Tunnel Manager-Organic Veg

Last Updated On: October 15th, 2026 at 02:13PM MST

Internship information

General Farm Description: Against the Grain is a small-scale diversified, certified Organic farm located 15 minutes from downtown Boone in Zionville, NC. The farm is situated on 35-acres and raises a broad spectrum of Biodynamic and Organic vegetables on a little under 2 acres, as well as Animal Welfare Approved, GMO-free, grass-fed beef. We focus on four main market channels, including a weekly farmer's market, a 20 week/115-member vegetable CSA, approx. 20+ area restaurants, and several local food hubs. The 2027 season will be our our fifteenth year in crop production and thirteenth year in animal production at our current farm place. We are continuing to refine our crop rotation, cover crop management, harvesting and composting techniques. Our focus at Against the Grain is to nurture the soil in order to grow high quality, nutritious food for our local community. Our vegetables are certified Organic by One Cert, using the NOP standards and also by the Real Organic Project. Approximately three quarters of our beds are transplanted every season, and the remaining beds are direct seeded. We plant a diversity of crops and successions in order to have product for our year-round markets. We have 4 field blocks, 2 heated 30x72ft high tunnels and 5 unheated 16x125ft caterpillar tunnels. Most of our field beds are planted 2 to 3 times in a season and our tunnel beds are planted 3 to 4 times. Our production system involves reduced tillage methods, so we use a flail mower, rotary harrow and silage tarps to prepare our beds. We control weeds predominantly with hand tools, in addition to the use of a Farmall Super-A cultivating tractor. We choose to build the soil by planting cover crops, spreading compost and mulching with straw. We also add organically approved single source inputs (alfalfa meal, rock phosphate and lime). True to Biodynamic methods, we view our farm as an organism; therefore, our focus is on building and feeding the microbial life of the soil, generating fertility on the farm and preserving sensitive ecological aspects of this land. We apply all of the Biodynamic preparations each season, and typically make a few of the preparations on farm. In order to remain profitable as a small farm it is a must to work quickly and efficiently. We believe that sustainability involves more than just methods of production. Financial sustainability is essential to the success of small farms. We are committed to keeping thorough production records and expect our crew members to participate. We are not a homestead or hobby farm, and therefore must keep the bottom line in mind. However, we also believe in sustainability of agricultural communities, and fully support the artistic, cultural, and social aspects of producing nourishing food.

CRAFT Member Farm? Yes

Internship Starts: February 2027
Internship Ends: until
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: until filled
Minimum Length of Stay: 1 season

Internship Details:

In general, the tunnel manager’s role is to monitor, tend and advocate for the planting & production tasks involved with vegetable crops in the farm’s tunnel spaces. Tasks that support this role include but are not limited to the following:

-manage irrigation, spray & injection tasks in tunnel spaces and collaborate with production manager for field irrigation in the spring (includes keeping an inventory of irrigation supplies)
-maintain working knowledge of tunnel amendment plan for assisting with bed prep
-advocate for and take a lead role in pruning & trellising hot season crops
-spear head weed management, disease and pest prevention
-support and train other crew all tasks listed above
-utilize the Management Team What’s App thread for any notes, photos, etc, etc
-email variety trials email with observations regarding crops (i.e. varieties and successions)
-offer feedback on SOP revision process (including irrigation SOP)
-participate in winter bottlenecks and production planning

Educational Opportunities: We always try to give instructions as we go and try to explain “how” and “why” along the way. We plan to have regular evening discussion/films on topics including soil fertility, Biodynamics, community dynamics and just plain fun. We also have a small farm library, to which apprentices and interns will have full access. We are not specifically a teaching farm, but we will do our best to convey as much of our knowledge as we can reasonably, while we work, and we offer crew members the chance to review our annual financials and crop analysis. There is a CRAFT network, hosted by Blue Ridge Women in Ag, which hosted field days on farms in our area, and we strongly encourage interns to attend.

Skills Desired: At least 5 years of experience working in agriculture in addition to other management experience.

Meals: No, farm crew members are responsible for preparing their own meals but unlimited produce and a meat stipend are provided by the farm.

Stipend: Hourly wage will be based on experience and is negotiable for the farm manager position but starts at $15/hr. We generally work Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm (with an hour off for lunch) during the height of the season. We offer a 40 hour paid week off during the months of June or July as well as another week off during the winter for a returning manager. Benefits also include 4 hours of paid sick/personal leave for every 173 hours worked (or approximately 1-month of full-time work).  Sick leave can also be used for personal errands and appointments. We have a rotating Sunday chore schedule for all crew who live on the farm.  These chores will include opening and closing tunnels, livestock chores and watering seedlings/fresh transplants.  This schedule will result in crew members being responsible for weekend chores every third or fourth weekend, depending on how many crew members live on the farm. The time commitment for weekend chores will vary as the chore list varies, but expect a 3-4 hour time commitment.  We ask that the crew member responsible for weekend chores to stay on the farm for the day in case any unforeseen weather or other events occur.

Housing: Yes, the housing includes on-the-grid, insulated sleep sheds and a common kitchen for cooking. There are composting toilets and a four-seasons insulated shower with hot water. Crew members also have access to an abundance of vegetables (seasonal and dependent on specific crop yields) and meat. The farm values room and board at $350/month. We also have a camper and tiny house that offer more private living quarters. Both are valued at $450/month.

Contact information

Farm Address:
619 Camp Joy Road
Zionville, North Carolina, 28698

Primary Contact: Holly Whitesids
Secondary Contact: Andrew Bryant

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 8284064439
    Email: atgfarm@gmail.com

Secondary Phone
    Type: -----
    Number: 8287739383
    Email: afb500@gmail.com

Website: https://www.atgfarm@gmail.com

Preferred method of Contact: email