Woofing & Employment

All applicants should be self-motivating, reliable and not afraid of hard work. Applicants should enjoy the outdoors and understand they may occasionally have to work in inclement weather. There are times that the work can be physically demanding. Applicants should have the ability to lift 50 pounds and have fun on the job.

Positions at Silverbrook Farm:

Farming Apprentice - Sustainable Agriculture

Below is a detailed description of our 7 to 8 month apprentice program.

WWOOF - Volunteering on our farm (Short Term)

We have positions available in June and July. Housing is a room in our home. Please contact us for more information.

Farmers' Market Associate

(June through November, 25-35 hours per week.)

This job requires a lot of interaction with the public. You will be setting up the tents, preparing the displays and making sales to our customers. You will be the face of Silverbrook Farm.

Field Worker / Farm Assistant

(April, May or June through August, September or October, 30 to 40 hours per week.)

Applicant will help with all aspects of farming: planting, cultivating, harvesting, running errands and assisting with the CSA's and farmers market preparation. Previous farm experience preferred, but not required.

It is required that all applicants have a valid drivers license and the ability to work and socialize well on a team!

The Silverbrook Apprentice Program

We have a beautiful farm on the south coast of Massachusetts surrounded by history. Our 50 acres has been farmed since 1680, and the large, comfortable farm house was built in 1718, with a sunny kitchen added in 2005. Located in a thriving college town, we are 5 minutes to the ocean, 50 miles to Boston, and 25 miles to both Cape Cod and Providence, RI.

We cultivate a variety of fruits and vegetables that are sustainably grown, including almost anything that you would buy at a farmers market. We host a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) at our farm, and have 397 members. We attend 14 farmers markets each week, many on Cape Cod. We proudly partner with a community health center in a cutting edge inner city market/CSA in an urban Boston neighborhood that would not usually have access to good quality, fresh food. We also produce 9800 jars of jam a year in our kitchen using locally produced fruit.

Andy Pollock holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maine and has used his knowledge and experience to create new local markets. He has also collaborated in unique ways with area farms and organizations to increase public awareness of the importance of locally grown and sustainable agriculture in Massachusetts & Rhode Island.

Apprentices will learn how Silverbrook Farm has fostered partnerships with health facilities, universities, and high schools. They will also learn how Andy has involved the surrounding community in farm life and understanding where their food comes from and where it should not come from.

Apprentices will actively participate in the full year farm cycle from planning and implementation to harvesting, safely controlling pests and preparing fields for winter. They will be exposed to the science, economics and philosophy of sustainable farming as well as the politics and process of starting and managing a farmers market or CSA. We also offer learning opportunities with other local farms, cheese producers and non-profit agricultural support organizations.

Work can be physically demanding at times and may include planting, cultivating, irrigating, mulching, weeding, harvesting, helping with farmers markets and the CSA, feeding our free range hens, occasional light building maintenance and petting our dog Chloe. The opportunity to learn beekeeping is also available.

Applicants must be capable of lifting 50 pounds ! No extra time off is available in June or July as we are simultaneously harvesting and planting. In most cases 2 week’s notice is needed for extra time off. Wir sprechen Deutsch.

We provide knowledge, experience, room and board in exchange for the required 35 hour work week. Additional hours may be asked of you but will be compensated at the rate of $9.00 per hour commencing after the 2nd week of the apprenticeship.

Lodging is in our home with your own bedroom. We prefer a commitment for the entire growing season, March through November but may make exceptions. (Specific dates in those months are negotiable.) Some days can be long.

Food is provided. Apprentices are required to plan and cook at least one evening meal each week (With the assistance of the host and other volunteers and apprentices if needed.) and to help with household chores! A washing machine and clothesline are available for your use free of charge. The house has Wi-Fi for your use. (No computer is available for your use!)

No children or pets and no smoking in the house. A valid drivers license is required, and your own transportation would be helpful since there is no bus service close to our farm.

The application process includes:

1. Your email contact which will be followed up by our email or a telephone call.

2. Letter of intent to include:

Why you want this experience, and what you hope to learn.

What strengths you can bring to the farm.

3. A resume’ and two references with emails or phone numbers.

4. Proposed dates for interview visit.

5. A two day working farm visit is required before final acceptance.

We are seeking energetic, hard working folks with a positive attitude that can work and socialize well on a team! We work hard, but take time to play and have fun as well! We want your experience at Silverbrook Farm to be fun, educational and rewarding.