Employment Opportunities

2026 Farm Crew

Star Light Gardens is a four season, organic vegetable and cut flower market garden. We believe deeply in the power of food good, tending to the land in a regenerative way and the importance of local food systems. We are currently hiring people seeking both full time and part time work. Availability & interest in working at farmers’ markets is a plus.

Ideal applicants are passionate about healthy food and interested in expanding their knowledge of small/medium scale, intensive, year round, organic farming. Experience is not required but enthusiasm and willingness to learn is. Applicants must be ready for hard work and willing to get their hands dirty in any weather condition. We promise to offer a worthwhile farming experience where you can expect to learn about all aspects of organic market gardening. This includes but is not limited to; seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting, field work, flower work, and market preparation. Most of the work we do is by hand, applicants should be ready to spend the day doing physical labor.

It is our goal to create a work environment that facilitates team building, personal growth, and a sense of belonging to a local food movement, all while maintaining a baseline hustle that is necessary on the farm. We believe we create a space where hard work and enjoyment coexist. The right applicants will understand the importance of this balance, as it allows for laborious tasks to be done efficiently while enjoying the process, learning new skills, and building strong relationships with one another and the farm as whole.

Our main season crew works April- October, and peak season crew is May- August. We are hiring for 2-4 main season positions and 2-4 peak season positions. Shifts are:

8 am to 4 pm April-June and Sept- Oct

7 am to 3 pm July & August

Tues – Saturdays on farm – Friday & Saturday for markets

Start and end dates can be flexible to accommodate students and other jobs.

We are excited to expand our Market staff by adding 3 or 4 new crew members. Shifts take place on Fridays from 1:30 to 6:30 PM in Madison and Middlefield and Saturdays from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM in New Haven.

While working at the markets is enjoyable, it is a fast-paced environment and requires a lot of hard work. We have a tight schedule for setup, which evolves lots heavy lifting and the ability to perform well under pressure. The ability to multitask and have high quality customer service interactions is a must. Working at the market is a great way to bring all the work we do on the farm full circle. You’ll have the joy of meeting the wonderful customers who enjoy the food we grow, and it’s an amazing community filled with rewarding experiences.

Requirements

• Serious interest in learning about farming: We are looking for staff who are deeply committed to their work, proactively ask questions, grasp the context, identify challenges/ issues, and complete tasks effectively.
• Teachable and Open-minded: We value crew members who are open-minded and ready to learn how we do things. Crew members should be able to work both independently, as part of a dynamic team and alongside farm owners.
• Punctuality and Reliability: It’s important for our team to be punctual and reliable, with access to transportation and a willingness to work at both our Durham and Middlefield properties.
• Resilience and Positivity: Farming is hard work. Maintaining a positive attitude, especially during difficult tasks and harsh weather, is crucial for productivity and teamwork.
• Physical Preparedness: Applicants should be ready for physical tasks, including heavy lifting and extended periods of standing or crouching in all weather conditions.

An additional perk to the job is free food. Extra produce or flowers from the markets or excess from harvest are free for employees. Any produce or flowers that might otherwise be sold will be 40% off.

To Apply:

Please send us an email telling us about yourself, why you want to farm, and what you hope to learn by working at Star Light Gardens. If you have experience on another working farm please provide contact info for a reference we can reach out to. Our email: starlightgardensdurhamct@gmail.com