Farm and Compost Intern

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: 4/3/2023  Compensation: $1000/month stipend

Queens Botanical Garden (QBG), in partnership with the Department of Sanitation of New York’s (DSNY) NYC Compost Project, is seeking seasonal interns for the QBG Farm & Compost site.

QBG Farm & Compost site is a place where New Yorkers can participate in and learn about urban farming and composting through tours, workshops, internships, and volunteer opportunities. Fruit and vegetables are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and compost is made and applied to promote soil and plant health. Crops harvested are shared with seasonal interns and volunteers and donated to emergency food relief programs. Compost is used across the botanical garden and the Farm as well as distributed to those who participate in Food Scrap Drop-Offs.

Interns will support the Farm Manager in running and maintaining one acre of intensively planted mixed vegetable, fruit, and flower production and educational areas. Interns will also help support the NYC Compost Project staff with on-site composting operations; including processing organics collected at food scrap drop-offs. We are looking for dedicated, hard-working individuals with a keen interest in urban farming and composting.

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Learn fundamentals of sustainable agriculture including crop choice, rotational growing, drip irrigation, and pest/disease management
  • Acquire hands-on skills in urban farming through planting, tending and harvesting crops
  • Understand and maintain healthy soils, learn to use compost, cover crops, and mulch
  • Gain proficiency in composting by processing food waste and helping to manage onsite compost piles
  • Cultivate an in-depth awareness about food scrap recycling and waste reduction in NYC
  • Develop and teach farm & compost themed workshops

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Self-motivated, excellent communicator, with the ability to work alone as well as with others
  • Commitment to being present and punctual on workdays
  • Willingness to work outdoors in all weather; able to lift up to 40 pounds
  • Interest in food waste reduction and urban agriculture
  • Ability to perform diverse, sometimes repetitive, tasks that can be physically demanding

Additional Information

Schedule:
Interns must be able to work Saturday through Tuesday, 8:30am-3:30pm, over a 7-month period between April and late October. The start date will be April 3rd. The internship is paid a monthly stipend of $1,000 and a monthly metro card. Additionally qualifying applicants are encouraged to earn school or program credit for their work with us and to research funding opportunities through their learning institutions if applicable.

For consideration, please submit your resume, cover letter, and any relevant documents via email to farm@queensbotanical.org. Your cover letter should include any previous experience (not required) with agriculture or compost, your motivation for completing the internship, your availability, and how you heard about the internship. Please put “Farm and Compost Internship 2023” in the subject line of the email.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The NYC Compost Project hosted by Queens Botanical Garden works to rebuild NYC’s soils by providing New Yorkers with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to produce and use compost locally. The NYC Compost Project is funded and managed by the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability. Learn more at nyc.gov/compostproject and queensbotanical.org/farmandcompost/ 

Health & Safety: proof of full Covid-19 vaccination required for employment.

Queens Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). The Garden does not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, gender expression, mental illness, socioeconomic status or background, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, predisposing genetic characteristic, immigration status, or any other legally protected status. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources via email hr@queensbotanical.org, phone 718-886-3800 x 203.

Contact Information

Queens Botanical Garden
Contact Name: Eryn Hatzithomas
Email: hr@queensbotanical.org
Phone: 7188863800
Website: Apply Online