Mountain Bounty Farm

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

Contact information

Farm Address:
11438 Birchville Road
Nevada City, California, 95959

Primary Contact: Maia Lipkin
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 530-574-5748
    Email: employment@mountainbountyfarm.com

Website: https://mountainbountyfarm.com/joinourteam

Internship information

General Farm Description: Mountain Bounty Farm is an organic working farm located high on the forested contours of the San Juan Ridge near Nevada City, California. Our main fields are on Birchville Road, where we currently cultivate 18 acres. The rest of land is a beautiful mosaic of forest and meadows. We are the oldest and largest CSA farm in the Sierras. Our Farm was founded in 1997 by John Tecklin. John has been farming since the early 1990’s and is native to the San Juan Ridge. Since then, Mountain Bounty has become an increasingly collaborative effort, with a team of farmers making decisions and working together.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 3/30/2026
Internship Ends: 11/20/2026
Number of Internship Available: 3
Application Deadline: 3/30/2026
Minimum Length of Stay: 8 month

Internship Details:

First-Year Farmers are a core element of our 12-14 person farm crew and they participate in all farm activities from greenhouse work to harvest, delivery, and farmer’s markets. First-Year Farmers work closely with the farm managers to maintain our complex and dynamic vegetable farm. This includes driving tractors, seeding, transplanting, lots of weeding and other crop care, irrigation, harvest, washing and packing produce, driving deliveries, working farmers markets, and other farm chores.
First-Year Farmers work Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, and are also responsible for the one-two Saturday farmers markets per month, and occasional irrigation duties after-hours. We average a 40-hour work week over the season, with slightly shorter weeks in spring and fall, and slightly longer weeks at the height of summer. Our field season is March – December.
The First-Year Farmer program at Mountain Bounty Farm is challenging, highly sought after, and immensely rewarding. The vast majority of Mountain Bounty alumni go on to either work at other farms or start their own farms.
First-Year Farmers who excel in their first season may be offered management positions and permanent employment here at Mountain Bounty.

Educational Opportunities: The majority of the educational component comes through the experience of working directly on the farm; learning by doing. Over the years, we have developed a successful system that is also relatively simple and elegant. As field crew you reap the bounty of our many years of learning, passed along over the course of your season. First-Year Farmers are gradually given more and more responsibility, to the extent they are individually ready. We believe that being allowed to take charge of something important, and also being allowed to make mistakes, is one of the richest and most effective ways to learn. Toward the end of the season, we occasionally take field trips to other farms in the area. We love to teach and are stimulated by people who are excited about learning. Long hours in the field provide the perfect opportunity to see what works and what doesn't, as well as plenty of discussion about why. First-Year Farmers will also participate in some of the Sierra Harvest Ag Skills classes at other local farms.

Skills Desired: Prior farm experience is preferred, but not a requirement. Successful candidates have experience with some type of outdoor labor and/or a strong athletic background. We are also looking for people who are serious about farming as a career. This is a top notch training opportunity for someone who is ready to take on the challenge. We are looking for people who are organized, curious, outgoing and personable, wacky and fun, and very motivated. Applicants should be able to work hard and fast in all weather (it can be cold and wet here in spring and fall, and summer temps are very hot) do heavy lifting, standing, bending, and lots of walking. Although we keep the work varied, farming is inherently challenging. Ideal candidates are committed to the farming lifestyle and all that it entails.

Meals: lots of produce (includes vegetables and fruit)

Stipend: $20/hour, five days of paid vacation, an additional ten days of PTO if returning for a second season

Housing: Affordable units are available off farm and we will help facilitate securing housing

Preferred method of Contact: Email