Morning Star Farm Orcas Island, WA

Morning Star Farm is a small family operation located on an old homestead on Orcas Island, WA. The property is 34 Acres and includes 20 acres of forested land, 1.5 acres of intensive organic vegetable production, a one acre pond, a small fruit orchard, and sloping pasture. We have developed a successful farm business providing organic vegetables, flowers, fruit and herbs to the farmers market, local restaurants, food bank and school. We are looking for strong, competent and passionate people interested in working with us.

In exchange for education, housing on the property, food staples, and produce from the garden, we ask for a total of four days of labor each week. Work on the farm includes seeding, transplanting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, preparing produce and flowers for market, caring for chickens and ducks, composting, delivering produce to restaurants and selling at the farmer’s market. One workday each week will be designated to building projects, forestry work, and pasture maintenance. If you would like, we can support you in finding part-time paid work in addition to this trade.

Desired Qualities: Some farm experience is preferred, although a strong desire to learn is enough. Work entails physical labor and early mornings, repetitive, and sometimes challenging tasks in all kinds of weather. We ask for good communication skills, a sense of humor, attention to detail, ability to comfortably lift up to 50 lbs, and a willingness to work with all personalities.

Housing: We have three handbuilt dwellings available: a 16-by-16 wood framed tent cabin with wood stove, electricity, small kitchen area and Wi-Fi, and two off-grid cabins, each equipped with basic cooking facilities, a wood stove, sleeping loft, porch, and Wi-Fi.  Two outdoor showers and a composting toilet are nearby. The barn, the heart of the property, dates back to the original homestead, and functions as a communal space with a full kitchen, wood stove, and a large living area for relaxing and creative projects.

Educational Opportunities:  We aim to create a working environment with ample opportunities to learn skills and practices necessary for the stewardship of a small farm. In living and working with us, you will be exposed to our farm systems–propagation of annuals and perennials, soil biology and fertility, farm-scale composting and vermicomposting, orchard work, pasture management, carpentry skills, and agroforestry work. We encourage you to explore the areas of our farm that interest you most and will provide support and resources for you to learn throughout your time with us.

Dates of Work Trade: April through October 2018. Please apply only if you are able to commit for the full season.

If you are interested, please email a cover letter and resume to [email protected]