OakMoon Farm & Creamery

Due to the need to travel out of state for the birth of our first grandchild in May 2010, we need to fill our internship positions in early April if possible.  Internship will last until October-November if the situation remains suitable to all parties.   Weight given to experience in dairy.   

 We will have one or two internship positions available in 2010.  Here are some of our requirements and information to help you determine if you'd like to apply with us. 

General Information

• Internship begins in May, ends in October
• Preferred minimum length of stay is 3 months, with a 2-week trial period
• 30 hours of work per week
•  One full day and one half-day guaranteed off each week
• Stipend, housing, and some meals provided
• You'll need your own transportation, though some carpooling available
• Couples, partners considered
• Longer term employment considered for the right candidate
  
• No pets, please, we have enough to share

If you've checked out our website, you have a good idea of our philosophy, how many goats we have, and our products.  But a website can in no way convey all that is involved in working on the farm. Dairy farming is a nonstop endeavor that can be amazingly fun and rewarding one minute, and a miserable mud bath the next.  The secret of life is no secret on the farm, and birth and death are part of the package. We work really hard during the cheese season, and expect that the right internship candidate will be able to do so as well.

 Internship learning opportunities may include but not be limited to the following:

•  Goat care tasks of feeding grain and hay, hoof trimming, evaluation of herd health and individual animals, helping with fencing, cleaning of barn, flushing waterers, refilling mineral feeders, etc.
• Record-keeping of sustainable goat husbandry techniques
• Breeding, birthing, culling and selling in the proper season
  
• Milking of 50 dairy does both manually and using Delavle tank, French goat milker system, and vintage Surge milking compressor
• Assessing does' udder health, milk quality, straining and preparing milk for transport to creamery, 5-6 milkings per week plus clean-up
  
• Assisting in rearing of baby goats, including milk feeding, parasite control, socializing (translation: hugging and kissing baby goats!)
• Creamery tasks under supervision of the cheese maker, including some direct cheese production experience, plus hand-moulding of fresh cheeses, weighing, packaging, preparing for farmers markets and clean-up
• Opportunity to learn about set-up of creamery, state farmstead cheese making regulations, pros and cons of cheese production
  
• Set up of farmers market stand, direct cheese sales at 1-2 markets weekly
  
• Care of home laying hen flock, gathering eggs, etc.
• Flower and small vegetable garden tending, if we have time to plant something
  

Some information about Bakersville and Mitchell County events may be found at these websites: 

http://www.bakersville.com/

http://www.mitchell-county.com/

 If you are interested in applying for an internship with us, get in touch via email and tell us about yourself.  Work experience with livestock and dairying will weigh heavily in your favor, but willingness to work hard and be motivated to learn are also top considerations.

oakmoonfarm@verizon.net