AMBER WAVES FARM

Amber Waves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to provide rich educational opportunities in agriculture for eaters of all ages. The work we do is driven by our core values of stewardship, sustainability, community, and exploration.

We pride ourselves in creating a fun, fast-paced work environment where we champion good ideas, hard work, common sense and cooperation. The nature of the work is both challenging and rewarding, as is the considerable time we spend interacting with the public both on and off the farm. Our dynamic team consists not only of farmers but also educators, cooks, public hosts, customer service associates, and many young people working their very first jobs. Perks of working at Amber Waves that every employee enjoys include: a complimentary Amber Waves membership, 25% staff discount the retail market, access to classes/events, among many others! As we hire and recruit staff, we look forward to providing opportunities for and developing employees who will grow with us into the future. We look forward to reading your application.
HOW TO APPLY

Please send us an email including your resume, cover letter and three references (please include an e-mail and phone number if possible and their relation to you) to Jobs@AmberWavesFarm.org. In the subject line of the email please state the position you are applying for. Applicants must apply on their own behalf, we don’t accept applications submitted by parents or guardians.

New Hire Requirements

Available to attend employee orientation in-person. New hire orientation will include hands-on training for barista station, cashiering, stocking shelves, washing and packing produce, plus an overview of our company perks, policies, and expectations.

New hires must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Amber Waves is not able to sponsor foreign working visas.

Applicants under the age of 18 must be able to provide copies of working papers and maintain good academic standing in order to be eligible for employment. All scheduled shifts for minors will be in compliance with local labor laws.

We’re a farm: All positions require physical demands including: standing/walking for long periods of time over uneven surfaces; exposure to heat, cold, or wet environments, working in and outdoors with exposure to the elements, repetitive motion such as lifting, kneeling, or bending; and carrying up to 50lbs at a time, with or without assistance.

Amber Waves embraces diverse skills, perspectives, and ideas. We encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ candidates, and people from other underrepresented groups to apply.

Farm Apprentice

All of our apprenticeship positions with housing provided have been filled for the 2024 season.

If you have your own housing and wish to apply, please follow the instructions above.

We will begin accepting applicants for the 2025 season in October – check back then!

Season Overview

Amber Waves Farm apprentices will spend a season (early spring through late fall) at the farm learning how to grow food organically and sustainably by working hands-on in all areas of the farm’s activities. Apprentices will coordinate with farm managers about day-to-day farm operations, from field work to involvement in our retail market. In the field, apprentices will work towards mastering technical skills associated with plant propagation in the greenhouse, crop successions and rotations and soil health, harvesting and post-harvest handling, and tractor work.

In addition to field work, apprentices are actively involved in community outreach and education by preparing for weekly on-farm CSA pick up, representing the farm in our on-site retail market, and distributing produce to local restaurants and food pantries. If desired, there is also the opportunity for apprentices to have greater involvement with school field trips, community workshops, and other public on-farm events. The intensive production of vegetables requires considerable hand-labor (weeding, harvesting, trellising, etc.), which is accompanied by mechanized (tractor) tillage, cultivation, and preparation of beds. The field work will be very physically demanding, and will require that apprentices are motivated and have a good attitude, can tolerate working in inclement weather, and able to lift at least 50-lbs at a time.

Job Description:

Amber Waves Farm is a mixed vegetable farm on the easternmost end of Long Island. The farm owns and leases a total of 35 acres on three fields, raising 20 acres of vegetables, 5 acres of grains, and a small flock of laying hens. The farm’s production serves a 275+ member CSA and on-site retail farm market and kitchen, a nearby weekly farmers market, and local restaurant wholesale accounts. Apprentices will coordinate with farm managers about day-to-day farm operations, from field work to involvement in our retail market.

Skills & Responsibilities:

In the field, apprentices will work towards mastering technical skills associated with plant propagation in the greenhouse, crop successions and rotations and soil health, harvesting and post-harvest handling, and tractor work.

The intensive production of vegetables requires considerable hand-labor (weeding, harvesting, trellising, etc.), which is accompanied by mechanized (tractor) tillage, cultivation, and preparation of beds.

The field work will be very physically demanding, and will require that apprentices are motivated and have a good attitude, can tolerate working in inclement weather, and be able to lift at least 50-lbs at a time.

In addition to field work, apprentices are actively involved in community outreach and education by preparing for weekly on-farm CSA pick up

Apprentices also represent the farm in our on-site retail market, and distribute produce to local restaurants and food pantries.

Opportunity for apprentices involvement with school field trips, community workshops, and other public on-farm events

Educational Enrichment:

There is a tremendous amount to be learned in a first season at Amber Waves Farm, where hands-on fieldwork dominates the workday and daily repetition of critically important tasks are what drive an apprentice’s holistic understanding of the farm operation. To supplement fieldwork, we provide an apprenticeship curriculum and handbook that outlines weekly educational topics throughout the season. We begin with topics associated with getting the season started: including pruning, mulching, plant propagation, seedling care, and equipment and safety overview. As the season progresses, topics include plant and soil health in the field, irrigation, harvest, post-harvest handling, marketing produce successfully, and finally whole-farm planning, budgets, and a season review. Apprentices will explore topics with farm managers during a weekly meeting, group field walk, and recommended reading assignments.

The farm also participates in the local CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) Program and throughout the season apprentices have the opportunity to attend workshops and lectures led by other farmers, tour neighboring farms and food operations, participate in work exchanges and attendance at a farming conference. Upon completion of the farming season, the aim is for each apprentice to have the foundational understanding and skill set necessary to move on to more advanced work in agriculture or food policy elsewhere, or to remain at Amber Waves Farm for additional seasons in a more advanced role at the farm as many past apprentices have done. In 12 years of this apprenticeship more than 50 new young farmers have completed the program. Most are actively farming, at Amber Waves or elsewhere, or involved with agriculture across the United States and abroad.

Skills & Qualifications:

Strong physical and mental work ethic, sense of pace and self-awareness

Genuine interest in agricultural production, with the intention to continue a career in food or agriculture post-apprenticeship

Desire to learn and improve skill set and knowledge base

Strong organizational and time management skills

Ability and willingness to collaborate and work well with (and sometimes manage) others, including coworkers and the public

Prior agricultural experience is not required, although any work or study in the field of food or agriculture is a desirable attribute to apprenticeship applicants

Work Schedule & Compensation:

Position Duration: April – November

Full-time (40-50 hours/week); one guaranteed day off/week

$17/hour; covers paid learning/instruction time on-farm

Farm housing available for rent (not on-farm – within walking/biking distance)