Luscher Farm is a unique, city-owned, educational and working farm in Lake Oswego, Oregon. We offer garden opportunities and education for young children, teens and adults. Luscher Farm was formerly a dairy operation owned by Rudie and Esther Luscher and was purchased in 1990 by the City of Lake Oswego. The property and buildings are maintained as an agricultural example with the intent to interpret and educate interested visitors in local food and organic plant production. Luscher Farm is home to variety of Organic and sustainable gardening and farming programs: Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation Community, Demonstration and Children’s Gardens, 47th Ave Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Friends of Rogerson Clematis Collection, and Friends of Luscher Farm.
Farming Interns participate in all aspects of small-scale, organic farming at Luscher Farm. We are seeking three interns to work in our Community, Demonstration, and Children’s Gardens during the 2015 growing season. The Community Garden Intern will work on maintaining and assisting our community gardeners among the 188 community garden plots at Luscher Farm. The Demonstration and Children’s Garden Interns will work strictly in their assigned gardens; planning, maintaining, and harvesting fruits and vegetables. Additionally, Interns will work under direction with our summer camps and other programs during peak growing seasons. Responsibilities may include leading discussions, speaking and/or demonstrating skills and techniques as interpretive duties for organic education.
Time Commitment|
- March 1st – August 31st
- Regular Schedule: Tuesday-Friday, 12-20 hours per week – dependent on growing season
Responsibilities
- Field Work: Most field work at Luscher Farm is done by hand, and includes seeding, planting, weeding, watering, trellising, harvesting, washing, and packing produce for donation
- General Farm Maintenance: Tool and equipment care, and farm upkeep
- Public Engagement: Interact daily with our community farmers, program participants and youth summer camps
Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience with some gardening/farming
- Physical fitness and ability to lift 30-50 lbs
- Positive, can-do attitude
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a team member
- General interest in organic, urban agriculture
- Self-directed and self-motivated, with little supervision
Compensation
- A share of fresh organic produce that includes fruit and vegetables from the gardens during growing season
- This is an unpaid internship, positions are open until filled
How to Apply
Submit a completed Farming Internship Application (included below), and resume with three references to Dawn Grunwald via e-mail, dgrunwald@ci.oswego.or.us. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Farming Internship Application
Name:
Email:
Primary Phone:
Address:
Interview Availability: Will you be available for an interview in February 2015?
Are you at least 18 years old?
Are you available to participate in the hours and date range outlined in the description?
Questions: Please answer the following questions. No more than one page total, please.
1. Which internship are you the most interested in? Please explain your interest.
2. Why do you want to participate in Luscher Farm’s Farming Internship Program?
3. What prior experience do you have with farming and/or gardening?
4. What experience do you have with physical work?
5. What three attributes would co-workers, friends, and family all agree that you possess?
6. What do you enjoy doing with your free time?