Winter 2010 Internships:
We are currently accepting applications for spring 2010 internships. Applications may be submitted through January 15, 2010.

Stone Barns Center welcomes interns who are dedicated to our mission to celebrate, teach and advance community-based food production and enjoyment. Interns will focus on one component of Stone Barns Center's work: livestock, four seasons growing, education programs, public programs, or development/nonprofit management.

Internships at Stone Barns Center are unpaid and housing is not provided, but academic credit may be awarded from an intern’s school. Stone Barns Center’s site supervisors schedule weekly meetings with each intern to review the progress of the internship. As part of the internship program, there will be opportunities to interact with other staff and interns at the Center. If requested, site supervisors will provide each intern with a written evaluation that can also be used as a reference at the conclusion of the internship. The minimum age to participate in an internship is sixteen.

Interns benefit from a schedule that is both intensive and consistent. To encourage productive and rewarding internships, Stone Barns Center requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for a period of one to five months. Interns will complete a daily record of their hours in a logbook and will be expected to contact the site supervisor with any schedule changes.

Most Stone Barns Center internships involve strenuous physical labor—e.g., lifting 50+ pounds, using hand and power tools, and exposure to sun and cold.

To apply, please send your resume and a letter of intent to judyf@stonebarnscenter.org. Please make sure that you indicate which internship you are applying for.

All applications due by January 15
All applicants notified by February 15

Education Programs Internship
Site Supervisor: Judy Fink, Education Programs Director
Stone Barns seeks one motivated college student per semester to work and learn alongside education staff in assisting and teaching sustainable agriculture programs for children during the school day and after school. The intern will observe and team teach programs, and meet regularly with a mentor for feedback. In addition, the intern will complete a project designated by the education programs staff. The intern will also be expected to assist with a February and/or April vacation camp. Project
opportunities are:
• Design new indoor activities for existing programs
• Design level II activities for students returning to Stone Barns for a 2nd visit
• Design outreach materials for schools to use


Four Season Farm Internship
Site Supervisor: Jack Algiere, Four Season Grower

The Four Season Farm seeks interns to work in the specific project areas outlined below. By working in partnership with the environment, instead of resisting its natural tendencies, Stone Barns farmers produce food without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Our only amendments to the soil are compost, minerals and organic material. We use an intensively managed rotation method in our garden and greenhouse beds, preserving the soil and locking in important nutrients. Internship opportunities are available in the following focus areas:

• Field Internship (requires some agricultural experience)
This internship focuses on seasonal vegetable production activities and offers experience in diversified and ecologically sound growing practices. The role is to assist in daily production activities such as soil amending, seeding, transplanting, crop maintenance and protection, harvesting and processing of vegetables from our 6 acre vegetable fields. Participation with tours, school groups and general public by assisting as an interpreter and educator in the vegetable fields may also be part of regular intern responsibilities. Under the supervision of Field Manager Zach Wolf and Farm Manager Jack Algiere, this opportunity is meant to develop appreciation and understanding of the perennial methods and practices essential to an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable farming operation. Special projects may be arranged through the Intern Coordinator and Farm Manager.

• Formal gardens (requires background in horticulture)
This internship focuses on formal edible and educational horticulture; it offers a hands-on, intensive overview of interactive horticulture under the direction of Stone Barns Gardener Laura Perkins. This intern will take part in a variety of horticultural activities as well as help create content for the Center’s educational curriculum. The position will include light landscaping activities, organic soil preparation, garden maintenance, vegetable, herb, flower and fruit culture, education and research of appropriate topics.

• Eco-Greenhouse (requires some horticultural experience)
This internship provides experience in compost-based, soil-grown plant production. Stone Barns Center’s greenhouse produces year round, with constant weekly planting and harvesting cycles. This intern will focus on production and care of this intensive, ecologically-managed greenhouse, including specific growing methods, tool and seed selection, soil preparation, seeding, transplanting, weeding, greenhouse maintenance, harvesting and processing. Participation with tours, school groups and general public by assisting as an interpreter and educator in the greenhouse may also be part of regular intern responsibilities. Additionally, there is opportunity to work with data collection and diversified greenhouse economics for those inclined to this type of focus.


Livestock Internship
Site Supervisor: Craig Haney, Livestock Manager

The pasture-based, multi-species livestock program at Stone Barns seeks interns who will dedicate themselves to working side-by-side with farmers to create and maintain a healthy environment for the stewardship of the Center’s animals. The Center is currently raising swine, sheep, bees, geese, turkeys, meat chickens and egg laying chickens.

Some of the work involves direct contact with the animals, although most of each day is spent moving fences, waterers and shelters, cleaning equipment, processing eggs, and tending pastures and woodlands. These and many other details are the backbone of a management system that strives to let the animals express instinctual behaviors and develop healthy immune systems.

Interns must be able to work by 8 AM, lift a minimum of 50 lbs, work safely under all weather conditions, and take direction well. After a period of training in which he/she has honed observation skills, interns will be expected to work independently. Interns may also learn the skills necessary to harvest poultry as well as butchering sheep and swine for retail sales through the Center’s farm market.


Marketing and Communications Internship
Site Supervisor: Rebecca Sherman, Marketing and Communications Manager

Stone Barns Center seeks one dedicated intern per semester with an interest in gaining experience in a small, not-for-profit marketing and communications department. Interns will provide assistance across the following areas of work:

Writing and copy-editing
• Conducting research and writing copy for Stone Barns Center’s newsletter.
• Copy-editing Stone Barns Center online and print materials.

Online and social media
• Updating and maintaining content on Stone Barns Center’s website using a basic content management system (CMS). No HTML required.
• Tracking and analyzing visitation on Stone Barns Center’s website.
• Expanding Stone Barns Center’s presence on Facebook and Twitter.

Digital media archives
• Creating a digital archive of Stone Barns Center print and online press.
• Archiving and organizing 2,000+ photographs of Stone Barns Center.

Media outreach:
• Developing Stone Barns Center’s list of media partners and prospects.
• Drafting press releases about Stone Barns Center programs and initiatives.

Additional projects may also be assigned. The ideal candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, highly literate with online and social media, and able to work independently on multiple projects. Excellent writing and proofreading skills are required. Proficiency with Macintosh computers, knowledge of digital video editing, and prior experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are preferred, but not required.


Public Programs Internship
Site Supervisor: Nena Johnson, Public Programs Director

Gain valuable working experience at Stone Barns Center’s dynamic farm and educational center! Join the Public Programs team: experience the seasons on the farm while learning about sustainable agriculture, interacting with visitors, and helping to organize and run programs that communicate the Center’s mission to the public. Public Programs interns will be asked to spend part of their time guiding tours for the public and providing general administrative support to the Public Programs office, and will also have the opportunity to vision, plan and execute special programs for Theme Weekends. Examples of potential themes include: sheep-shearing, pollinators, and garlic harvest.


For more information about Stone Barns Center internships, please contact Judy Fink, Education Programs Director, at judyf@stonebarnscenter.org. No phone calls, please.