MKG Farm Crew Intern (Student Wage)

Morven Kitchen Garden 2025 Student Farm Crew Internships

Morven Kitchen Garden (MKG) is looking for UVA students passionate about food, farming, and community to join our 2025 Student Farm Crew as Fall season interns. In these paid positions, students will gain hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and learn about all aspects of farming: crop selection and season planning, soil health, resource management, budgeting, and business administration. Additionally, interns will gain experience engaging with the community through volunteer coordination, educational workshops, and team building events, as well as food security outreach.

UVA Students from all disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply. These are paid positions, 6-10 hours/week during the academic year, and up to 20 hours per week during the summer.

This job will entail working with fellow student crew members to maintain MKG programming and accomplish regular garden tasks with independence:

• Being part of a student leadership team: imagining new initiatives, grant writing of seeking funding for projects, coordinating with Morven Programs staff to facilitate workshops, guest speakers, and community engagement
• Working in the field to plant, weed, maintain, and harvest crops
• Planning and executing fun and engaging volunteer service activities and events in our garden for students and community members
• Learning about small-scale sustainable agriculture through hands-on learning and independent research projects
• Curating a selection of produce for our wholesale, retail, and donation clients.
• Delivering high-quality products with timeliness and excellent customer service.

OVERVIEW:

The Morven Kitchen Garden (MKG) is a 1.5-acre sustainable garden where UVA students connect with our local food system, learn about sustainability, and engage with local food justice efforts. The garden is located 10 miles from the UVA campus at the Morven Sustainability Lab; a 2,913 acre historic estate that hosts a variety of programming to engage the world of practice with the academic community to address the most essential issues of our time.

GOALS/PILLARS of the Morven Sustainability Lab:

Goal 1

Create and support experimental labs and classrooms, both buildings and landscapes, dedicated to discovering and experiencing models, practices and narratives that orient us towards a sustainable future

Goal 2

Immerse our community in meaningful encounters between one another and nature in the varied landscapes of Morven that enable us to flourish both today and into the future

Goal 3

Leverage Morven’s landscape (spatial) biography, including its past residents and their land uses and practices, as contributing to Morven’s present land values and meanings as well as its future-oriented sustainability practices

At MKG, we grow over 40 different crops and sell our produce through a three-season CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project, to UVA Dine as well as donate produce to local food banks. MKG interns are involved in all aspects of sustainable food production.

Timeframe: Approximately August 25th– December 1st 2025 for the Fall season, although exact start and end dates are negotiable. Interns with satisfactory job performance will be given preference to continue the internship in following seasons.

Weekly Hours: 6-10 hours per week during the Fall season; must work a consistent weekly schedule within the Monday-Friday 8am-5pm timeframe.  Occasional weekend and evening shifts will be required.

Work Shifts: Must be 2 hours minimum per shift – to be scheduled within the student's availability and to cover the garden’s business needs.

Compensation: $15/hour; also includes a portion of the farm’s fresh produce.

Ideal Candidates will have:

• An interest in learning about sustainable agriculture. Farm/garden experience preferred, but not required.
• Attention to detail, good listening, and communication skills.
• The ability to work both as part of a team and independently.
• Ability to safely lift 50 pounds.
• The ability to work outside under various weather conditions including heat, humidity, wind, cold, insects, and rain.

Minimum Requirements:

• Submission of Resume and Cover Letter denoting what aspects of the farm you would most like to be involved in (see our website and social media). Also, include in your cover letter what