Route 9 Cooperative
Carrollton, OH
Apprenticeship Mentor Farm
Partner Farm
Agroforestry Systems:
AlleycroppingÂ
Farm Information
Route 9 Cooperative is an established chestnut aggregator and processing cooperative consisting of five member orchards located in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Ohio. Route 9 Cooperative sells culinary chestnuts, dried chestnut products such as whole kernels and flour, select seed chestnuts, and chestnut trees. While chestnuts are the main income, the group also dabbles in other tree crops such as hazels, apples, and persimmons.
Farm Information
Located: Carrollton, OH
Apprenticeship Opportunities
An apprentice at our farm will have opportunities to learn the science and management of tree crops, ecological benefits of tree farming, chestnut production (from planting new orchards to harvesting crops), chestnut processing, sales and marketing, equipment operation from field to warehouse (tractors, fork trucks, chainsaw, a variety of tools and attachments), and management/record-keeping skills. There is enough work variety that specific on-farm tasks can be somewhat tailored to the apprentice’s interests and skill sets.
Availability: Open
Qualifications
- Ideal qualities and skills: strong work ethic, honesty and integrity, self-starter/self-motivated, can work independently or in a group, curious mind, comfortable outdoors in various weather conditions, basic mechanical aptitude, can lift/move 60 pounds, previous experience with farm work and/or field biology, driver's license and own vehicle, basic computer skills including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word) and email communication
- Minimum qualities and skills: strong work ethic, honesty and integrity, curious mind, comfortable outdoors in various weather conditions
- Timing: Full-time, consecutive weeks from approximately the last week of August through the first week of November (actual start and end dates are somewhat flexible and seasonally variable). This is the main culinary chestnut harvest season. The apprentice would be expected to work 40-hr weeks, including some weekends. Work hours will fluctuate with crop load. Full days and half-days off will be scheduled according to crop and environmental variables and employee needs/requests.
- Part-time work is available from February through the end of November if the apprentice is interested in starting earlier or staying later than the main harvest season.
Benefits
- Pay: $12/hr, plus per diem & free housing (total wage equivalent of $20/hr)
- Housing: Housing is an apartment within our chestnut processing facility. It can be a private bedroom or shared bedroom depending on the number of seasonal workers and personal comfort levels. There is a shared bathroom and shared kitchen. Wi-Fi is available but speed is slow (rural area). If the apprentice would rather find their own housing, there are plenty of rental options in the area, especially in town. Off-farm housing will be at the apprentice's expense.
- Food: The apprentice will largely be responsible for providing/cooking their own meals, but community food is often available during the harvest season. We will sometimes provide the apprentice with fresh produce and/or local meat as able, but it is not guaranteed.
- Remoteness: The nearest town, Carrollton, OH, with amenities such as grocery/pharmacy, restaurants, laundromat, banks, etc. is 6 miles from the farm (pop. 3,241). Akron, OH, is approximately 60 miles northwest, and Pittsburg, PA, is 75 miles east. Travel to/from these cities with airports can be arranged.
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Your gift could provide experience and technical education for aspiring farmers through on-farm training with a mentor farmer and community building opportunities for farmers, apprentices, and those interested in incorporating trees on farmland.Â
