Land Intern Heartbeet Lifesharing is a licensed non-profit therapeutic community residence for individuals with developmental disabilities located in Hardwick, Vermont. In addition, Heartbeet is also a vibrant Camphill community that interweaves the social and agricultural realms and is fully dedicated to the healing and renewing of our society and the earth. Community members live and work together, in beautiful extended family households, forming a mutually supportive environment that enables each individual to discover and develop their unique abilities and potential. Come see what puts the HEART in Heartbeet today! Heartbeet Lifesharing is looking for both Part-Time and Full-Time Land Interns to assist adults with developmental disabilities with their day to day life skills and activities, while also helping support our Farm and Garden crews during the busy growing season. The ideal candidate is someone who is joyful, humorous, caring, organized, and has a great love for being outside on our land and farm. This position can be either residential or non-residential.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Land InternThe responsibilities of a Land Intern include supporting both the Farm (livestock) and Garden (vegetables).Some of the Farm activities include: livestock husbandry, building paddocks/fencing, milking cows, upkeep/maintenance of the barns, and making/using the Biodynamic preparations.
Some of the Garden activities include: planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and snacking on vegetables. All of these tasks include supporting adults with developmental disabilities, using person-centered adaptive methods.
About the Land:
- All of the agricultural land is stewarded based on Biodynamic and organic principals
- Heartbeet Lifesharing is 165 total acres40 acres of pastures & hayfields
- About once acre of annual vegetable gardens
- Fruit trees/bushes/vines throughout the property
- Over 100 acres of forest with a forest management plan
- Diversity of Livestock:3 milking Cows12-15 head grass-fed beef (mixed ages)
- Around 400 pastured laying hens
- Around 400 pastured meat chickens
Roles & Responsibilities:
Support Caregiver
The Land Intern position is also considered a Heartbeet Caregiver. You will be expected to assist "Friends" or individuals with developmental disabilities in all aspects of their daily life, including home, artistic, and skill based programs. Land responsibilities would be balanced with home and other community responsibilities.
This involves assisting the individual (s) in all aspects of life with daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms including:
- Supporting individual (s) with hygiene, brushing and flossing teeth, and washing hands
- Supporting individual (s) with the bathroom and toileting
- Supporting individual (s) with keeping room generally tidy and with weekly room cleaning
- Supporting individual (s) in processing information that pertains to their daily life
- Supporting individual (s) engaging in socially appropriate interactions
- Supporting individual (s) developing meaningful relationships
- Supporting household activities as guided by the householder and the house schedule including meal preparation and clean up, evening social activities, and celebration of festivals, events, and birthdays
- Cleaning duties throughout the household
- Learning Opportunities
The Biodynamic approach to agriculture, coming out of Anthroposophy, provides the core tenets of our farming philosophy. In addition to Biodynamic principles and practices, we implement methods from Holistic Management, Permaculture, and Regenerative Agriculture. Apprentices may have the opportunity to collaborate, work with, and learn from other local farms and agricultural enterprises. Apprentices will learn about other spheres of land stewardship (i.e. garden, forestry, estate), and how they interconnect with the farm and with each of our lives in the Heartbeet Lifesharing community.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with self-initiative and interest in the pursuit of supporting and learning from individuals who have developmental disabilities in daily farm tasks. The desire to align oneself and contribute to the values of the community and the farm are more important than prior farming skills.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
The ideal candidate will have experience working with others, along with:
Excellent verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with others
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Self motivated and driven with the ability to organize and complete tasks
Willingness to accept supervision, coaching, and guidance from others
Passionate to work with individuals with differing levels of abilities and needs
Positive attitude and excitement to join a mission-driven organization
Reliable and able to adapt to changing conditions
Direct experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities (preferred but not required)
Ability to perform well in an environment that requires compassion, helpfulness, patience, and resourcefulness
An interest in agriculture
Qualifications:- 18+ Years of AgeHigh School Diploma (or equivalent)
- Valid U.S. Driver's LicenseI-9 Employment Eligibility Verification
- Must pass required Background Checks for position
- Ability to lift 50lbs
- Willingness to work outdoors in all types of weather
- Residential BenefitsFull Room and BoardAccess to Community Vehicles
- Annual Stipend2 Days Off per Week (1 On-Call Day)
Personal Time and Sick LeaveNon-Residential BenefitsFull-Time Benefits available for employees that maintain 40 Hours per Week. Part-Time Benefits available for employees that maintain 20+ Hours per Week (or 40 hours every other week).
Benefits include:- Paid Time OffPaid Sick LeavePaid Holidays
- Annual Bonus that is distributed as quarterly payments in January/April/July/October
- Option to enroll in a Simple IRA Plan with a 3% Employer MatchPlease include a Resume and Cover Letter with your application.
Reports To: Farm & Garden Manager/sHours / Job TypePart-Time / Full-Time: 20-40 Hours/Week
Weekends: Preferred
Job Location: In Office
Compensation: TBD (Based on Residential or Non-Residential)
Heartbeet Lifesharing actively seeks a diverse pool of candidates and welcomes people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, gender identities, religions, ages, and sexual orientations to apply; as an EOE/AA employer, Heartbeet Lifesharing will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.
