2025 Farm Intern – Troon Vineyard & Farm

2025 Farm Intern

Job Description:

Troon Vineyard is a Demeter Biodynamic® Certified and Regenerative Organic Certified™️ farm in Oregon’s Applegate Valley. We are dedicated to creating a diverse permaculture and practicing Biodynamics® in our quest to put back more than we take. We “Farm like the world depends on it”, which is the slogan of the Regenerative Organic Alliance and reflects our vision for our farm, our wines, and our planet.

We are located on the Kubli Bench, high above the Applegate River in the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon. Troon Vineyard is a biodiverse farm of almost 100 acres that includes cider apples, a permaculture-style food forest, vegetable and herb gardens, re-wilded honey bees, sheep, chickens, dogs, wildlife, humans and, of course, grapevines.

Our ideal candidate is an early-career farmer who is passionate about learning Biodynamic and regenerative farming principles and gaining foundational skills through practice. Your main focus will be to assist the garden manager in the dynamic day-to-day management of two acres of recently established vegetable and herb gardens, food forest, greenhouse/nursery, and our post-harvest processing station. Additionally, you will work with the livestock, apple orchard, compost, native habitat and education garden, amongst many other seasonal tasks. The farm interns will report to the director of agriculture, and will work closely with the garden manager and property manager.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage crops from seed saving and sowing, to bed preparation, transplanting, trellising, irrigation, weeding, fertilization, pruning, thinning, dead-heading, pest control, harvest and processing/packing.
• Help manage our on-site farm stand by stocking fresh produce and products, washing eggs, cleaning, and maintaining the walk-in fridge.
• Safely operate electric- and gas-powered tools, and hand tools.
• Install, repair and manage both drip and sprinkler irrigation.
• Use tarps for solarization, and row covers and bird netting for crop protection against frost, pests, and predation.
• Brew and apply compost teas, herbal extracts, fertilizers, and Biodynamic preparations.
• Assist with weekly livestock grazing rotations by moving portable electric fencing.
• Build and turn large-scale, windrow-style compost piles.
• Orchard work, including pruning, training, mulching, weeding, pest and disease control, and harvest.
• Maintain production records by contributing daily to the Farm Team Log.
• Engage politely and enthusiastically with our winery guests, VIPs, industry professionals, and media/journalists.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Prior experience working in a physically demanding job.
• Prior farming experience with farming vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, compost, and/or livestock (preferred).
• Must be able to lift, push, and pull 50 lbs.
• Must be able to sit, bend, crawl, kneel, and reach.
• Must be able to climb ladders and stairs.
• Must be able to navigate and traverse uneven terrain in adverse weather.
• Familiar with Google Workspace (e.g. Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets). We use these products daily to communicate and keep records.

Skills & Attributes:

• Demonstrate a willingness to learn, as well as receive direction and feedback.
• Independently motivated, with a strong work ethic.
• Efficient and detail-oriented.
• Able to work in a physically demanding environment, modeling endurance and a positive, upbeat attitude.
• Good communication skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Able to work well with diverse groups of people and skill sets.

Schedule:

The internship will last from March-September 2025, with exact start and end dates TBD.

Your schedule will be five days on, two days off, with the days of the week to be determined. You may be asked to work weekends to provide coverage for animal husbandry and irrigation as the season progresses and the needs of the farm evolve, but you will always be provided two consecutive days off.

Compensation:

Pay rate: $15/hour.

Lodging on-farm will be provided at no cost. You will have a bedroom with access to shared bathrooms, kitchen, workspace, and common area.

Employee discount.

How to Apply:

Please submit your cover letter and resume by email to Garett Long, Director of Agriculture (Garett@troonvineyard.com).

Include contact information for up to three professional references (preferred).

If interested, we will contact you to set up an interview.

Troon Vineyard is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to an environment of diversity, inclusion and mutual respect. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or ancestry, disability, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

Farm Intern 2025 Job Description