Sunnyfield Farm Interns Wanted
COWS
At Sunnyfield Farm, we have a small herd of Jersey, Milking Devon, and Jersey/Devon cross bred cattle. We are not breeding show cattle, or for the highest milk production, or the fastest rate of gain for beef. We want the animals that work best for us. That means cows that stay in good condition and meet modest production goals on a 100% grass diet.
All of the products of the herd are sold at the farm. They include raw milk and cream, veal and beef. We are selling to our neighbors for consumption by their families. This forces us to focus on quality and high value. Our customers know us and the farm. They are welcome in the barn and have great appreciation for the work we do and food that is produced at Sunnyfield.
Interns are an important part of the farm crew. Work with the cattle includes almost everything that we do. The cows are rotationally grazed from May to November. Fences need to be set up to allow milk cows to shift paddocks twice a day, others once a day. Cows are milked once a day. Milk jars are filled and the barn is cleaned every day. Freezers are stocked with various types of meat a couple times a week. We need people to observe the herd to check for heats and health issues or injuries. There are always building and equipment issues to deal with. We make hay in small square bales. This means lots of hay handling, unloading hay wagons and stacking hay in the barns. Work in the fields is varied according to ability. It includes some clearing, spraying liquid amendments, spreading dry amendments, seeding and haying. Also taking soil samples and monitoring growth and diversity of plants in pastures and hay fields.
SHEEP
Interns learn all aspects of grass based sheep husbandry. Starting in May sheep are prepared for moving to summer pastures which involves shearing, foot trimming, fecal checks with worming if necessary, tagging. Sheep are moved to different summer pastures set up in paddocks which are moved every three days. Daily maintenance involves a once a day feeding of the guard dog, head count, a check over of the sheep and watering. Watering can involve carrying 5 gallon buckets for hopefully, short distances. The set up of different paddocks can involve the use of a machete or weedwacker to trim brush or tall grass. The sheep are often on land owned by people other than Sunnyfield, so being able to work well and politely with people is a must.
Interns will be able to learn and acquire skills in identifying good pastures, use of electranet fencing, identifying sheep health issues, working and moving large groups of sheep with the help of a border collie and marketing lamb for wool and meat.
VEGETABLES
This year we will be raising a large variety of vegetables on approximately two acres for sale almost exclusively in our own farm store. We will be using modest mechanical means, and rigorous soil and plant sap analysis including Ph, electrical conductivity, and brix to monitor plant health in real time. Using these readings we will be creating our own foliar feeds, side dressings and drenches to give our plants what they need when they need it. Through the use of these techniques we hope to provide the people in our community with the most vigorous and “nutrient dense” foods that we possibly can. Also, we will continue using traditional organic production methods with a view to tying as many different elements of the farm together as we can. If time allows we also hope to begin raising grains on a small scale.
The entire process from seed to harvest is very involved and physically demanding. We are outside all day almost every day and through all types of weather (rain or shine). We will be seeding, transplanting, mulching, fertilizing, setting up hoops and row covers, watering, weeding, picking bugs and harvesting. The use of tractors and other equipment will be based on prior experience and aptitude. (We will endeavor to foster an atmosphere of learning in this regard.)
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Sunnyfield Farm provides full season interns (April 1st through October 31st) 100 dollars a month plus room and board. The housing will be in the farm house with other farmers and interns. Alternatives such as camping in the woods, barn and temporarily erected shelters (yerts, lean-to, etc.) can be explored if desired by the applicant. Breakfasts and lunches are generally “fend for yourself” from staples purchased by the farm and food grown onsite, while dinners are a community meal prepared by one or two people for the whole group on a rotating basis. Keeping our living spaces and farm store clean and organized is a priority.
Although we assign interns to different projects according to their expressed interests this is never possible one hundred percent of the time. We all pitch in wherever and whenever it is demanded of us to keep all of our diverse interests progressing. This is especially true of the daily animal chores which everyone should expect to be involved in at one point or another. In addition to the sheep and cows listed above, Sunnyfield is home to pigs, including a litter of piglets each spring; chickens, both layers and broilers; turkeys raised for thanksgiving; and three horses that are being trained to work on the farm.
Please fill out our application, email sunnyfieldfarm197 @ yahoo.com , or call the farm phone at 603.924.4436.
Sunnyfield Farm
197 Greenfield Road
Peterborough NH 03458.
Download the Application
COWS
At Sunnyfield Farm, we have a small herd of Jersey, Milking Devon, and Jersey/Devon cross bred cattle. We are not breeding show cattle, or for the highest milk production, or the fastest rate of gain for beef. We want the animals that work best for us. That means cows that stay in good condition and meet modest production goals on a 100% grass diet.
All of the products of the herd are sold at the farm. They include raw milk and cream, veal and beef. We are selling to our neighbors for consumption by their families. This forces us to focus on quality and high value. Our customers know us and the farm. They are welcome in the barn and have great appreciation for the work we do and food that is produced at Sunnyfield.
Interns are an important part of the farm crew. Work with the cattle includes almost everything that we do. The cows are rotationally grazed from May to November. Fences need to be set up to allow milk cows to shift paddocks twice a day, others once a day. Cows are milked once a day. Milk jars are filled and the barn is cleaned every day. Freezers are stocked with various types of meat a couple times a week. We need people to observe the herd to check for heats and health issues or injuries. There are always building and equipment issues to deal with. We make hay in small square bales. This means lots of hay handling, unloading hay wagons and stacking hay in the barns. Work in the fields is varied according to ability. It includes some clearing, spraying liquid amendments, spreading dry amendments, seeding and haying. Also taking soil samples and monitoring growth and diversity of plants in pastures and hay fields.
SHEEP
Interns learn all aspects of grass based sheep husbandry. Starting in May sheep are prepared for moving to summer pastures which involves shearing, foot trimming, fecal checks with worming if necessary, tagging. Sheep are moved to different summer pastures set up in paddocks which are moved every three days. Daily maintenance involves a once a day feeding of the guard dog, head count, a check over of the sheep and watering. Watering can involve carrying 5 gallon buckets for hopefully, short distances. The set up of different paddocks can involve the use of a machete or weedwacker to trim brush or tall grass. The sheep are often on land owned by people other than Sunnyfield, so being able to work well and politely with people is a must.
Interns will be able to learn and acquire skills in identifying good pastures, use of electranet fencing, identifying sheep health issues, working and moving large groups of sheep with the help of a border collie and marketing lamb for wool and meat.
VEGETABLES
This year we will be raising a large variety of vegetables on approximately two acres for sale almost exclusively in our own farm store. We will be using modest mechanical means, and rigorous soil and plant sap analysis including Ph, electrical conductivity, and brix to monitor plant health in real time. Using these readings we will be creating our own foliar feeds, side dressings and drenches to give our plants what they need when they need it. Through the use of these techniques we hope to provide the people in our community with the most vigorous and “nutrient dense” foods that we possibly can. Also, we will continue using traditional organic production methods with a view to tying as many different elements of the farm together as we can. If time allows we also hope to begin raising grains on a small scale.
The entire process from seed to harvest is very involved and physically demanding. We are outside all day almost every day and through all types of weather (rain or shine). We will be seeding, transplanting, mulching, fertilizing, setting up hoops and row covers, watering, weeding, picking bugs and harvesting. The use of tractors and other equipment will be based on prior experience and aptitude. (We will endeavor to foster an atmosphere of learning in this regard.)
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Sunnyfield Farm provides full season interns (April 1st through October 31st) 100 dollars a month plus room and board. The housing will be in the farm house with other farmers and interns. Alternatives such as camping in the woods, barn and temporarily erected shelters (yerts, lean-to, etc.) can be explored if desired by the applicant. Breakfasts and lunches are generally “fend for yourself” from staples purchased by the farm and food grown onsite, while dinners are a community meal prepared by one or two people for the whole group on a rotating basis. Keeping our living spaces and farm store clean and organized is a priority.
Although we assign interns to different projects according to their expressed interests this is never possible one hundred percent of the time. We all pitch in wherever and whenever it is demanded of us to keep all of our diverse interests progressing. This is especially true of the daily animal chores which everyone should expect to be involved in at one point or another. In addition to the sheep and cows listed above, Sunnyfield is home to pigs, including a litter of piglets each spring; chickens, both layers and broilers; turkeys raised for thanksgiving; and three horses that are being trained to work on the farm.
Please fill out our application, email sunnyfieldfarm197 @ yahoo.com , or call the farm phone at 603.924.4436.
Sunnyfield Farm
197 Greenfield Road
Peterborough NH 03458.
Download the Application