CSA/Food Access Apprentice – Sylvester Manor

Last Updated On: May 7th, 2026 at 07:38PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
80 North Ferry Road
PO Box 2029
Shelter Island, New York, 11964

Primary Contact: Arielle Gardner
Secondary Contact: Tracy McCarthy

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 6319056981
    Email: agardner@sylvestermanor.org

Secondary Phone
    Type: '-----
    Number: 2039841247
    Email: tmccarthy@sylvestermanor.org

    Email: tmccarthy@sylvestermanor.org

Website: https://www.sylvestermanor.org

Internship information

General Farm Description: Our farm operation currently consists of 7+ acres of vegetables, small fruit and a cut flower program. The produce from our farm feeds over 100 CSA families, stocks our farmstand, and is donated to local food pantries. We raise pastured laying hens and pigs in marginal woodlands and rotate them through our growing fields. We have 40 runner ducks that graze our vegetable fields for soil fertility and egg production. We also have a unique on-farm, composting system(s), including a townwide food scraps diversion collection system

CRAFT Member Farm? Yes

Internship Starts: March/April 2025
Internship Ends: Nov-25
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: 28-Feb-25
Minimum Length of Stay: 7 months

Internship Details:

Are you interested in engaging with the local community that supports our farm directly? Do you have a passion for access to healthy food for all, at all income brackets? We’re hiring a CSA/ Food Access Farm Apprentice for the 2025 season. We are seeking hardworking, high-energy, positive individuals who are motivated by a career in agriculture. This is a great position for someone who likes to challenge themselves and keep a fast pace, all while having fun growing vegetables, flowers and fruit, and raising livestock! 

We encourage both seasoned farmers and first time farmers to apply. The farm’s diverse makeup allows for both experienced and new farmers alike to thrive, and offers many different hands-on learning opportunities.

CSA/Food Access Farm Apprentice Primary Responsibilities: 

• Under the direction of the Farm Manager, helps to organize the flow of CSA harvest from field to post harvest care and organization
• Interacts directly with CSA community members every Saturday at our on-farm pick up
• Tracks CSA member weekly sign in and assists with weekly CSA newsletter (content, recipes, etc.)
• Manages excess produce after CSA pick ups are complete; shares that remain are donated to our Food Access Program to those in need on the Eastern End of LI
• Coordinates with local food pantries to ensure the maximum amount of produce is donated to those in need
• Aids in tracking and logging donated produce, meat and eggs 
• Ability to speak conversational Spanish is advantageous
• This position will also assist in data recording for our compost/town-wide food scraps diversion program

Additionally, this role will take part in all aspects of our small scale farming program. As an Apprentice you’ll learn and/or advance your skills in seeding, transplanting, harvest techniques, wash & pack, weed management techniques, irrigation set up, compost production, understanding the flow of field prep and planting, and so much more! In addition, you’ll spend time with our livestock, caring for our laying hens, ducks and pigs.

Strong teamwork and communication skills, patience, flexibility, and positivity are required. Farm work is extremely physically demanding, and a willingness and ability to work outdoors in all types of weather — heat, rain, sun, wind, and cold — is also a requirement. 

Shelter Island is a beautiful place accessible only by ferry via both Sag Harbor and Greenport on the East End of Long Island.  Living on Shelter Island you’ll have access to bay and ocean beaches, nature preserves, fishing, sailing/boating, paddle boarding, biking, hiking, and so much more amongst a vibrant community.

Farm Apprentices start in March/April and work through November (exact end date to be determined by the needs of the farm). We are an ever-evolving Farm and if the fit is right, there are opportunities to grow into year round positions and/or part-time winter work.

This position is about 40-48 hours, 5-6 days/week, depending on the changing needs of the farm and time of year. Weekend responsibilities are shared among the farm crew.

 

Educational Opportunities: On farm education with monthly themes and weekly topics Professional development/education stipend of $200

Skills Desired: Strong teamwork and communication skills, patience, flexibility, and positivity are required. Farm work is extremely physically demanding, and a willingness and ability to work outdoors in all types of weather — heat, rain, sun, wind, and cold — is also a requirement. We are seeking hardworking, high-energy, positive individuals who are motivated by a career in agriculture. This is a great position for someone who likes to challenge themselves and keep a fast pace, all while having fun growing vegetables, flowers and fruit, and raising livestock!  We encourage both seasoned farmers and first time farmers to apply. The farm's diverse makeup allows for both experienced and new farmers alike to thrive, and offers many different hands-on learning opportunities.

Meals: No, but you will receive free vegetables, fruit and eggs from the farm and 20% off all Farmstand products!

Stipend: Starting $16.50/hour (more based on experience) 5 Paid Days Off (to be used within the season outside of the months of July/August/September) Professional workwear stipend of $200 Free vegetables, fruit and eggs from the farm and 20% off all Farmstand products

Housing: Free shared housing is provided: private bedroom and bathroom, communal laundry, kitchen and living room. At this time we cannot accommodate pets or significant others in employee housing.

Preferred method of Contact: email