General Information:
Local Harvest CSA, a multi-producer CSA established in 1996, is a 200
member/family CSA with ZJ Farm producing the vegetables and Simone of
Simone's Plain & Simple providing the bread, eggs, and flowers. ZJ Farm is
located on rolling hills between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
Responsibilities include involvement in all aspects of our diverse organic
family farm operation with an emphasis on vegetable production and
community education. To apply for this position please send resume and cover letter that
briefly touches upon what interests you about the program to us.
General Immersion Internship Information:
ZJ Farm is seeking interns who are interested in developing a hands-on
understanding of the work and practice of community. Growing vegetables
and raising livestock represent only a portion of the responsibilities and
daily life that interns will find. They will also experience the
challenges of creating sustainability in our food system both from a
farming and farmer perspective, living with Susan’s family in a full
immersion program. The work is very hard, but also very real. Interns
should be prepared to invest in a family, a community and a movement;
taking into account the joys, struggles, and responsibilities of
connecting to the earth and those that know it intimately.
Details about Immersion Internship:
Immersion Interns are needed May through October 2008. We prefer
commitments of eight weeks or longer. Room and board provided in addition
to a minimal stipend (to be negotiated based on need and experience).
Opportunities for learning at ZJ Farm include:
1. Vegetable production, harvest, post-harvest handling, and distribution.
Primarily to CSA families. (Includes growing our own transplants and
limited hoop house production.) 2. On-Farm educational programming- work with young people (elementary
through college age) who visit and volunteer to promote understanding
regarding where food comes from and their role as leaders. Tours, work
projects, and conversations about consumption are central to communicating
our passion and sharing our lives. 3. Care and management of three dairy goats, fifty-ewe sheep flock (plus
lambs), and thirty hogs. 4. Community interaction- Visitors and volunteers are a regular part of
the ZJ community, so the interactions and building of relationships is
critical. The creation and maintenance of a community of support is both a
priority for our values and a necessary element in our survival. In
addition to almost daily interactions with CSA members via on-farm pick-up
and a weekly farmers market, we have our seasonal events and a newsletter.
Other opportunities include PFI field days, farm tours and speaking
engagements, and networking with other CSAs and interns. 5. On-farm research trials- As active members of Practical Farmers of Iowa
(PFI), we regularly participate in at least one research trial.
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