The Lawrenceville School Big Red Farm (BRF) is a mixed-use educational farm that produces vegetables, pork, lamb, maple syrup, fruit, and honey. It is located on 30 acres of land north of the school golf course and features fenced cropland, pasture, hoop houses, and fruit trees. The BRF helps ensure that the School meets the experiential learning goals of our 20/20 strategic plan. Our mission is as follows:

The Big Red Farm enriches our community by growing nutritious food that connects hands, heads, and hearts to the land. In the words of Lawrenceville alumnus Aldo Leopold (class of 1905), we seek to install in students a Land Ethic that "enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land."

The farm's produce, meat, and specialty items are delivered directly to our campus dining hall, and any surplus yields supply our produce stand and nearby food pantries. Should you join us as a summer intern, we hope for an experience of cooperation, meaningful work, and fun. Personal growing plots, reflection journals, field trips, and other aspects of the program will build community for the Farm crew.

A total of 7 positions are available - five at 12 hours per week and two at 4 hours per week for students with more limited available time. Please complete the requested information in iCIMS by February 19.

Compensation and Duration:

$15.13/hour for time spent in our fields, delivering produce, and fulfilling other responsibilities.
• During the 10-week window of Thursday, June 6 through Friday, August 16, interns must commit to a total of 8 weeks. This allows for other jobs, vacations, school visits, and family time to complement hours with us. Required dates are 6/7, 6/8, and 8/16.

• Choose one of the following options for number of hours per week:
  • 3 morning shifts each week at 4-5 hours per shift, totaling 12-15 hours per week, OR
  • 1 morning shift each week at 4 hours for students with limited time (select below).
• In general, reserve 7:30-11:30 am for work hours. Note that start and end times vary, however, depending on planting, harvest, and activity schedules, as well as weather for that week.
• Learn about Lyme Disease, take preventive measures, and check for ticks each day.
• Participate in occasional afternoon field trips such as visits to other farms in the area.
• Commit to rotating farm days to work with a variety of interns.
• Plant seeds, pull weeds, transplant seedlings, and care for animals.
• Plant and maintain your own experimental vegetable plot - click here to see possible crops
• Complete short evening readings or podcasts about sustainable agriculture
• Write journal reflections about farm experience and readings, as well as one entry for Farm webpage student stories.
• Contribute photos for BRF Instagram and Facebook pages.

• Commitment to the Big Red Farm mission.
• Experience with or interest in farming or gardening, including planting, weeding, harvesting, and livestock care.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to relate to supervisors and fellow interns.
• Organized, thorough, and detail-oriented work style, with strong time and task management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Good character, integrity, and adaptability.
• Enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control.

Physical Requirements:

• Endurance, including prolonged time in sun, rain, and heat standing, bending, stooping, and stretching while planting, weeding, and completing related farm tasks.
• Hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate outdoor equipment and conduct farm activities.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Further questions about the Summer 2023 Big Red Farm Internship?

Contact Dr. Laubach, Director of Sustainability: 609-620-6932, slaubach@lawrenceville.org

Important note: If you are a boarder interested in this type of work, please carefully study this document and then contact Dr. Laubach so he can help you look for similar opportunities with nonprofit conservation and sustainability organizations near your home.