Backbone is looking for just the right people to learn about small farm operations for the 2025 season! We are currently accepting applications for two positions. Serious applicants only please.
Nestled at the foot of Backbone Mountain in Garrett County, MD, we are a diversified small family farm using sustainable, regenerative, and organic methods. Entering our twenty-sixth year(!!), we grow a wide variety of vegetables, high CBD hemp, small fruits and an ever growing selection of cut flowers. In addition we have a large gourmet mushroom fruiting operation with 1500 shiitake logs , and an indoor mushroom cultivation building allowing us to grow oyster mushrooms and other gourmet varieties. In addition to market garden and mycological systems, we also manage pasture raised animals of several varieties. Our weekly schedule stays full with four farmers markets a week, a 40-family CSA and several restaurant and local grocery accounts. Join us for a season as a Backbone Food Farm Intern.
INTERNSHIP APPLICATION DOWNLOAD HERE
Backbone Farm is also home to many animals, mostly for meat production. As with the rest of our farming enterprises, we strive to manage our livestock as responsibly and sustainably as we can. We do this through a number of methods, primarily rotational grazing. Our animals include, a small herd of beef cows, a substantial herd of pastured pigs, horses, and pastured meat chickens. As an intern you will be expected to help with chores of all sorts, feeding pigs is a big one! You may also gain experience in moving portable fences, pig farrowing assistance, and chicken butchering. You will not be made to do anything you are not comfortable with, and, as with everything, you will be set up for success with plenty of training!
Sustainable vegetable growing methods include extensive cover cropping, high tunnels and hoop houses, crop rotation, IPM and more. If you are interested in learning the basics of seasonal small farm work including barn chore basics, greenhouse management, seeding, weeding, transplanting, harvesting, processing and marketing as well as the fundamentals of shiitake and oyster mushroom cultivation, consider Backbone.
Internship Description
Interns at Backbone Farm will get an immersive farm experience from day one, learning the ins and outs of a farm to market operation. You will spend your days gaining hands on experience in the field, working closely with our team of seasoned farmers. Max and Katharine, and Grace, farm founders, seasonal crew members, and the occasional WOOFER work together cooperatively to facilitate all farm operations. We will empower you to gain experience as you work through the seasons. We expect interns to work a five day (full days!) week ending after Saturday markets. You can expect to learn the basics of running a small farm. We have created a “whole farm system” that utilizes all aspects of the land we live on and the creatures who inhabit it. Learn our cycle of fertility, we use little outside inputs other than cover crop seeds and minerals, using all compost and manure from our farm.
Season extension is a key here: learn how we make this work with hoop house and high tunnel management. All of our plants are started on site in our greenhouse, a great opportunity to learn the basics of greenhouse management and seeding schedules.
In a “bio-extensive system” learn how to make a garden work. Including direct seeding, transplanting seedlings from our greenhouse, weed control, pest management, use of row cover, harvesting and packing for market, ground cultivation, and more. We also employ “bio-intensive” systems in smaller areas, using raised beds for high production.
Interns can expect to gain hands on marketing experience, we attend 3 weekly markets as well as drop offs to local restaurants and grocery. You will learn the basics of washing and packing for market. Connect with customers at markets, while honing in your table display skills! Backbone Food Farm Interns live the good life while learning many practical farming skills.
Understand and assist with the basics of shiitake and oyster mushroom cultivation. We rotate 1500 shiitake logs during the season and grow oysters 9 months out of the year in our indoor cultivation building. Other species grown sporadically, and wild edibles are a favorite hobby! Gain experience with small fruits and brambles in our small orchard- 100 blueberry bushes, 1/8 acres of raspberries and a large rhubarb patch as well. Learn the basics of cut flowers as an added benefit to a market farm.
As well as all the produce production skills, interns will gain knowledge and experience in Livestock management. Help manage our herd of pastured pigs- from daily chores and pasture rotation, to helping farrow and manage the herd. Learn the basics of high tensile and portable fencing while helping move our small herd of beef cattle around the farm.
We are looking for someone who has a get it done mentality, works well with others, has a sense of humor and will be committed to the season. Prior farming experience is not required, but it is helpful. We are a family style team and we love welcoming new faces! We share lunch and dinner throughout the workweek, and help in the kitchen is always appreciated, what better time to work on your “farm to table” repertoire?
Our internship runs from mid-April to mid-October. Weekly stipend, housing and farm food are included.
If you think you may fit in perfectly with our gang of humans DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION and send it to katharine@backbonefarm.com
