P.O. Box 9707 Baltimore, MD 21284-9707 (410) 880-2428 FAX: (410) 823-5857   Attn: CSA email: cvfarmer@bcpl.net  www.cvcsa.org

 

 

Cromwell Valley CSA is located in the beautiful 350-acre Cromwell Valley Park within ten minutes of the cultural and educational opportunities of Towson and Baltimore, Maryland.  In addition to the CSA the park is home to a children’s garden, educational programs, and a summer camp. In 2008 the CSA celebrates its eleventh growing season with four cultivated acres providing certified organic vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits for 120 shareholders. Our emphasis is on growing food in an ecologically sustainable manner, balancing the need for production with caring for the Earth.

 

Our land is divided between row-crop fields, biointensive beds, and perennial crop areas.  Fertility is maintained through composting and a multi-year plan for rotation of fields and beds between vegetables and cover crops.  The CSA farmers accomplish fieldwork by hand and with the assistance of tractors.

 

We are seeking interns for the 2008 growing season.  Date of arrival and duration of internship are flexible.  Work involves all aspects and stages of organic vegetable production, including seedling production, bed preparations, direct sowing, planting, weeding, tool and equipment maintenance, and harvesting.  Interns will also work on greenhouse management and compost production, using biointensive and other organic growing methods.  Interns work with and help to educate CSA shareholders about sustainable agriculture, food production, use, and preservation.

 

Intern education is largely hands-on and experiential, with opportunities to write articles for our newsletter, manage harvests and other specific tasks, and travel to other farms or farming workshops.  The farm manager will also give one to two talks per week on topics related to agriculture.  We are looking for interns who want to learn how to grow a diverse set of crops in the context of Community Supported Agriculture.  Prior experience with organic farming is helpful but not required.  It is more important that our interns have a strong work ethic and an enthusiasm for learning. Farming is often physically challenging; living in community is sometimes emotionally challenging.  Both provide opportunities for growth that we hope will interest you.

 

The stipend offered is $500/mo.  Housing (private room with shared bath and kitchen) is provided on-site for those who desire it.  Produce grown on the farm is supplied to interns at no cost. Off-farm food is purchased by interns. 

 

 

P.O. Box 9707 Baltimore, MD 21284-9707 (410) 880-2428 FAX: (410) 823-5857   Attn: CSA email: cvfarmer@bcpl.net  www.cvcsa.org

 

If you would like to apply for an internship position, please send your responses to the following questions and any other information you feel is relevant to the address, e-mail, or FAX listed above. 

 

1.  Please list your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if applicable).

 

2.  Describe your farming and other related skills and experience (please include any experience with growing plants and experience dealing with the public or teaching).

 

3.  What are your goals and expectations for farming at the CSA?  Describe any specific areas of farming or farming philosophies that you are particularly interested in. 

 

4.  How do you anticipate using the experience you gain here?

 

5.  What experiences have you had with group projects?  What special personal qualities can you contribute to a group?

 

6.  Please describe a time when you had to deal with interpersonal conflict.

 

7.  Given what you know about the Cromwell Valley CSA internship program, can you foresee any special needs or difficulties you may have?

 

8.  Please provide two work related references and contact information.