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Urban Farm Horticulture Intern

We Grow Microgreens, LLC
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Company Description

We Grow Microgreens, LLC is a new small commercial urban farm growing with the power of the sun in a beautiful energy efficient, and water-conserving glass greenhouse. The Farm specializes in growing highly nutritious microgreens, edible flowers, and unique plants using sustainable growing practices. The Farm includes a 4600-square-foot glass greenhouse, a Community Preservation Act-funded community walking path, two high tunnels, and raised garden beds. The Farm was awarded the Microenterprise of the Year by the Small Business Administration in 2019. Grants from the United States Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, and the City of Boston have helped make the farm possible. Lisa and Tim, the founders, are committed to the local food movement and are dedicated to being a vibrant part of the growing urban farming movement in Boston.

 

The couple selected a high-quality glass greenhouse for the farm that optimizes plant growth and allows neighbors to see the lovely greenery during all months of the year. The glass greenhouse has translucent solar panels on part of the roof and three rainwater tanks collecting 10,500 gallons of rainwater so that the business can have a greater capacity for sustainable growing practices of microgreens, edible flower production, and unique tropical plants resulting in increased yield and conservation of resources.  The Farm includes a Community Preservation Act-funded landscaped community walking path with wildlife-attracting plantings designed by Landscape Architect Wes Wirth. 

 

The Farm increased its growing capacity by over six times when it moved out of its backyard operation to approximately an acre of land in Hyde Park, a section of the City of Boston. Construction of the farm is almost complete, but much still needs to be done to get this small start-up commercial urban farm up and running. We are looking for innovative, entrepreneurial, and flexible applicants who have a myriad of skill sets. 
 

Projects that need completion at the Farm

A few projects that need to be completed on the farm are the construction of a farmstand, raised garden beds, a composting system, creation of an educational program for youth and adults, organization of events like cooking classes with our microgreens and vegetables, acquiring new restaurants and individual customers and running our farmstand and farmer’s market booth. The website, social media, and online store all need attention. Additionally, we will be writing grants to help fund various projects at the farm. 
 

This is a start-up urban farm and the business model is adapting to the needs of the Farm. You should be open to changes in the goals of the business and thus, your day-to-day tasks may change. Three houses bordering the Farm were purchased. Two of the three houses will be renovated. The acquisition of the houses was an effort to protect the farm from the possibility of development next


to the farm which could potentially block the farm’s need for sunlight for growing plants and for powering the solar panels. Plants do not grow in the shade and solar panels need sunlight to function optimally. The goal is to prepare these three houses for rent and utilize their backyards for urban farming. A component of the job will be to assist with the renovation of two of the three houses. The intern could potentially help with budgets, analyzing estimates, researching materials and equipment, checking the quality of work completed by workmen, and picking out materials and colors. Lastly, tenants will be selected to live in the houses. The intern will also learn about tenant-landlord law. The goal is to make these houses energy-efficient and water-conserving. 

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

We are looking for an intern to assist in sustainable agriculture in a hands-on environment at our Hyde Park, MA farm which includes a glass greenhouse, two high tunnels, a farmstand, and raised garden beds. We are looking for an individual interested in the fields of indoor and outdoor agriculture, agriculture, biology, environmental science, environmental engineering, biology, and/or ecology, or who has a focused interest in pursuing a career in environmental science. You will work both independently and as part of a team. The intern will also assist in other areas of the farm. The position is geared towards someone with an interest in agricultural production who is looking to increase their level of responsibility, decision-making, and leadership on a small start-up farm. Additionally, you will be tasked with figuring out how an urban farm can exist in an urban setting. Can development for housing still happen at the same time as the farm’s need for sunlight for growing and solar energy? You will be part of the renovation of two homes to demonstrate that development, farming, and solar energy can co-exist. This is a start-up farm, and we need you to help make it a success. We will target the skill set that you bring into a project-based learning experience.

 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The farm is currently in the final stages of construction and business building. A grant for the construction of 60 raised beds for food-insecure families has recently been awarded, and the assembly of these has already begun and will continue in the spring. You will be expected to help with this construction project.

 

We are attending farmer's markets throughout the year and need assistance in marketing these markets and our online store. You will have the opportunity to learn about marketing through social media in the agricultural and horticultural realms. You will get first-hand marketing experience at the farmer’s market and the farm’s farmstand by promoting and selling the products. Lastly, you will learn about growing microgreens and harvesting techniques. This is a start-up farm, so you will wear many hats. You could be planting plants, working a farmer’s market, or helping with the oversight of the renovation of two houses that have been incorporated into the farm. You must have the ability to adapt to an ever-changing work environment. Every day looks different. We welcome any suggestions for building our new urban farm.

 

We would be excited to work with a biology or chemistry student to collaborate with the research and analysis of the nutritional components of the unique plants that we have at the farm.  We are excited to find substances from plants that can boost the human body's ability to stave off disease.

 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Work inside the greenhouse on agricultural duties
  • Maintains the greenhouse produce, especially microgreens, and keeps the seeding plan on schedule
  • Maintains oversight of daily watering, plant maintenance, and weekly seeding
  • Communicate produce conditions with the farm manager, Tim
  • Uses Integrated Pest Management strategies to make decisions on how to manage pests in the greenhouse
  • Maintains a sanitary and organized greenhouse environment 
  • Outside Field Work Agricultural Duties
  • Participates in harvesting, washing, and packing of field vegetables and edible flowers
  • Participates in field production tasks like direct seeding and transplanting
  • Build raised wood beds, with simple carpentry skills, the use of a circular saw, and plan layout of raised beds
  • Assist at Farmer's markets and farmstands selling produce 
  • Conduct research on the health benefits of our products, ways we can manage pests, growing techniques, and much more
    Collaborate with other individuals on the farm
  • Weeding, watering, and harvesting
  • Removing invasive plants like Japanese knotweed
  • Assist with the clean-up of three parks that are near the farm by assisting with the removal of trash, pruning, and removing invasive plants like Japanese knotweed.
  • Assist with the renovation of two houses focusing on the goal to make these houses energy efficient and water conserving. Help with budgets, analyzing estimates, researching materials and equipment, checking the quality of work completed by workmen, and picking out materials and colors. 
  •  Assist with the selection of tenants to live in the houses. The intern will also learn about tenant-landlord law. 
     

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JOB

  • Experience with and interest in ecology or environmental science
  • Interest in investigating how to make an urban farm financially successful.
  • Interest in how real estate development and urban farming can coexist.
  • Very hard worker and determined
  • Positive attitude
  • Genuine care and interest in the Massachusetts and Boston food systems and food justice
  • Ability to self-delegate and multi-task
  • Ability to take direction
  • Ability to deliver friendly and efficient customer service
  • Ability to use a screwdriver and a hammer and other construction skills
  • Ability to lift fifty pounds
  • Willingness to learn and multi-task.
  • Willingness to work in cold weather outside in the mud. It could be forty degrees outside and the ground could be muddy.
  • Like dogs and cats that are often on the farm.
  • Willingness to work on the Farm through the summer. This coop will go on until the end of August. You will receive four paid personal days and ten unpaid days off between January and the end of August for a total of fourteen days off.
  • A love or tolerance of our two dogs and two cats
     

COMPENSATION

  • Salary, start date, and hours to be discussed in the interview
  • This position is work-study eligible
  • If this person proves to be valuable to our growing business, we are open to helping to sponsor them for a work visa.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for two references.