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Slough Farm Program and Educational Garden Assistant
Slough Farm Foundation seeks a program/garden assistant for the 2026 growing season. This is a full-time, seasonal position from April to October consisting of 20 hours per week in the Friendship Garden and 15-20 hours per week assisting with programs happening at Slough Farm Foundation and Katama Farm, with a weekly set schedule.
The Assistant Gardener position focuses on the Friendship Garden located at our Katama Farm operations. Working in conjunction with the Friendship Garden Manager to tend the ⅓ acre teaching garden, this position also supports the daily integration of the garden into The FARM Institute’s summer camp programming as well as other SFF educational offerings happening at both farms. This is an excellent position for someone interested in getting one-on-one experience in gardening with children.
We are looking for an enthusiastic Program Assistant to support our educational programs. Working closely with the Educational Coordinator and Program Director, this role involves assisting with weekly programming, leading garden-focused activities, and providing administrative support to the programs team. This position includes but is not limited to assisting with field trips, supporting event setup and breakdown, and giving farm tours to the public. The ideal candidate must be available on Saturdays and some evenings to help facilitate farm events. If you have a passion for education, sustainability, and hands-on learning, please apply.
Pay: $24/hour
Applicant Qualifications should include:
• Positive attitude, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn and take direction
• Some prior gardening experience is necessary
• Excellent verbal communication skills and a good sense of humor
• Creative problem-solving skills
• An appreciation of the roles speed and efficiency play in creating an economically viable farm
• This is a physical job, the ability to lift 50 lbs may be required at times
• Ability to operate power tools and mechanical equipment safely with instruction
• Willingness to work in ALL weather
• Must pass a background check
Responsibilities may include:
• Greenhouse production includes seeding, watering, and caring for transplants
• Transplanting and direct sowing vegetables
• Harvesting, washing, and preparing produce for donation/program use
• Planting, weeding, and maintaining our teaching garden
• Mulching, bed preparation, applying organic pest care methods, and irrigation management
• Act as a liaison between the garden and programming when necessary
• Interacting with volunteers and the public in the garden during the workday when appropriate.
To Apply: Please send a letter of interest as well as your resume and three relevant work references with contact info to melinda@sloughfarm.org.
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Livestock hand, full time, 40hrs per week
May 15-Sept 1 (some flexibility with start and end dates is acceptable, to be discussed on interview)
Weekend availability is a must
Compensation based on experience (minimum $24)
Food stipend as additional benefit
Housing options potentially available
Slough Farm seeks an experienced, hard working, and self-motivated farm hand for the 2026 season.
Slough Farm is a non-profit educational farm, located on Martha’s Vineyard, that strives to be a resource for the Island community. We take pride in being able to donate our farm products to island schools, senior centers and those in need. We use organic processes to ensure healthy animals, crops and soil. Slough Farm uses rotational grazing methods to feed its diverse collection of livestock (cows, sheep, goats, layer hens, meat chickens, pigs, and turkeys), which we raise to feed the community through island donation programs and use on site for Slough Farm educational experiences.
This is a livestock focused position, so a keen interest in animals and farming is a must and strong observational skills are preferred. Additionally, you will be asked to lend support to our educational partners at The Farm Institute (TFI), where we maintain a learning herd of animals that The Farm Institute staff and campers can have hands-on experience moving, feeding, and watering. While the farm manager manages these relations and devises movement plans and daily communications with TFI, you will be asked to assist with these duties and are expected to be able to effectively communicate these plans and responsibilities. This may include hands-on training of TFI staff early in the season as well as occasionally being present during scheduled move times early in the season to help TFI staff understand the movement process.
The main focuses of this position are:
-Daily chores surrounding our various livestock groups. This includes but is not limited to setting up and breaking down fencing for cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens, feeding and watering these groups, egg collection and logging, and cleaning and sanitizing all corresponding equipment and areas. You will need to be able to lift and move 50+ pounds in all weather conditions repeatedly throughout the day. You will be expected to complete these chores alone once fully trained, at the discretion of the farm manager. Ideally, the right candidate would be able to execute these chores on the weekends, when other farm staff are scheduled off, again at the discretion of the farm manager and your own comfort level. As such, the comfortability of working alone is needed.
-Assisting with other animal husbandry related tasks under the supervision of the farm manager and assistant manager. This may include vaccinating and castrating animals, moving cattle and sheep in and out of headlock gates, trimming sheep feet, and tagging and weighing animals as well as any routine care tasks that may crop up day to day.
-Aiding with the monthly chicken processing. This entails evisceration(organ removal) , and cleaning of our meat birds, as well as set up and breakdown of the corresponding equipment. On slaughter days you may be asked to come early and stay late. As you are dealing with blood and viscera, you should be comfortable around these things. This will also be done under the supervision of the farm manager or assistant manager.
Applicants must:
>Be available to work on the weekends (in a generally unsupervised capacity)
>Be able to repeatedly lift and carry 50+ lbs
>Be comfortable handling livestock, both large and small. Experience is not necessary but is highly desirable
>Be comfortable working around children of all ages and ability levels
>Be self motivated and capable of working without assistance after training
> Be able to follow and ideally help build organizational structures, maintenance logs, etc
>Not be afraid to ask for help or ask questions
>Be able to work long hours in less than ideal weather conditions (heat, rain, wind)
>Have excellent people skills
>Give great attention to detail and have good observation skills
>Be able to pass a basic background and CORI/SORI check
>Have a valid driver’s license
>Understand that farming is not a 9-5 job. We start our day at 8am and applicants must be willing to stay longer/ come in earlier based on the needs of the farm
Additional desired skills:
>Experience working with livestock
>Understanding of humane livestock handling
>Experience working with children
>Competency in electric fencing
>Knowledge of the island and its farming community
>Basic carpentry skills
>Willingness to participate in farm programs and events
To apply, please send a current resume and a letter of interest to Christian Walkis at Christian@sloughfarm.org