Mission
The Carleton Farm, a student-run 1.5 acres organic farm, strives to grow food in sustainable and experimental ways. It boasts drip irrigation and a hoop house, among other innovations. The produce is sold to our campus dining halls and the profits pay summer farm interns. The project is housed in the Sustainability Office and in partnership with Bon Appétit, the Biology Department, Grounds, the Arb, Center for Community and Civic Engagement, and the Environmental Studies Department.
The mission of Carleton Farm is to provide educational and internship opportunities for students while cultivating organic produce. The farm supports our campus community by supplying fresh produce to dining halls and fostering collaboration between our office in Sustainability and many others supporting local food systems and sustainable agricultures. This includes: Bon Appétit, Environmental Studies, Geology, Biology, Grounds, the Arboretum, the Center for Community and Civic Engagement, and connecting with local food and agricultural partners.
Farm Internship
The Carleton Student Farm Internship provides a unique opportunity to learn about sustainable farming practices by managing an organic farm on your own.
As a farm intern, you must be prepared to contribute a lot of time and energy before, during, and after the growing season. Interns will also attend the yearly MOSES Conference (Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service). This is the largest event about organic and sustainable farming in the U.S. and it brings together over 3400 farmers.
The summer internship is a paid 40 hour/week position for 11 weeks, and a few hours each term during the academic year. Winter and Spring Term, involves attending meetings, mapping out the farm, ordering seeds, and starting to plant. A biology faculty advisor and the Sustainability Program Coordinator will guide you through this process. During the summer, your time will be spent planting, weeding, harvesting, and selling produce to Bon Appétit.
Fall Term responsibilities include harvesting, organizing volunteer days, preparing the land for winter, and getting ready to hire and train next year’s interns. This internship requires an immense amount of responsibility and commitment. It is perfect for anyone looking to challenge themselves and to learn about farming, business management, education, and self-discipline. Did we mention it is very fun? Because it is SO fun and you get to eat lots of yummy veggies!
There are very few internships where you are given an acre of land and YOU are the engine behind the operation. Applications for the coming harvest season are available at the end of Fall term, hiring happens at the beginning of Winter term.
Academics
The farm has also been a home for class activities, research, campus and community outreach. Please reach out to the Sustainability Office if you have interest in developing ideas for education, partnering, and outreach with the farm or in the related campus and local food and agricultural systems.
Support
An endowed fund in support of the farm was started by Geology Department Emeritus Professor Mary Savina ’72 in 2022. With strong student and community interest and our rural setting the farm has an important future to student education and practical experiences. The Environmental Studies Program also contributes summer internship funding in support of up to 2 students that are majoring in Environmental Studies.
Questions? Interested in Collaboration?
Please contact the Farm Manager, Amanda Sames.