Labor4Learning Trainees
Apply to Work With a Labor4Learning Trainer
The Labor4Learning program is designed for beginning farmers seeking employment and additional training in farm management and production skills. Positions for the 2025 growing season are now open!
Benefits of Being a Labor4Learning Trainee
Get paid at least minimum wage and earn other benefits, including:
- Learn farm business development from an experienced PFI farmer
- Paid time off to attend a PFI event during the term of employment
- Discount to the Practical Farmers of Iowa annual conference ($100 value)
- Connect with other “PFI trainees”
- A free PFI membership
Qualifications:
- Apply and be hired by a PFI trainer farmer
- Have a strong motivation to learn the business of farming
How to Apply
To apply, send current resume and three work-related references directly to the trainer. Direct any questions about job details to the trainer as well.
For all other questions about the program or Practical Farmers of Iowa, please contact Martha McFarland martha.mcfarland(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org or call our office at (515) 232-5661.
Open Positions for 2025
| Trainer | Position | Location |
| Elana Gingerich | Agroforestry assistant | Parnell, IA |
| Hannah Breckbill and Emily Fagan | Vegetable farmer | Decorah, IA |
| Andrew Phelps | Farm crew member | Guttenberg, IA |
| Mike Levine | Farm assistant | Douglas, NE |
| Kathy Dice and Tom Wahl | Farm intern | Wapello, IA |
| Mike Salama | Greenhouse intern | Boone, IA |
| Emma and Marcus Johnson | Farm laborer | Central City, IA |
| Shae Pesek | Pastured poultry production assistant | Coggon, IA |
| Eric Franzenburg | Farm operations intern | Keystone, IA |
| Emma Barber | Farm crew | Mount Vernon, IA |
| John Rafkin and Wendy Johnson | Agroforestry and managed grazing apprentice | Charles City, IA |
| Alice McGary | Farm apprentice | Ames, IA |
| David Royer | Farm hand | Coon Rapids, IA |
| Andrew and Naomi Friend | Flower farm assistant | Story City, IA |
Farm name: Olivia’s Orchard
Location: Parnell, Iowa
Website: www.oliviasorchard.org
Trainer experience: Growing chestnut trees here for 9 years.
About the farm: Located in southeast Iowa, 25 minutes west of Iowa City or 15 minutes southeast of Williamsburg. I grow chestnuts, pawpaws, other tree crops and grass-finished beef. The farm is guided by the values of growing food while being able to build soil and leave habitat for wildlife. Having agroforestry tree crops means we have a no-till operation using permanent ground cover and mulching. We are an Iowa state inspected nursery. Our beef production is focused on grass-finishing with no regular use of vaccines or wormer antibiotics unless to treat one sick animal; it’s been three years since I’ve used an antibiotic on one cow. We do managed grazing using high intensity, high stocking rate, “mob grazing.”
We have:
- Twelve acres of Chinese chestnuts planted between 2015-2024
- Four acres interplanted with pawpaws planted between 2015-2021
- Around one acre (scattered) of other fruit and nut trees including persimmon, heartnut, butternut, pecan, plum, peach, apple and more
- Five cow-calf pairs, one bull and a handful of steers rotationally grazed over 15 acres of savannah timber and pasture
- Eight acres of timber being managed for invasive shrubs
- One thousand-plus tree nursery producing potted chestnut, pawpaw and other fruit and nut trees
Job title: Agroforestry assistant
Wage, hours: $15 per hour, variable hours
Other benefits:
- Snacks from the farm, access to harvest and eating fresh berries, pawpaw, chestnuts, apples, pears, etc.
- Possible option to work for nursery stock
- Personal use of any left-over scion wood
- Occasionally, lunch and snacks
On-farm housing: No
Work activities:
- Chestnut Tree winter pruning and tube cleaning
- Nursery tree potting
- Nursery tree pruning, watering, pest management, etc.
- Planting trees via direct seeding, bareroot and potted
- Hand fertilizing and spraying herbicide around trees
- Mowing tree rows on a zero-turn mower
- Mulching trees with wood mulch
- Field grafting apple, pear, plum, chestnut, pawpaw and potentially more with multiple grafting techniques
- Post graft care
- Woodland management of invasive shrubs via hand cutting, pulling, mowing with a brush hog and spraying
- Cutting, stacking, brushing, hauling, splitting firewood
- Small amount of cattle moving and herding, possibly banding young bull calves
- Putting up and taking down temporary electric fence
- Tearing out old, barbed wire fence and repairing areas of permanent fence
- Possible small building projects
- Harvesting pawpaw, chestnut and more
- Pulping pawpaw for seed
- Taking videos and pictures for social media and doing some posts and reels for the farm (optional)
Training opportunities:
- Grafting techniques including collecting and storing scion wood and selecting rootstock trees and post graft care
- Potting of several varieties of fruit and nut trees, plusin pot care (water and nutrition management and pruning)
- Pest, fertilization and weed control management techniques for trees in field
- Timber thorny invasive species management
- Temporary electric fencing techniques
- Native and invasive tree, shrub, forbe and grass identification
- Calculating stock density in grazing paddocks
Minimum qualifications:
- Valid driver’s license to get to work and maybe use the farm truck
- Calm demeanor around livestock
- Able to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Able to work in all temperatures between 25-95 degrees and in high winds or humid conditions
- Able to walk quickly over rugged ground while carrying or pulling something
- Have a working cell phone for communicating about work hours and while working in different parts of the farm
- Be able to work independently with instruction
- Able to use a sharp knife and sharp tools, such as ashovel orpitchfork, safely
Desired skills:
- Experience on a zero-turn mower, but if none, we can practice
- Experience with moving livestock in a non-aggressive manor- not required
some experience with nursery plants oreven vegetables - Patience, listening skills, able to take feedback, read and follow directions but feel comfortable sharing insights and asking for clarification
- Experience working in any manual labor job
Start and end date: April-October
Contact: Elana, elanagingerich@gmail.com, (319) 936-0112
Trainer names: Hannah Breckbill & Emily Fagan
Farm name: Humble Hands Harvest
Location: Decorah, Iowa
Website: humblehandsharvest.com
Trainer experience: 8 years
About the farm: We’re 9 miles outside of Decorah, in the northeast corner of the state. We grow no-till organic vegetables for market, wholesale and seed, we have a flock of rotationally–grazed sheep for meat, and we are establishing a number of woody perennial crops. Here is our vision and mission statement:
Vision
We celebrate our reliance on a place-based community, grounding ourselves by growing food for this place and gathering together on the land.
Mission
- We put land in the hands of those willing to steward it cooperatively, as a commons for future generations.
- We prioritize the sustainability of this work for ourselves and our bodies. We try to craft our work lives so that we each feel well and whole.
- We regenerate land with a history of exploitation, using perennial crops, cycles of fertility, and abundant and generous diversity.
- We inspire, educate, and welcome our wider community with yearly rituals of harvest and processing, and we build ongoing connections through regular opportunities to work together and celebrate together.
- We aim to illustrate the enough-ness of our place by eating habitually, if not exclusively, from what the land here produces. We contribute to building a thriving local food culture that fully provisions our community.
- We expect to connect with the sacred in work, in our daily lives, and in set-aside times; we support each other in our diverse ways of making that connection.
Job title: Vegetable farmer
Wage, hours: $15 per hour, 20-32 hours per week, variable hours
Other benefits: Vegetables! Three paid days off and one week of unpaid vacation.
On-farm housing: There is housing available on site, living with Hannah in an active and social household. Everyone who lives in the house signs a lease and pays rent that can be deducted from a worker’s paycheck, or paid separately on the first of the month, whichever system works best for the tenant.
Work activities: Mostly we’re in the vegetable field, weeding, planting, harvesting and managing tarps. There are opportunities to specialize in the wash station, greenhouse management, sheep management, marketing and perennial management.
Training opportunities: These may not be work duties. We are excited to share our systems for growing, harvesting and marketing our food and for managing sheep and tree crops. We give our employees a lot of space to make their own decisions about how to accomplish tasks, once they understand why we do those tasks and the end goal we’re looking for, so there’s a lot of opportunity to practice decision-making skills, observation skills and communication skills. We’re willing to open our books and share our financial systems with trainees if desired. There is a lot of opportunity to take collaborative ownership of the work, and we are looking for trainees who are excited to do that.
Minimum qualifications: Able to work outside in all weather, stand for long periods of time, lift at least 50 pounds, possess a valid driver’s license.
Desired skills: What personality traits are you looking for? What experiences? Previous experience working on vegetable farms is required. Communication skills and the ability to advocate for oneself are very important on this farm.
Start and end date: April 15 to Oct. 31, 2025
Contact: Hannah, humblehandsharvest@gmail.com
Farm name: Phelps Farm
Location: Guttenberg, Iowa
Website: www.phelpsfarmsiowa.com
Social media: Facebook
Trainer experience: We purchased our farmland in 2019 and began our produce farming operation in 2021.
About the farm: Our farm is located in northeast Iowa, just a few miles southwest of Guttenberg, near Osterdock. We are a diversified vegetable farm selling wholesale, through a CSA, and a farmers market. We have a small number of cut flowers and force tulips for hydroponic production. We also have ducks and chickens for egg production. In addition, we produce maple syrup and honey.
We follow organic practices but are not certified organic. We practice minimal tillage and utilize cover crops. Our poultry and goats are being integrated into our grazing rotation within our vegetable production area. We focus on building healthy soil to grow quality vegetables.
Job title: Farm crew member
Wage, hours: $14 per hour, 20 hours a week, variable hours
Other benefits: No
On-farm housing: No
Work activities: Trainee will learn various aspects of vegetable production such as bed preparation, transplanting, pruning and trellising, weed management, harvesting, packing vegetables, and assisting at our Saturday markets with setting up, selling and interacting directly with customers, and tearing down.
Training opportunities: Trainee will learn time management skills with prioritizing tasks and will gain communication skills and an understanding of food safety.
Minimum qualifications: Ability to work outside in various weather conditions. Able to lift at least 50 comfortably and consistently. Ability to learn and understand our farm practices, written and verbally. Must be dependable and reliable. Have an eye for details and ability to follow standard operating procedures. Must possess a valid driver‘s license or provide your own transportation to the farm.
Desired skills: Farming experience or willingness to learn all aspects of growing vegetables in a production environment. Understanding of farm and food safety practices. Ability to solve problems quickly and effectively as our farm can be a fast-paced environment. Ability to understand and follow instructions, both written and verbal.
Start and end date: April 2025 to October 2025, dates negotiable
Contact: Andrew Phelps, phelpsfarmsiowa@gmail.com
Farm name: Fruit Of Levine LLC
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Website: www.fruitoflevine.com
Social media: Facebook
Trainer experience: Farming, both full time, part time and working in food related and food processing business for 47 years. We have operated Fruit of Levine LLC since about 2012.
About the farm: We are located in Omaha, Nebraska. Fruit of Levine LLC is a 15-acre farm owned and operated by Jodi and Mike Levine. We are a niche producer of specialty fruits, vegetables, duck and goose eggs, and honey products. We focus on products that are difficult to source or hard to find locally. We are dedicated to producing sustainably with minimal impact on our environment. We produce specialty crops including, honey, honeycomb, red raspberries, black raspberries, blackberries, asparagus, annual vegetables, lavender and other herbs, cut flowers, and duck and goose eggs. Cattle are grazed on part of our acreage by another farmer. We utilize no–till planted forage for rotational grazing on some of our acres. We plant a fall cover crop of mixed species that is grazed in the spring, followed by a no–till planting of a mixed species warm season cover crop that is grazed till the fall. We use tarps for occultation on our market garden area from winter to spring, which facilitates no–till planting. We heavily mulch for weed control and fertility. We are not certified organic, but we do only use materials that are acceptable to the National Organic Program. We sell to restaurants, ice cream shops and individuals.
Job title: Farm assistant
Wage, hours: $10-$18 per hour, based on experience and qualifications. Estimated 10-20 hours per week, but it can be more or less depending on crops and weather.
Other benefits: None
On-farm housing: No
Work activities: Planting, weeding, harvesting, preparing products for sale, trellising, pest control, irrigation (we use drip irrigation), cleaning of bird coop, spreading mulch, use of hand tools where appropriate (hoeing, shoveling, etc), and other tasks as required.
Training opportunities: Learn what is involved in operating a specialty crop business including crop choice, organic pest control, organic disease control, drip irrigation, planting, no till farming, harvesting, processing and other aspects. If interested, we would discuss our marketing/sales strategies.
Minimum qualifications: Must be able to work outside in hot temperatures, willing to get hands (and other body parts) dirty, lift at least 50 pounds. Able to stand, kneel and sit, do repetitive tasks for long periods of time, depending on the requirements of the task and is able and willing to learn.
Desired skills: We are looking for someone who is excited to work hard and learn about specialty farming, is physically capable of and willing to do manual labor, is a “self starter” who, once they understand the task, can complete their jobs without constant supervision.
Start and end date: Estimated middle of May until about September.
Contact: Mike, mdl1356@gmail.com
Trainer name: Kathy Dice and Tom Wahl
Farm name: Red Fern Farm
Location: Wapello, Iowa
Website: www.redfernfarm.com
Social media: Facebook
Trainer experience: 28 years
About the farm: We are located in southeast Iowa between Muscatine and Burlington, 1.5 miles southeast of Grandview. We raise tree crops which include chestnuts, pawpaws, American persimmons, heartnuts, Asian pears, cornelian cherries, hazels and honeyberries. We sell seed nuts and scion wood through mail order. Our permaculture system includes permanent ground cover, perennials and Katahdin sheep. We are not certified organic but minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and sprays. Tree crops are marketed using you-pick and chestnuts are sold through a local chestnut cooperative.
Job title: Farm intern
Wage, hours: $12-20 per hour depending on experience and skill
Other benefits: Room and board is provided, use of kayaks and bicycles for excursions and access to wild areas to explore on and off our farm.
On-farm housing options: We have a guest room and library for the intern to use. The bed is a fold-out full-size sofa with a memory foam mattress. We have wi–fi at our passive solar house and use a composting toilet and cistern water. There is only one bathroom for the house, and it is shared with four other adults. The intern will have use of the kitchen to cook their own meals but are also welcome to share in the family meals, which include a lot of produce from our farm and venison. There is also a 20-foot-long camper trailer with queen–size bed, AC and heat, a tiny kitchen and a full bathroom available.
Training opportunities: In addition to learning about the trees and the sheep, we can offer additional training on gardening, wild edibles and food preservation if desired.
Work activities: Spring will include potting up sprouted seedlings into pots, planting, pruning, mowing and the managing of the sheep flock. If desired, it could also include managing the website and bookkeeping. Fall work will include mowing, preparing for U-pick customers, harvesting, processing and managing customers.
Minimum qualifications: A desire to learn about agroforestry is essential. Able to work outside in all weather, ability to lift 30 pounds and walk 2-4 miles a day across rough terrain. Willingness to handle large mowers. Adequate English language skills are also preferred.
Skills desired: Willingness to work flexible hours, some experience with plants would be nice.
Start and end date: Flexible start date but starting the first week of September and working to at least the middle of October. The end of October is ideal.
Contact: Kathy Dice, kathy@redfernfarm.com
Farm name: Salama Greenhouse
Location: Boone, IA
Website: www.salamagreenhouse.com
Social media: Facebook
Trainer experience: I’ve been doing this my whole life as it’s a family business. However I officially purchased it from my parents in 2014, so a little over 10 years as an owner operator.
About the farm: We are located in Boone, Iowa. Approximately 20 miles from Ames, Iowa, and 40 miles from Des Moines, Iowa. We are a full garden center selling ornamental plants, seasonal bedding plants, house plants, seasonal flowering plants, trees and shrubs, perennials, and cut flowers. We are in the beginning stages of doing some outdoor production and agritourism.
We believe that health and happiness are the fundamentals that everyone is seeking. Good health is the foundation for a happier life in which a healthy individual is capable of achieving anything. If you are not healthy, then you are not happy, and if you are not happy, then a change needs to be made.
We exist to produce plant products to contribute to the health and overall wellness of our community and environment. We exist to empower and educate our consumers to make healthier decisions for the body, mind and spirit.
Job title: Greenhouse intern
Wage, hours: $14 -$18 per hour
Other benefits: Discounted plants!!
On-farm housing: No
Work activities: Farm seeding, planting, watering, pruning, harvesting, packing, moving plants, etc.
Training opportunities: These may not be work duties.
Growing in a controlled environment, succession planting, pest management, sales and marketing.
Minimum qualifications: Stand for long periods of time, walk quickly, valid driver’s license, lift 50 pounds, work and dress for all weather conditions.
Desired skills: Horticulture, retail, flower shop, vegetable production
Start and end date: March 1 to July 1
Contact: Mike, salama.mike@gmail.com
Trainer names: Emma and Marcus Johnson
Farm name: Buffalo Ridge Orchard
Location: Central City, Iowa
Website: www.buffaloridgeorchard.com
Social media: Facebook
Trainer experience: 12 years
About the farm: We are a family-owned and –operated, 80-acre diversified farm that grows herb plants, vegetables, apples, pears and row crops. We use organic practices for our vegetable crops and an integrated pest management system for our orchard. We have two moveable high tunnels for extending our growing season. The apple orchard is medium and high density, and we grow over 50 different varieties of apples. We sell our produce through the Iowa City Farmers Market, direct wholesale and through our CSA. We also have an on-farm store open June-December and a processing kitchen where we process our fruit.
Job title: Farm laborer
Wage, hours: Pay rate is $15 per hour or commensurate with experience; full and part-time available.
Other benefits: A weekly stipend of fresh produce from the farm.
On-farm housing: No
Work activities: What will the trainer be doing? Activities include planting young apple trees, hand-thinning fruits, planting vegetable starts and installing trellising; weeding, washing and packing produce; completing required farm records; working farm markets; and processing apples.
Training opportunities: Working on our farm you can expect to gain knowledge on tree fruit and vegetable production. This includes developing crop rotations, choosing rootstocks and fruit varieties and how to market it locally. You could also learn about how we manage our licensing and food safety requirements for our produce farm and food processing plant.
Minimum qualifications: Employees must be able to work outside in variable weather conditions, stand for long periods of time, lift at least 50 pounds, be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver’s license.
Skills desired: Tractor or equipment, horticultural and sales experience preferred but not required.
Start date: May 15
End date: Dec. 15
Contact: Emma Johnson, buffaloridgeorchard@gmail.com or call (563) 340-9665
Farm name: Over the Moon Farm
Location: Coggon, Iowa
Website: www.overthemoonfarmiowa.com
Social media: Instagram and Facebook
Trainer experience: Shae grew up on a family farm and has operated own business since 2019.
About the farm: We are located in eastern Iowa, between Coggon and Ryan. We currently are most focused on pasture raised chickens, turkeys and ducks. We also raise farrow-to-finish Berkshire hogs.
We currently raise 3,500 birds per year and 60-70 hogs. Our poultry production is on pasture and production of hogs uses a mixed system of outdoor lots and barns.
We currently sell about one third of our products direct-to-consumer via our ecommerce platform. The other two thirds of our sales channels include multiple food hubs throughout the state, farm stores and other wholesale outlets.
Job title: Pastured poultry production assistant
Wage, hours: $15-$18 depending on experience, 10-15 hours per week
Other benefits: Access to a half share of our meat CSA for the duration of the summer (equaling approximately 5 pounds of meat per month)
On-farm housing: No
Work activities:
Primary responsibilities will include:
- Moving electric fence for chickens, turkeys and ducks
- Moving poultry from brooder space to pasture (requires bending and lifting)
- Loading poultry for processing (1-2 evenings a month to do this from 5-8 p.m.)
- Cleaning out brooders and participating in manure management
- Power washing and sanitizing poultry crates, livestock trailer, and feed and watering equipment
Training opportunities: Trainee will have opportunity to learn about poultry management, direct-to-consumer sales and other mentorship about running a business.
Minimum qualifications:
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly
- Must be 18 years of age
- Must be able to provide own transportation to farm
Desired skills:
- Willingness to learn
- Experience with livestock desired but not mandatory
- MUST follow humane handling practices, as trained by the farm operators; failure to do so will result in immediate termination
Start and end date: June 1-Aug. 30 with the option to continue into the fall if desired
Contact: Shae, overthemoonfarmandflowers@gmail.com
Trainer name: Eric Franzenburg
Farm name: Pheasant Run Farm
Location: Van Horne – Keystone, Iowa., 30 miles west of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Website: www.pheasantrunfarmiowa.com
Social media: Facebook and Instagram
Trainer experience: We have been farming since 1993.
About the farm: We have row crops of corn and soybeans and also raise strawberries, blueberries, elderberries, honeyberries, lavender, sweetcorn, tomatoes cucumbers and peppers in the field. We have grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in greenhouses and are looking at doing this again. We have a cut flower enterprise that we work with our son, Calvin, on. Calvin has taken over the majority of that enterprise. We have agritourism (Sunflower Experience) which we continue to grow. We also grow medicinal herbs for the wholesale trade in the United States. We have endeavored to develop a diversified farm operation on the family farm. We had no desire to be a large row crop operation from the start and began our diversification with medicinal herb production. Currently, we do not have livestock. We are looking to focus more directly on developing an on-farm market where we can sell our farm production locally off the farm. Our crops are conventional, certified organic, no-till and strip-till.
Job title: Farm Operations Intern
Wage, hours: Starting wage is $12-15 per hour commensurate with experience. Raises will be given for positive performance. Forty hours a week, somewhat flexible hours.
Other benefits: Fresh produce and cut flowers
On-farm housing: My mother has moved to town, so we have a house available on the farm. We would take care of utilities, but you would need to get your own groceries and take care of the yard.
Work activities: Job duties include planting, weeding and harvesting specialty crops like blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, sweet corn, cut flowers and sunflowers. They could also participate in sales and marketing (working on sales from the farm and at farm events) along with developing social media for the farm. Ability to drive a tractor is a plus. If desired, this intern could also be involved in planting and harvesting row crops like corn and soybeans.
Training opportunities: What skills can the trainee learn on your farm? The trainee will be working with other employees on the farm and will have the opportunity to supervise their work. The trainee will also be learning about production practices in the field with a wide range of different crops and equipment. Also, the ability to learn about different marketing techniques including the use of social media. This internship has the potential to become a partnership between Pheasant Run Farm and the intern where the intern can start their own operation with the use of our equipment and the availability of land in exchange for labor for Pheasant Run Farm. This would be negotiable based on intern’s interests.
Minimum qualifications: Able to work outside in all weather conditions. Have a valid driver’s license. Work independently with little supervision.
Desired skills: Preferred skills include tractor experience, the ability to solve problems and learn on the job and the ability to think outside of the box would be beneficial.
Start and end date: May 1 –Oct. 1 (negotiable)
Contact: Eric, (319) 640-1471, eafran@netins.net
Farm name: Rhubarb Botanicals
Location town: Mount Vernon, Iowa
Website: www.rhubarbbotanicals.com
Social media: Instagram
Trainer experience: Emma has been farming specialty horticultural crops professionally for seven years. Her area of focus has been on cut flowers for local markets and herb cultivation for fresh and dried use. Prior to starting her own farm in 2022, Emma worked for two years as a farmhand at Northerly Flora, a multi-site farmer-florist company in Minneapolis, and at Keepsake Cidery, an organic orchard and cidery. She completed the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginning course in 2018.
About the farm: We grow cut flowers, medicinal and culinary herbs, and a few perennial fruits and vegetables. Our farm is Certified Naturally Grown and will be pursuing organic certification in 2025. We are a low-till operation and are prioritizing restoring soil structure in our farming practices. We sell our cut flowers through our flower CSA, at farmers markets and wholesale to regional florists. Our herbs are crafted into value-added products such as tea blends, salt and spice blends, herbal salves and lip balms, and more. These products are sold online through our website, locally at independent retailers throughout the Midwest and at farmers markets in eastern Iowa.
Job title: Farm crew
Wage, hours: $15 per hour, 40 hours per week
Other benefits: Paid lunch, 35% off value-added products, free flowers and fresh herbs
On-farm housing: No
Training opportunities: Employees will learn key components of running a successful horticultural farm. Tasks and learning opportunities include greenhouse and nursery production, field preparation, weeding techniques, irrigation maintenance, and more. Employees will learn the specific harvest stages of over 50 varieties of cut flowers and learn how to efficiently create a crafted bouquet. Employees will learn many of the behind-the-scenes decision making process that informs business strategy, production and marketing. Employees will also learn about value-added production and creative ways to transform agricultural products into additional offerings.
Work activities: Tasks include: seeding and greenhouse production, field preparation (laying landscape fabric, fertilizing, broadforking and raking, etc.), planting, weeding, harvesting of cut flowers and herbs, post-harvest bunching and sorting, flower bouquet assembly, processing of dried herbs, recordkeeping of harvests and task list, vending at the farmers market and on-farm stand, field clean-up, and organization and cleaning of shared use spaces.
Minimum qualifications: Employees must have a collaborative spirit and a can-do attitude. Clear communication and accountability are a necessity. Employee should be comfortable working both as part of a team and independently. Employee should be in good physical condition to handle repetitive movements, standing or kneeling for 8-plus hours a day, and occasionally lift objects 40-50 pounds. While we attempt to shift tasks to suit the weather, employee should be prepared to work outdoors in all conditions including heat, cold, rain and wind.
Desired skills: Previous experience is not required. An eagerness to learn and receptivity to feedback is most important.
Start and end date: March to October
Contact: Emma, emma@rhubarbbotanicals.com
Trainer names: John Rafkin & Wendy Johnson
Farm name: Joia Food Farm
Location: Charles City, Iowa
Website: www.joiafoodfarm.com
Social media: Instagram and Facebook
Trainer experience: 10 years
About the farm: We are located in northeast, north central Iowa near Charles City. Our guiding values are to celebrate life by observing the natural synergies between soil, plants and animals and how they adapt to change. We are a 100% perennial farm specializing in managed adaptive grazing of sheep and cattle on perennial pastures and Kernza, small grains such as Kernza, agroforestry practices including established silvopasture, riparian buffer, enhanced windbreaks and micro orcharding. We integrate poultry and pigs into our operation at a smaller scale. We are certified organic, managed grazing, no antibiotics, non-gmo, grassfed and finished, and use cover crops. We sell grassfed beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, duck and guinea sold in our virtual farm store, through buying clubs, on farm sales and retailers.
Job title: Agroforestry and managed grazing apprentice
Wage, hours: 5-10 hours per week, $10-12 perhour depending on skillset and experience
Other benefits: Lunch is provided if working over the lunch hour. Lunchtime is unpaid.
On-farm housing: No
Work activities: Maintenance of less than 3-year-old trees, ensuring livestock have fresh water daily, moving chickens daily, creating biochar, lambing, cutting undesirable small trees and shrubs, product deliveries, and other activities as needed.
Training opportunities: Learning managed grazing techniques we use, creating biochar, marketing and direct sales techniques.
Minimum qualifications and desired skills: Able to work outside in all weather, stand and walk for long periods of time, lift at least 50 pounds, possess a valid driver’s license, have their own mode of transportation, have emotional maturity to handle criticism and accolades, have the learning spirit and act with humility while learning (feel comfortable to ask questions if you don’t know, don’t assume), be self-motivated and driven, have some experience with hand tools and lawn mowers, have punctuality, integrity in your work, and be reliable. Be organized and detailed. Can follow and take directions well. Can work by yourself and with a team.
Start and end date: Mid April to July 1
Contact: Wendy, wendy@joiafoodfarm.com
Farm name: Mustard Seed Farm
Location town: Ames, Iowa
Website: Mustard Seed Community Farm
Trainer experience: 18 years
About the farm: Mustard Seed Community Farm is an 11-acre, 16-year-old farm located ten miles north of Ames, Iowa. We are founded on a belief in ethical food production and distribution, ecological land use and community. Using organic and sustainable methods, we typically grow a variety of vegetables and fruits along with herbs, flowers and prairie. The farm also keeps bees and small flocks of chickens and sheep.
Job title: Farm apprentice
Wage, hours: Pay rate is $15 per hour or commensurate with experience, and whether the worker is receiving room and board. Hours are flexible, but expect 25-40 hours per week.
Other benefits: Food and housing
On-farm housing: Our housing is very simple. Workers are able to have separate sleeping quarters but all other living spaces are shared. We provide food but share chores of communal cooking and dishes.
Work activities: Work will be diverse and involved with all aspects of the farm. We would like our trainee to manage one enterprise of their choice. This person will also plant and handle annual and perennial crops; participate in decision-making meetings, record-keeping and on-farm research; and assist with livestock care and fencing. The trainee would also be involved with the farm’s community outreach and education efforts.
Training opportunities: Managing enterprises, record keeping, on-farm research, care of livestock.
Minimum qualifications: Able to work in all weather and lift 30 pounds. Be curious, have a drive to learn and a desire to contribute to food sovereignty-based agriculture and social justice.
Desired skills: Any of the following: annual or perennial horticultural skills; farm systems management experience; communication and community engagement; sheep and poultry; Spanish-language skills; big-picture organizational talent. This is an opportunity for a skilled person to manage one aspect of our farm, with mentorship, while learning new and diverse skills.
Start date: April (approximately)
End date: November (approximately; work for at least three consecutive months, flexible dates)
Contact: Alice McGary, mustardseedbee@gmail.com
Farm name: David Royer Farms
Location: Coon Rapids, Iowa
Trainer experience: I got out of the Army in 1979 and harvested my first crop in 1980. I have been farming ever since.
About the farm: I have 800 row crop acres, as well as 125 beef cows and 2,500 wean–to–finish hogs. We use no-till over as many acres as possible each year. We also use cover crops and extended rotations by utilizing oats or by hay and pasture rotation. We use rotational grazing on our pasture. We utilize grid soil sampling in conjunction with variable rate lime and fertilizer applications, as well as variable rate seeding. Our markets: Corn sold at local chicken farm, local ethanol plant and local food grade corn processing plant. Beans sold at local Landus (ADM partner).
Job title: Farm hand
Wage, hours: Work hours will generally be 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some exceptions based on job task or weather. Wage will start at $13 per hour and will be negotiable based on experience.
Work activities: Daily farm life might include fixing, maintaining and operating farm equipment, care and monitoring the cow–calf herd, as well as land management.
Training opportunities: The trainee will learn how to operate a variety of equipment with many different motor and transmission designs, as well as different technology platforms. They would also learn numerous trade skills such as welding or repairing equipment. These skills would transfer to many other careers.
Minimum qualifications:
- Show up for work on time
- Be accountable
- Valid drivers license
- Lift 50 pounds
- Work outside and stand for extended periods
Desired skills: The ideal trainee would have a positive outlook on life and enjoy being out in nature.
Start and end date: Any time – July 1, with extension, or full time employment possible
Contact: David, call (712) 249-1355 or email sdroyer@gmail.com
Trainer names: Naomi and Andrew Friend
Farm name: Friend’s Flowers – Story City, Iowa
Website: https://friends.flowers
Social media: Facebook and Instagram
Trainer experience: 10 years farming
Job title: Flower farm assistant – **Position filled
Wage and hours: Pay rate is $15 per hour, or commensurate with experience; hours are 20 hours per week
Other benefits: A reasonable amount of free cut flowers each week.
On-farm housing: Housing is not provided
Work activities: Activities include planting flower seeds and plugs, weeding, washing buckets, cutting and harvesting flowers, and arranging and delivering flower orders. Marketing activities include helping customers and arranging flowers at farmers markets, occasional leading of the market, delivering orders to florists, and fulfilling custom orders and providing customer service during U-pick hours.
Training opportunities: Employees will gain experience in small-scale flower farming, floral arranging, customer service and direct-to-consumer sales. Additional opportunities include learning about high tunnel flower production, succession planting and basic farm equipment operation.
Minimum qualifications: Be able to work outside in all weather, ability to squat and kneel repeatedly for short periods and lift at least 50 pounds. Must possess a valid driver’s license. A good candidate will have experience driving a pick-up with trailer and sub-compact tractor and implements, or willingness to be trained for these skills. Previous floral or customer service experience is preferred. We require availability to work most Saturday mornings from May-October.
Desired skills:
- A positive attitude, reliability and strong work ethic.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
- Attention to detail, particularly in floral arranging and monitoring plant and field conditions
- Strong communication and customer service skills.
- Comfort with social media or photography for farm marketing is a plus
Start date: Mid April
End date: Mid October
Contact: Naomi Friend at friendsflowers@outlook.com