Agricultural Apprentice Job Listing Summer 2015

Sustainable Nantucket is seeking apprentices to participate in our Agricultural Apprenticeship

program on Nantucket Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. Successful candidates will be
paired with an island grower, or with the Farm to School Program, based on the interests and
skill set of the apprentice. Apprentices will experience and participate in many aspects of smallscale farming in our sensitive island environment, from greenhouse cultivation to field planting
& harvest to farm stand sales. Weekly educational apprentice meetings will be held and will
include readings, discussion, field visits and hands-on application. They will participate in the
Sustainable Nantucket Farmers & Artisans Market on behalf of the farms, and possibly in
restaurant delivery. Apprentices will also meet once a week as a group for 2 hours on an
educational project, including readings, discussion, field visits and hands-on application.
Duration of Internship:
June 1 October 10, 2015
Application Deadline:
March 31, 2015
Minimum Qualifications:
Strong interest in sustainable agriculture and the practical aspects /business of farming.
Gardening / farming experience and retail sales experience not required but helpful.
Wage, Salary, Benefits Description:
Wages range from $9-$10 per hour. Sustainable Nantucket will help facilitate the search for
island housing. Interns must arrive on-island by June 1st and be able to remain until midOctober.
Application Requirements (resume, questionnaire, and 3 work or academic-related references):
Resume and questionnaire sent to dennie@sustainablenantucket.org.
Application process: If you are interested in applying for an apprenticeship, the first step is to
answer the questions below and send us the responses along with a current resume and 3
references. Based on your responses, we may contact you to set up an interview. The more
information you provide, the better. This will help us determine if you would be a good fit for
Sustainable Nantucket and Nantuckets farms.
SUSTAINABLE NANTUCKET
COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
2015 Agricultural Apprenticeship Initiative
Questionnaire

1. Where did you see our posting?

2. Please explain concisely why you would like to be an Agricultural

Apprentice on Nantucket.
3. Which of your skills, strengths or abilities do you feel would
particularly help you contribute to the work at a farm on Nantucket?
4. What would you like to learn or experience while working as an
Agricultural Apprentice on Nantucket?
5. Farming involves hard work, stamina and commitment. How do you
see yourself contributing to the overall success of the farms work?
Please provide examples of when these same qualities have been
expected of you.
6. Please describe in detail any farm experience you have.
7. Please describe in detail your interest in and any experience with
sustainable agriculture.
8. What is the exact time-frame (start date to end date) in which you are
available to work?
9. What is your connection with Nantucket Island and have you ever
spent any time here?
10.

What size farm are you interested in working at?

11.

Is a starting stipend of $1080/month for 30 hour weeks or

$1440/month for 40 hour weeks financially feasible for you? (Please

remember that housing is not provided / included with the
apprenticeship.)
12.

How do you feel about our work schedule a full time job of 30

to 40 hours/week-- working mostly in the mornings and evenings, so

that you have afternoons and perhaps one day off in which to hold
another paying job? Do you have experience with a schedule like this?
If so, please describe the context.
13.

How would you describe your communication skills?

14.

How would you describe your interest/ability to be a public face

of the farm (attending the Sustainable Nantucket Farmers & Artisans

Market, assisting customers at the farm)?
15.

Do you have a current drivers license and can you drive a

standard transmission?
16.

What specifically interests you in working on a farm? And why?

details are helpful.

17.

Please list anything else you think might be helpful in describing

yourself such as personal interests, etc.

18.

How do you feel about an educational component to the

apprenticeship which requires weekly readings, meetings and a group

project?
19.

Please describe any experience you have with small machine

maintenance and repair.

20.

Please describe any general building/maintenance/construction

experience you have.

21.

Farming can be repetitive and detail-oriented. How do you feel

about receiving instructions and following directions during work?