Highlander Farm/Land Internship Available
The Highlander Research and Education Center has an opening for a farm/land intern to work on our 186-acre farm in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.
Highlander is a world-renowned organizing and leadership development center for grassroots activists in Appalachia and the South. Since its founding in 1932, Highlander has been in the forefront of social justice organizing, playing a key role in the labor movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and the environmental justice movement, among others. Today, Highlander is still on the cutting edge of activism, and a leading regional and national resource for organizing across race and generations.
The intern’s primary responsibilities will include helping with the care of the apple orchard (in 2nd year of conversion from conventional to organic) and organic garden. The internship is 2/3 physical labor and 1/3 educational activities including, greeting guests, helping to lead tours of Highlander’s farm, and assisting in workshops.
Highlander’s farm is located on in New Market, Tennessee, approximately 25 miles north and east of Knoxville. Our facilities include a workshop center with a meeting room, kitchen, and child-care center; a 32-bed dormitory; a library/resource center; six houses for staff and visitors; and a barn and other out-buildings. We also have a 400+-tree apple and peach orchard that has been cultivated for over 20 years.
The intern will work with Highlander’s Farm Manager, other members of the staff Building and Grounds Team and the Education Team. There will also be the opportunity to do independent study, learn about other aspects of Highlander’s work, and participate in life at Highlander.
Qualifications for the internship include:
- Ability and interest in doing physical labor.
- Experience working on a farm, with tractors and other farm equipment.
- Experience with fruit trees helpful, but not required.
- Commitment to social, economic, and environmental justice
- Ability to work well with a multi-racial, intergenerational staff and to interact with a wide range of people.
- Sense of humor.
- Driver’s license.
The farm internship will begin as soon as possible and last for 6-9 months. Housing is available, and interns are welcome to share meals prepared during Highlander workshops. However, these are not available on a regular basis, and interns are generally responsible for their own food. Internship pays a $200 stipend per week plus a small health insurance allowance. Interns are housed with up to two roommates in an intern house on the Highlander farm. Generally, Highlander requires a total of 30 flexible hours per week, with weekend work as an essential element.
To apply for the internship, please forward a letter of interest including the following information:
- Why do you want to intern at Highlander?
- What experience have you had working on a farm, in a garden and/or with fruit trees?
- How do you see your interests and the work of Highlander connecting?
- Do you have specific skills to offer?
- What do you feel you can learn here?
- Do you have your own transportation?
Please be sure to include your complete address, phone number, e-mail address and available start date so we can contact you about your application.
Please forward your letter of interest, your resume, and contact information (including phone numbers) for three references to:
Rob Reining
Operations Coordinator
1959 Highlander Way
New Market, TN 37820
Rob@highlandercenter.org
