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Internship on Diversified Farm – The Benson Place

 

Internship on Diversified Farm – The Benson Place

Última actualización: 7 de mayo de 2026 a las 19:38 MST

Contact information
Dirección de la granja:
PO Box 36
182 Flagg Hill Road
Heath, Massachusetts, 01346

Primary Contact: Meredith Wecker
Primary Phone:
    Type: Inicio
    Number: 413-337-5340
    Email: info@bensonplace.org

Website: https://bensonplace.org

Internship information
General Farm Description: The Benson Place, a 60 acre certified organic farm growing primarily low-bush blueberries, is seeking one more apprentice for the 2026 season.  We are located in the somewhat remote and beautiful hills of Heath, MA.  We manage the blueberry fields principally by hand and we focus on plant nutrient density to maximize crop health and boost immunity towards plant diseases and insects.  In order to further support the blueberry crop as well as the health of the ecosystem, we are gradually planting out 10% of our acreage in pollinator habitat designed for native bees. In addition to the blueberries, which are the mainstay of the farm, we run a diverse, integrated farm and homestead with a herd of goats, a large minimally-hand tilled vegetable garden, meat chickens, and a diversity of other fruits.  We are also beginning to plant out a 6-acre chestnut  and elderberry silvopasture.  

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Fecha de inicio de las prácticas: 1 de abril
Fin de las prácticas: 1-Nov
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: none
Minimum Length of Stay: Seven months

Internship Details:

Apprentices will participate in and gain skills in the following areas:

  • Goats- milking, herding to pasture, pasture management, general maintenance, hoof  trimming, basic cheese making, harvesting and processing
  • Poultry- general maintenance, pasturing/fence moving, chick rearing, harvesting and processing
  • Fruit and Nut Tree and shrub- establishment, maintenance, and harvesting, understory plantings
  • Firewood Harvesting and Processing/Tree Felling. Basic chainsaw use.
  • Vegetable Gardening-  no-till organic methods, fertility management, pest and disease management, raised-bed establishment and maintenance, greenhouse management, transplanting, cover cropping, harvesting and storage, compost making
  • Blueberry- field maintenance, nutrient dense fertility management, harvesting and processing
  • Tractor Use- mowing, spreading amendments, moving logs and things around the farm
  • Building and repair projects as they arise
  • Basic permaculture design
  • Planting for pollinators- design principles

 

The apprenticeship entails an average of 46 hours (depending on weekend chore duty) of work per week with a stipend of $1650/month in addition to meals and lodging.  The apprenticeship begins April 1st with an end date of November  1st.

 


Educational Opportunities: We visit other farms in the area and have educational video nights.

Skills Desired: Enthusiasm to learn about sustainable agriculture. Physical stamina.

Meals: Sí

Stipend: $1650 per month

Housing: Sí

Preferred method of Contact: email