Summer Farm Internship at Gaining Ground

Gaining Ground is a non-profit, no-till, organic farm located in Concord, Massachusetts. At our flagship farm and satellite fields we actively cultivate 8 acres of land to grow over 50 varieties of vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers in fields interspersed with perennial hedgerows. We produce for 18 hunger relief organizations with the help of a community of volunteers and donate 100% of the food we grow. In the 2024 growing season we grew over 137,000 pounds of produce, supplying more than 2,100 food-insecure households each week in the Greater Boston region. We welcomed over 3,800 volunteers of all ages and abilities to the farm last season.

We seek to welcome 3 college/university students to participate in our Summer Internship Program for the 2026 growing season. We’re looking for candidates with the desire to learn innovative systems to sustainably farm within our changing climate. They will learn from our professional farm team, working alongside thousands of volunteers, to support hunger relief in the greater Boston region. Our curriculum includes hands-on training and classroom workshops with the opportunity for personalized areas of focus. This program will run from early June to late August 2026 on a 40 hours per week, Tuesday through Saturday schedule.

Responsibilities and Expectations:

• Work alongside our experienced farmers to learn all aspects of the farm including: greenhouse seeding, transplanting, high tunnel work, field preparation, composting, mulching, cultivation, harvest, and pest management.
• Assist our farmers with leading volunteer groups each week. This includes corporate groups, school groups, faith-based organizations, and individuals from the community. Our farmers educate volunteers about our growing practices, mission, and food security initiatives while working alongside them in the field.
• Willingness to participate in administered educational farming workshops.
• Willingness to attend educational field trips to partner organizations as well as other local farms for e-mass CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) workshops.
• Willingness to give and receive feedback in the field and during scheduled check-ins.

Qualifications:

• Positive and compassionate attitude
• Desire to learn and be curious
• Excellent work ethic, reliability, and punctuality
• Willingness to work outside in all types of weather conditions
• Interest in and/or experience with no-till farming practices
• Ability to work on a team and independently
• Ability to work with volunteer groups of all ages and abilities on a regular basis
• Comfort interacting with an engaged board of directors and our 18 partner organizations
• Ability to lift 30-40 pounds and perform repetitive physically taxing tasks
• Satisfactory background and reference checks
• A valid driver’s license
• Cell phone communication
• Reliable transportation to the farm

Compensation:

Our Summer Internship Program is an unpaid internship in which the applicants are expected to be compensated through their college’s internship stipend or other educational support funding. (Most local colleges and universities in the Boston area have internship support programs; interested students should contact their school’s career office for further details on available funding.)

Please note that we are unable to provide housing as part of this program. Having your own means of transportation (car or bike) is strongly encouraged, as we are unfortunately not located close to public transport stops.

Gaining Ground is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment of belonging for all employees. We welcome all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status.

To Apply:

Please email a letter of interest, resume, and 2-3 references to our Director of Agriculture & Volunteer Experience, Mark Congdon at mark@gainingground.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and we will begin interviewing in the late fall/early winter. We look forward to hearing from you!

Our Summer Internship Program is an unpaid internship in which the applicants are expected to be compensated through their college’s internship stipend or other educational support funding. (Most local colleges and universities in the Boston area have internship support programs; interested students should contact their school’s career office for further details on available funding.)