ABOUT US

Lareau Farm and Forest, in Waitsfield, Vermont, is located in the Mad River Valley. The farm is home to the original American Flatbread Restaurant, a 12 room Farmhouse Inn, a Wedding Pavilion, a restored 19th c. Dairy Barn that hosts a series of summer Art Shows, a community garden, a 2 acre production garden and the Lareau Farm Stand.

We are a dynamic team of four. The 2 acre gardens are managed for nutrient-density and biodiversity using organic practices. We raise pigs and laying hens for use in the restaurant and inn.

POSITION

The work of the Garden Crew Member is both physically and mentally engaging! You get to work outside in fresh air interacting with plants, animals and people!

This position can also include working one shift in our events side of the company.

This is a full time seasonal position of 40 hours per week. The position requires some flexibility based on the needs of the garden/events.

This is a seasonal position. The season runs from May 12 – October 31^st.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Bed preparation

• Seeding and transplanting

• Weeding/cultivating 

• Organic pest management 

• Compost management 

• Greenhouse and Poly Tunnel Production

• Harvesting and washing produce 

• Animal care (pigs and chickens)

• Wood stacking

• Fence building and other light carpentry possibilities

• Sharing knowledge about the gardens and farm with visitors and guests 

• Supporting other tasks as necessary for healthy garden operations

QUALIFICATIONS

• One to two years of garden/farm experience is desirable

• Comfort working with animals

• Ability to work both cooperatively and independently

• Strong work ethic

• Comfort with physical labor and working outdoors in all weather conditions

* Excellent communication skills

•Positive outlook

• Sense of commitment

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY?

• To be directly contributing to raising plants and animals and stewarding 

   the land in responsible and ethical ways

• To work outside in physically active work

• To work with a team of happy and engaged gardeners

* There is great opportunity for learning and growth

• The Mad River Valley is full of amazing adventure opportunities with many   

   swimming holes and biking and hiking trails

COMPENSATION

• $18 - $20/hour (based on experience) with enhanced gratuity pay for event hours

• 3 paid holidays per season

• Accrued paid sick leave

• One free Flatbread per month 

• Primitive housing, may be available.

TO APPLY

Please email our Farm Manager, Lynne Boudreau at [email protected]. 

Send a resume and 2-3 paragraphs sharing about yourself, relevant experience/education, and why you’re interested in the position. 

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Position starts May 12, 2025.

2025-26 Farming Fellowship | Lake Placid, NY

About North Country School & Camp Treetops

Located on the outskirts of Lake Placid, NY, Camp Treetops and North Country School sit on a 220-acre campus amid majestic mountain peaks in New York State's Adirondack Park. Since 1921 and 1938 respectively, we have been nationally renowned for pioneering educational programs rooted in progressive practices and experiential learning. Both Camp and School guide children to engage the natural world, take on intellectual and physical challenges in a nurturing community, and cultivate independence and creativity. 

Position Overview

North Country School & Camp Treetops seeks a full-time Farming Fellow to join our educational farm in the Adirondacks. Over the course of this year-long fellowship, you will immerse yourself in the daily tasks and seasonal cycles that sustain our campus farm—from starting seeds and growing crops to caring for livestock, managing rotational grazing, and working with horses. You’ll also help create a hands-on, place-based learning experience for nearly 300 campers and students, guiding them through barn chores and integrating them into the rhythms of farm life. This unique opportunity blends farming and education, offering a meaningful way to inspire the next generation to discover “the joy in meaningful work.”

What You Will Do

Your work will center around our farm's daily rhythms and routines and the many tasks that fall within them over the course of the growing season. 

As the seasons change, you will be involved in cultivating and harvesting, prepping fields and greenhouses for planting, creating our annual crop plan, participating in thoughtful and intentional community-wide harvests of our meat birds, harvesting crops, caring for animals, providing horseback riding instruction, leading community maple sugaring activities, or leading barn chores. Throughout it all, you will be guided by the experiential learning that has shaped our approach for over 100 years. Below is a breakdown of how your roles and responsibilities will unfold over the course of the year:

Farm Education & Operations (75% of time)

As a key member of the farm team, you will work closely with the Educational Farm Director and Equine & Livestock Manager to help care for the farm. Simultaneously, you will provide students and campers with experiential learning opportunities that integrate hands-on farm work with our seasonal rhythms. You will help to:

• Lead children through twice-daily barn chores, mucking stalls, feeding animals, and turning them out to pasture.
• Care for livestock including chickens, turkeys, pigs, sheep (monitoring for signs of labor), and horses.
• Harvest chickens and turkeys as part of annual community-wide harvests that serve an educational purpose while also providing a clear demonstration of where food comes from. 
• Participate in hay deliveries throughout the year
• Work in production gardens and perennial gardens, including tending to over 30 varieties of flowers, 25 varieties of vegetables and herbs, and tomatoes in our greenhouses.
• Lead campers through farm-related activities, connecting them to the natural environment (ages 8-14).
• Help integrate the farm into programming and curriculum, including supporting Edible Schoolyard (ESY) classes.
• Assist with experiential learning projects and outdoor activities that connect academic concepts students learn about in the classroom to the farm and the natural world.
• Lead community mornings during the summer with large, farm-based jobs involving the entire community.

Farm Logistics & Planning (10%)
In the winter and spring, your role will shift toward preparing for the upcoming growing season. You’ll collaborate with the farm team to create the annual crop plan, order livestock such as laying hens and pigs, and prepare for seasonal events like lambing and maple sugaring. This time will also involve maintaining farm records, managing systems for ordering and planning, and deepening your farming knowledge through ongoing professional development. Your efforts will be crucial in ensuring that the farm is well-prepared for the busy growing season ahead.

Horsemanship & Riding Instruction (10%)
As part of your responsibilities, you'll be involved in caring for our horses and will assist with horseback riding lessons based on your comfort and ability. You'll also help school horses as needed. Your horsemanship duties will tie into farm operations and be an essential part of your overall contribution to the community.

Assisting the NCS Outdoor Program (5%)
When school is in session from September-May, you’ll help lead various outdoor activities. Similar to recess, "out-time" provides students an opportunity to engage in activities that spark their interests, like riding lessons or helping with farm tasks such as hay deliveries or sheep care. You’ll also participate in Saturday Trips, which are full-day excursions that involve hiking, skiing, or exploring local museums and events. These trips will offer opportunities for the students to engage with the outdoors beyond the farm, expanding their learning and adventure in the Adirondacks.

Skills You Bring to Our Community 

• At least one year of working with horses and horseback riding experience
• One season of gardening or livestock-related experience helpful, but not required
• Clear verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and part of a team
• Organizational skills and attention to detail
• Prior experience working with, or a willingness to learn how to operate farm equipment

The Values You Bring to Our Community 

• Passion for farming’s educational benefits and character enhancement of children 
• A strong work ethic, timeliness, and an eye for detail and efficiency
• An upbeat attitude and ability to find the joy in farmwork, alongside a sense of humor
• Deep appreciation for environmental stewardship and how healthy agricultural practices can positively impact the world
• A collaborative mindset that leads to impactful experiential learning experiences
• Curiosity and a desire to continuously learn
• Warmth, grace, kindness, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone
• Independence and ability to be a self-starter
• A team-oriented attitude and approach to work
• Willingness to step outside of your comfort zone, and find value in hard work
• Proactive and forward thinking, both in daily farm tasks and your own education. 

The Benefits of Working Here

In addition to a monthly stipend of $1,800 a month, you will enjoy:

• On-campus housing
• Health insurance 
• Personal time off
• Vegetables and food from the farm when in season
• Seasonally sourced daily meals
• On-campus access to miles of walking/hiking/skiing trails, rock climbing crag, and ski hill
• Access to on-campus woodshop and ceramics studio

How to Apply

To apply, please send your resume, three references, and written responses to the following questions to [email protected]. As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a nationwide criminal background check, in addition to providing a valid driver’s license and clean driving record. 

1. Tell us about yourself; your interests, your longer term plans, why you want to work on an educational farm
2. What do you hope to learn during this fellowship?
3. What is your previous work experience on a farm or in a school?
4. What is your learning style?

Please note: This position is intended for individuals age 21 and up. Given the role’s physical demands, you should be able to lift 55 lbs, kneel for long periods, and be comfortable with repetitive physical tasks and long days spent doing physical work outside in a range of seasonal conditions and temperatures from -30F to 95F. Night and weekend work will be required.

Our Mission and Values
North Country School and Camp Treetops strives to create a community that gives children the self-confidence, knowledge, skills, and values to lead satisfying and productive lives while contributing to their world.

We are a values-driven community and seek to have a positive impact the world around us by living out our core values on and off campus:

• Cultivate Community: We believe in the inherent value and contributions of every person, and in fostering connections to build and nurture a strong, inclusive community.
• Walk a Mile: We believe that understanding and honoring every person’s unique worldview, experiences, and challenges is at the root of empathy and compassion.
• Dig Deep, Keep Growing: We believe that by setting ambitious goals, working hard, and persevering, we build strength and character and set a course for lives of growth, purpose, and fulfillment.
• Stay Curious: We believe in the power of creativity and wonder. We believe that curiosity about ourselves, other people, and the world around us leads to growth, innovation, and sometimes unconventional ideas.
• Our Planet, Our Job: We believe in individual and collective responsibility for our planet, and in leading by example as a community that works to respect, protect, and restore the natural world.

Today’s Date:  2/17/2025

Position Start Date:  Late April 

Pay Rate:  Commensurate with experience

For consideration, please email resume and cover letter to contact below.

Job Description:

Gardening assistant for a private residence with extensive perennial garden beds, a formal kitchen garden and substantial edible landscaping crops.  We are in search of a fine gardener/ landscaping assistant to aid the property caretaker in the maintenance of these areas.  The primary role of this position is as a gardener, however, the assistant may be asked to perform occasional property management and farming tasks.  In addition to the primary residence, the gardening assistant will help in the care and maintenance of the landscape at a seasonal lakefront property.  This is a part-time, seasonal position.  The duration of the position is weather dependent, but anticipated to be late April-early November.  This position is for 15-20 hours per week, however, additional hours are available doing trail maintenance or forestry work for the right candidate.  

Job Responsibilities:

• Preparing gardens for planting, including soil preparation, raking, composting and mulching.
• Installing new plantings.
• Helping to plant annual container gardens. 
• Assisting with weeding, deadheading and pruning garden beds.
• Watering newly established plants and kitchen garden.
• Harvesting fruit and vegetable crops as needed. 
• Participating in the upkeep and maintenance of the main property at Lilac Ridge along with the lakefront property.  This could include leaf blowing, weed-wacking, barn clean up, fence repair.  
• Assisting with bringing in and stacking hay.
• Performing trail maintenance.  
• Helping with fall clean up of both properties, including leaf pick up, putting away outdoor furniture and winterizing the properties. 
• Cutting back herbaceous perennials in the fall. 

Skills and Qualifications:

• A strong interest in gardening.  A minimum of 1 year of experience.
• Basic plant and weed ID and basic gardening skills.  
• A desire to perform physical work outside, even in adverse conditions.
• Ability to stand, bend, stoop, squat for long periods and ability to lift up to 50lbs.
• Must be a quick learner and able to work well both independently and with a team. 

Contact:  Tacy Lincoln

Email:  [email protected]

Hello,

We are searching for 5-10 acres of land to purchase in Vermont.  The intent is to build a single story house and begin developing a small scale vegetable/herb/flower farming operation. Experienced grower who plans to focus on building soil health , ecosystem integrity, biological diversity and growing for the benefit of a community.  Ideally 3-5 acres of land already cleared and reasonably flat.  Thank you in advance, please reach out if you have any leads.