Live-in Farmhand@ChelenzoFarms

Last Updated On: May 7th, 2026 at 07:37PM MST

Contact information

Dirección de la granja:
36 Horny Toad Road
Hacienda Dominguez
Cerrillos, New Mexico, 87010

Primary Contact: Lorenzo Dominguez
Secondary Contact: Chelsea Hollander

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 6463206553
    Email: lorenzo@chelenzofarms.com

Secondary Phone
    Type: '-----
    Number: 845-490-9108
    Email: chelsea@chelenzofarms.com

    Email: chelsea@chelenzofarms.com

Website: https://www.chelenzofarms.com

Website: https://www.haciendadominguez.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: ABOUT CHELENZO FARMS At Chelenzo Farms we have three operating pillars: research, education, and community. Our efforts focus on promoting regenerative agriculture by applying permaculture, soil health, agroecology and agroforestry principles, as well as innovative and indigenous practices to achieve our goals. Our organic research farm serves to educate the community and offer training in the areas of permaculture farming, land conservation, indigenous agricultural and sustainability practices, and the realm of sciences that look to understand the relationship (past, current and future) that humans have with nature and the land. We also aspire to contribute to knowledge about agricultural practices and drought-resistant crop cultivation that will contribute to improved soil health in an arid environment, amidst a 23-year megadrought in the U.S. Southwest. Our unique contribution in this area includes our pioneering efforts to introduce and cultivate agave and other succulents to northern New Mexico. Educational opportunities are offered through our workshops that are open to the public and promoted with our work with multiple partners, as well as our work with local schools, as well as via our hosting of farm interns through the Worldwide Opportunities in Organic Farming (WWOOF) program. Our community work focuses on resolving food insecurity issues, assisting underserved farmers, particularly Mexican, indigenous and other immigrant farm workers through programs and partnerships that teach them regenerative agriculture, as well as increase awareness among the general public about their historical, cultural and social contributions here in New Mexico. For more information check out our website at www.chelenzofarms.com

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Fecha de inicio de las prácticas: April, 2024
Fin de las prácticas: 30-Jun-25
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: N/A
Minimum Length of Stay: Until June 31, 2024 (4 months)

Internship Details:

OVERALL DUTIES, LIVING SPACE & COMPENSATION
We are looking for a live-in hacienda & farmhand who would work 25 hours a week executing basic equipment and infrastructure maintenance and animal care tasks, along with other work needed at the farm and hacienda as needed. The position runs 15 months from April 2024 until June 2025.

Compensation for the first three months (April-June) would include full room and board, including meals and a negotiable weekly stipend dependent on performance and experience. The living space is a room in a self-sustainable communal space with a shared full-kitchen that serves as the hub of our operations. Utilities include electricity run by solar power, catchment water for the sinks and shower, heat from a wood stove, WiFi, and a compost toilet.

Beginning July 1, 2024, after satisfactory job performance, you would receive $12 an hour from July 1, 2024 until June 31, 2025 pending a grant approval.
A four week trial period will be implemented to help us ensure it’s a good fit.

SCHEDULE
– April, Monday-Friday, 8 AM-1 PM
– May thru September: Monday-Friday, 7 AM-12 PM
– October thru March: Monday-Friday, 8 AM-1 PM
– Rotating weekend watering/chore schedule on Saturdays/Sundays, approximately one weekend/month per farm team member.

FARM TEAM AMENITIES
– 350 acres of hiking/running trails, next to 3,000 BLM acres
– Private swim pond with waterfall
– Sand volleyball court
– Fresh organic vegetables, eggs and goat milk (and goat milk products: cheese, yogurt and ice cream!)
– You’re surrounded by a magnificent landscape and you’ll witness amazing sunrises and sunsets every day.
– 1 mile from the town of Cerrillos; 5 miles from Madrid; 19 miles from the Santa Fe City limit.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
– Serve as primary farm animal caretaker of goats, chickens (both meat birds and egg layers) and dogs. Duties range from providing daily feed and water and goat milking, to pen cleaning, bedding changes and compost collection.
– Assist with work in garden and greenhouse maintenance and management including watering, seeding, propagation, and soil mixing, delegating such tasks when appropriate at our 2000 square foot garden space and 33’ geodesic Grow Dome greenhouse.
– Participate as part of the building crew for prospective expansion of our gardens to include sunken and high tunnel greenhouses.
– Assist with the weekly watering and maintenance of one-acre of native plants, agave and other succulents.

OTHER DUTIES
The following duties are common to all farm team staff:

– Execute an array of regularly scheduled maintenance responsibilities on the property including:
-Oil and tire checks of vehicles and cleaning of facilities, tools and equipment.
– Casita cleaning, pond and hot tub maintenance, and weeding of grounds
– Seasonal filter and gutter cleaning.
– Ensure tasks are properly finished, including all tools/materials being properly stored.
– Work directly with farm management team, other staff, and crew members to complete farm and production tasks including, but not limited to hand weeding, cultivating, bed and field prep, planting, irrigation, harvesting, and general farm maintenance.
– Irrigation set-up and maintenance.
– Help with basic construction projects.
– Installation and maintenance of irrigation systems
– Help with the continual land conservation work with the building and maintenance of rainwater harvesting earthworks throughout the property that include terraces, berms, rainwater distribution/catchment infrastructure.
– Trail and fence creation and maintenance.
– Assistance planning, setting up, and facilitating educational workshops to-be held once a month, normally on a weekend.
– Greet volunteers and workshop participants, facilitate sign-in, and assign gloves, tools, and tasks as assigned.
– Work alongside volunteers and/or interns on assigned tasks, providing instruction as needed to ensure tasks are completed safely and established procedures are followed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
– Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds on a regular basis.
– Must be able to conduct hard manual labor for at least 2 hours at a time.
– Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
– Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, climb, crawl, reach, push, pull, or walk for various lengths of time throughout the day.
– Ability to utilize computer equipment to complete daily work responsibilities.
– Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions for prolonged periods of time.
– Ability to safely use a variety of tools and equipment related to job duties.
– Must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
– Minimum of 2 years of farming or related experience.
– Must have a valid driver’s license.
– Friendly, outgoing, and responsive to the customer needs
– Proven ability to learn and retain information quickly
– Ability to clearly and patiently provide instruction to farm interns as needed
– Must be able to work as part of a team, as well as independently on a self-directed basis
– Strong verbal and written communication skills
– Social media savvy with willingness to take photos and regularly share to our farm’s Facebook and Instagram accounts preferred, but not necessary.
– Comfortable using a computer and learning new software related to job duties. Experience using Google Docs and Google Sheets, preferred.
– Although not necessary, having your own vehicle is recommended, as the farm is located in a remote region 30 minutes from town.
Considering this position’s compensation meets basic living needs, other former interns and part-time employees have taken on part-time jobs to supplement their discretionary income needs.
– Our farm is off a dirt road in a rural area two miles off the main road, with considerable isolation and tranquility. Thus, the position is suitable for someone who seeks time alone, in nature or soothing peace and quiet. That said, we interact with our community often and so there are frequent opportunities to meet new, like minded people with values and vocations that reflect our community that is focused on an agrarian, equestrian and artistic lifestyle.

If interested, please reach out to Lorenzo at lorenzo@chelenzofarms.com with a brief introduction to yourself, why you’re interested in the position, and your resume. Looking forward to hearing from you!

To download a PDF version of this job posting, visit our website: https://www.chelenzofarms.com/el-cafecito/2023-12-01-chelenzo-farms-is-looking-for-a-live-in-farmhand

Educational Opportunities: We are constantly learning here at Chelenzo Farms, trying new methods and working with a large network of partners to host workshops.

Skills Desired: See above.

Meals: Yes. See above.

Stipend: See above.

Housing: Yes. See above.

Preferred method of Contact: text or email