Farm Apprentice

Live and work on a sustainable livestock farm for a year as you train with a farmer and his family.  Smith Meadows is a profitable farm where grass-fed animals including beef cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens, turkeys and laying hens are raised in symbiosis with the environment.  There is a commercial kitchen where we produce fresh pasta and other prepared foods from our meats & eggs, and locally harvested produce from neighboring farms.  We then direct market our meats, eggs and kitchen products at 7 farmers markets in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. 

Responsibilities:

The average work week consists of 40-50 hours with 2 days off every week.  Duties include:

• Daily chores to keep meat chickens and laying hens watered and fed.
• Daily chores to maintain our poultry brooders
• Pasture maintenance: fence repairs and livestock rotation
• Livestock handling and care
• Weekly Inventory management: unpack meats that return from the butcher, organize into freezers and pack for farmers markets.
• Wash and pack eggs
• Set up and sell at one of our markets each weekend
• On farm butchering of free-range chickens

Qualifications: 

We require hard work, dedication, optimism and an interest in learning.  You must be willing to work long days, outdoors in all kinds of weather.  You must be in good physical shape and able to lift 50-75/lbs easily.  We conduct an extensive on-farm interview where you will meet all of the Pritchard family, work for a day, and have an opportunity to ask extensive questions about the job.  We must have an opportunity to know that you are the right person for the job.

Compensation: Our compensation package includes on-farm housing in a shared apartment with one other intern.  There is a shared kitchen, bathroom and laundry facilities.  We also offer $25 dollars a week in farm products and a 15% discount on additional farm products. We also pay $9/hr.