture and may contribute to storytelling projects or events. As participants in the Hudson Valley Apprenticeship program, they will join apprentices from other local farms for supplemental classroom education.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
At least one full season (5 consecutive months) of commercial vegetable operation experience
Valid US Driver’s License in good standing
COVID-19 vaccination
Basic competency with Google Suite (word processing, spreadsheets, email, calendar)
Ability to communicate clearly in English, verbally and in writing
Professional, collegial, direct and non-aggressive communication skills
Capable of both working alone and on a team
Able and willing to stand, crouch, kneel, and bend for extended periods doing repetitive tasks
Able to lift and move harvest bins, rock bags, materials, hoses, etc. up to 50lbs at a time on a regular basis
Able to perform other physical activities as needed for producing vegetables
Able to work steadily outdoors in all weather including heat, cold, rain, and wind (excluding hazardous conditions)
Willingness to share a living space with up to 5 housemates in a 6-bedroom house
Must be comfortable with the living situation before applying

Nice To Haves

Full-time experience working on a commercial farm

Responsibilities

Planting, care, and sales of crops
Greenhouse seeding and management
Transplanting and direct seeding
Hand weeding, hoeing, and other weed management tasks
Harvesting
Washing and packing
Cover cropping
Mulching
Pruning and trellising
Irrigating
Pest and disease control
Field tractor work
Record keeping
Supervising CSA pickups
Compost making
Machine and tool maintenance
Participate in weekend chore rotation (greenhouse care, field irrigation, fertigation)
Contribute to story-telling projects or events

Benefits

$16.48 per hour wage
Private room in a 6-bedroom house shared with other apprentices
An average of 5 paid hours per week devoted to a mix of hands-on and classroom based education during work hours
$500 in a Healthcare Reimbursement Account
$200 workwear stipend
$250 education stipend
No-cost Glynwood eggs and vegetables
30% discount on Glynwood meat and Farm Store products
Up to 48 hours of vacation accrual
Up to 40 hours of sick time accrual
Paid holidays (Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving) with comp time for covered holidays
Access to a robust alumni network
Access to other organizational contacts for long-term technical and general networking assistance