Quail Hill Farm Advanced Apprenticeship Program
posted on January 26, 2026
Description
Quail Hill Farm serves over 250 Summer Share member families through a highly unique biweekly pick-your-own CSA model as well as a 70-family Winter Share. During the pandemic shutdown, we turned our focus to food access programming, and in so doing rolled out a sliding scale fee structure for our CSA members and also grow for a 200-family Farm-to-Food Pantry program with a local partner organization. QHF also markets produce to restaurants, natural food stores, and a farmers' market. The Quail Hill Farm crop list contains over 500 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
The farm has trained over 120 apprentice farmers, many of whom are still involved in agriculture across the US.
The farm community also includes a mature apple orchard, peach trees, raspberries, a few hives of bees, a flock of hens and ducks, and a diversity of birds on the flyway. The farm, using 3 greenhouses, 5 tractors, extensive irrigation, and a healthy collection of hoes, offers both a Summer and a Winter Share.
The goal of the Quail Hill Farm advanced apprenticeship is to create the ideal conditions for beginning farmers to develop their farm management skills s for beginning farmers to develop their farm management skills and understanding of organic farm systems. Over the course of nine months, we develop individualized learning goals and provide coaching and mentorship to help apprentices meet those goals. We envision this position as bridging the gap that commonly exists between first- or second-year farm apprenticeships and the skills required for more advanced farm positions.
We value timely and direct feedback, and use pre-, mid-, and postseason self-evaluations to measure the apprentices’ individual learning goals. All staff will also participate in ongoing discussions related to racial equity and social justice issues as they play out locally, nationally, contemporaneously, and historically.
Ideal for beginning farmers to hone their farm management skills and understanding of organic farm systems.
Position Responsibilities
Participation in mandatory tractor safety and defensive driving courses, time management skills, and a sprightly sense of humor are essential. Current driver’s license and ability to operate manual transmissions are helpful.
We follow a Tuesday-Saturday work week, and in the high season work approximately 42.5 hours per week. Monthly weekend duties are scheduled in advance.
Qualification/ Responsibilities
We prefer candidates with a full season of mixed vegetable farming at 5-10 acres (or more!). We ask that they are hard workers, are self-motivated, and have a penchant for positivity in all weather conditions. Apprentices must be able to work and communicate well with a diverse group of co-workers, volunteers, and farm members.
We Offer
We offer free shared housing close to the farm, an hourly wage ($18/hr), produce and flowers from the farm, paid time off, and a beautiful summer close to the Atlantic Ocean.
We also offer many educational opportunities for our apprentices, including: participation in local CRAFT* events, access to the farm library, and farm walks with our managers to discuss different topics in our fields. Being a project of the Land Trust, we also offer our advanced apprentices the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of various land conservation issues.
*Our apprentices participate in a vibrant CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) network now established on the East End of Long Island.
Peconic Land Trust is an equal opportunity employer.
How to Apply
Please email resume and interests to qhf@peconiclandtrust.org