Farm Description
Turkeyfoot farm is focused on human scale farming, regenerating the land, building soil, and enhancing and increasing biodiversity. We are located at the tip of Lake Michigan at the edge of where the ice age glacier ended in a rural area. We are 90 minutes out of Chicago and 10 minutes from Lake Michigan beaches. The farm is 10 acres with a 1/4 acre in veggie production, an acre in fruit guilds, and 5 acres in wetland forest. This is a Certified Naturally Grown market farm. We grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, and perennials. We market to local restaurants, health food stores, a CSA and local farmers markets. We also run a pastured egg operation, pasture raised Turkeys and pastured goats. This is an intimate experience in which you work side by side with the farmer daily. We have 1 -2 interns at any given time and 1 farm crew member.
Farm Values
We focus on the diversity and abundance of life on the farm as the basis of health in our plants, ourselves and our customers. From creating our own compost from our animals to feed soil microbes to selecting a wide variety of veggies and herbs to bring to market every week. Our farming methods of limited till means we do almost all field work by hand. The farm’s economic health, ecological integrity, and role in the community are all connected.
Farm Positions
ALL SEASON INTERN
Schedule: Works Monday – Friday 6:00 – 5:00, May – August
Compensation:
Room and Board
Unlimited access to farm library
We see this as an intensive learning environment.
Achieved experience.
Stipend $200 a month at the end of the month
Experiential Duties:
All tasks set by farmer
May – planting and setting the stage for summer
June – focus on soil
July – harvest /fall planning/perennial plantings
August – food preservation (canning, drying, fermenting)
MONTH LONG INTERN
Schedule: Works Monday – Friday 6:00 – 5:00, May, June, July, August, September
Compensation:
Room and Board
Unlimited access to farm library
We see this as an intensive learning environment education is payment.
Achieved experience.
Experiential Duties:
All tasks set by farmer
May – planting and setting the stage for summer
June – focus on soil
July – harvest /fall planning
August – food preservation (canning, drying, fermenting)
September – winter planting, food preservation (canning, drying, fermenting)
FARM EXCHANGE VOLUNTEER
Schedule: Works one day Monday – Wednesday 7:30 – 12:30, May, June, July, Aug, Sept
Compensation: A box of veggies farmers choice
Duties:
Tasks at hand set by farmer….seeding, planting, weeding
Desired Qualities
It is essential to understand that farm work is very physical. During our intensive production season. We vary the tasks throughout the day; however, farm work is often repetitive by nature and very physically demanding. It is important to be realistic and honest about your physical stamina. We work in all types of weather conditions.
We’re especially excited to work with people who are interested in affecting meaningful change through farming. No prior farm experience needed but you must be 21 years of age.
HOW TO APPLY
We ask you to send us an email through our contact page with a letter of intent and availability. No prior farm experience needed but you must be 21 years of age.
On receipt of your letter of intent we will review and set up an online interview.
TurkeyFoot Farm 