FARM APPRENTICESHIP 2027

About the Role

Amber Waves Farm is a nonprofit teaching farm on Long Island's East End operating on 45 acres, raising 30 acres of vegetables, 2 acres of cut flowers, and 5 acres of grains. The farm's production serves a 320+ member CSA and on-site retail farm market and kitchen, local restaurant wholesale accounts, and local food pantries. As a 501c3 non-profit organization, Amber Waves' core values of stewardship, community, sustainability, and exploration are carried out through four respective programs: Apprenticeship; Children's Education; Public Access; and Food Security. The Apprenticeship Program is the anchor of farm operations and reflects the farm's deep commitment to cultivating the next generation of farmers.

In 2027, the Amber Waves Apprenticeship Program will celebrate its 16th year of growing new farmers through hands-on training and mentorship. More than 60 new farmers have completed the program since 2012, most of whom remain actively involved in food and agriculture both locally and around the world.

The Apprenticeship provides an 8-month (March–November) paid working and learning experience in sustainable agricultural practices. The program includes in-field instruction, weekly discussion time with farm managers, and a handbook that guides and supplements educational topics. The goal is to teach the skill set necessary to launch a new farmer's career in sustainable agriculture and prepare them for subsequent growing seasons, including advancement into higher level positions in farm leadership, management, or entrepreneurship.

As a vertically integrated farm operation, the farm is uniquely positioned to provide robust training in business planning, budgeting, and marketing associated with running a modern farm business. They specialize in value-added products ranging from shelf-stable jarred goods to packaged baby greens, salads, and floral arrangements.

Responsibilities & Training

• Master technical skills associated with plant propagation in the greenhouse, harvesting, and post-harvest handling
• Introduction to tractor work, including mechanized tillage, cultivation, and preparation of beds
• Perform considerable hand-labor associated with intensive vegetable production, including weeding, harvesting, and trellising
• Participate in weekly meetings and group field walks with farm managers to explore educational topics
• Engage with topics including plant propagation, seedling care, equipment and safety, plant and soil health, irrigation, harvest, post-harvest handling, marketing produce, crop planning, budgets, and season review
• Participate in the local CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) Program, including attending workshops and lectures led by other farmers, touring neighboring farms and food operations, and attending a farming conference

Requirements

• Strong physical and mental work ethic, sense of pace, and self-awareness
• Ability to tolerate working in inclement weather
• Ability to lift at least 50 lbs at a time
• Genuine interest in agricultural production, with the intention to continue a career in food or agriculture post-apprenticeship
• Desire to learn and improve skill set and knowledge base
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability and willingness to collaborate and work well with (and sometimes manage) others, including coworkers and the public
• Willingness to commit from mid-March through Thanksgiving

Qualifications

• Prior agricultural experience is not required, although any work or study in the field of food or agriculture is a desirable attribute

Pay & Schedule

• Full-time (40–50 hours/week) with one guaranteed day off/week
• Position duration: mid-March through Thanksgiving
• $18/hour, covering paid learning/instruction time on-farm
• Farm housing available for rent, within walking/biking distance of the farm (not on-farm)