15589 State Route 22

Stephentown NY 12168

[email protected]

 

Looking for a way to learn some skills in Agriculture, Environmental Practices and Marketing and get some wonderful outdoor air at the same time?

 

The Berry Patch is recruiting for student interns for the 2023 season!  Intern position dates are flexible but could  start any time from mid-May and end by early September.

Join the team at one of the most innovative farms in the country.  We are a science-based farm and specialize in no spray/low spray cutting edge production methods. The Berry Patch is the FIRST farm in the country (and probably in the Western Hemisphere) to beat an invasive insect pest without spraying.  (It’s the equivalent of beating COVID without using vaccination).  Spotted Wing Drosophila is an invasive insect that has changed berry production around the world.  But The Berry Patch has worked diligently to come up with a pesticide-free solution and we are sharing the solution around the U.S. so that other growers can also grow berries without using pesticides.  The Berry Patch was also the first farm in the Berkshires to only sell locally produced products, long before “Buy Local” became the popular thing to do.  We specialize in the use of protective netting, high tunnels, and beneficial insects. Partly because of this work and her advocacy for the berry industry, Dale-Ila at The Berry Patch was named a Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives Winner – one of the top 100 people in the country helping to make rural communities a better place.

We offer flexible days and hours, and a work environment that enables those who want to, to learn a LOT about plant production, ag-related environmental research and local food production and marketing.    We have a variety of tasks each day, including but not limited to maintenance and watering of greenhouse crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, strawberries), assisting with data collection in applied research projects, insect monitoring and release of beneficial insects, soil and tissue sampling, harvest of berries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cut flowers.  We are seeking people with a positive attitude, good work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail to join our team to help grow and harvest the highest quality, best tasting, and most beautiful berries, vegetables, and flowers you have ever seen and tasted.  Depending on interest and skillsets we have opportunities to manage and improve our on-line ordering system, website improvement and maintenance, social media postings and campaigns, improving and maintaining protected culture infrastructure, careful balancing of irrigation and fertility needs of each crop, assisting with farmers market preparation and sales, and collecting samples for applied research projects.

Summer housing is available on the farm at no charge for those who work 30 hours or more per week.   To maintain a safe work environment for all, proof of full vaccination against Covid-19 is required.  The work location for this position is at the Berry Patch at 15589 State Route 22 in Stephentown, New York.  We are just south of the intersection of NY State Route 43 and 22, a short drive from Williamstown.  Applicants should apply with a cover letter of interest and resume emailed to Don Miles at [email protected]