Farm Hand

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: ASAP  Compensation: Seasonal

Bayard Cutting Arboretum Seasonal Farmhand
Start Date: ASAP
Position: Full Time, Paid
The 691 acre Bayard Cutting Arboretum was the former home of William Bayard Cutting, now a New York State Park with a mission “to provide an oasis of beauty and quiet for the pleasure, rest and refreshment of those who delight in outdoor beauty; and to bring about a greater appreciation and understanding of the value and importance of informal planting.” Utilizing plans conceived by the noted landscape architectural firm of Frederick Law Olmstead, arboretum development was begun in 1887. The arboretum is internationally renowned for its extensive collection of fir, spruce, pine, cypress, hemlock, yew and other lesser known conifers. Extensive plantings of dwarf evergreens, rhododendron, azaleas, hollies and oaks, as well as perennial borders, woodland trails, coastal gardens, natural wetlands, native forest, and a CSA farm are also found in the arboretum’s vast acreage. 

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum CSA Farm is the only Community Supported Agriculture project in the New York State Parks system. The farm is located adjacent to the estate’s original barn, on land that was the former cow pasture of the Bayard Cutting estate. Currently, the farm has 2 ½ acres under cultivation and our practices are in keeping with NOFA-NY (Northeast Organic Farming Association) guidelines. The farm also cares for a flock of 150 laying hens. CSA Members enjoy weekly vegetables, herbs and flowers, that they pick up on-site from May/June through October.

Responsibilities/Duties

  • General duties include assisting the farm manager in seeding, transplanting, cultivation, weeding and bed maintenance, watering, harvesting, wash and pack, caring for hens, chicken coop maintenance, and barn maintenance. 

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Farming or physical outdoor work experience.
  • Must be able and willing to work in cool, hot, and inclement weather.
  • Must be able to courteously interact and engage with CSA members and park visitors.
  • Must participate in Farm community events. (Due to COVID-19, Farm events for 2022 are uncertain.) 
  • Ability to lift a 50 lb. bag
  • Ability to work independently as well as in a team setting.

Additional Information

Application Guidelines: Send a cover letter and resume to: Kevin Wiecks, Director via email to: kevin.wiecks@parks.ny.gov and lisa.chalif@parks.ny.gov

Contact Information

Bayard Cutting Arboretum
Contact Name: Kevin Wiecks
Email: kevin.wiecks@parks.ny.gov