Join Our Team

Farm Overview: 

Amber Waves Farm is a nonprofit teaching farm on Long Island’s East End. The farm operates on 35 acres, raising 25 acres of vegetables, two acres of cut flowers, and five acres of grains. The farm’s production serves a 300+ member CSA and on-site retail farm market and kitchen, local restaurant wholesale accounts, and local food pantries.

As a 501©(3) non-profit organization, Amber Waves’ core values of stewardship, community, sustainability, and exploration are carried out through four respective programs: Apprenticeship; Children’s Education; Public Access; and Food Security. The Apprenticeship Program is the anchor of farm operations and reflects our deep commitment to cultivating the next generation of farmers. Our hands-on children’s education programming is designed to spark curiosity by connecting young eaters to their local food system. We also welcome the public to share the farm and experience the joyous sense of place exuded by the farmland. Visitors walk the fields, visit the animals, and can enjoy breakfast and lunch on the farm nearly every day of the year. Finally, we collaborate with local food pantries to support our neighbors in need by donating thousands of pounds of produce each year.

Program Overview

In 2026, the Amber Waves Apprenticeship Program will celebrate its 15th year of growing new farmers through hands-on training and mentorship. More than 60 new farmers have completed the program since 2012, most of whom remain actively involved in food and agriculture both locally and around the world. The Apprenticeship provides an 8-month (March-November) paid working and learning experience in sustainable agricultural practices. Specifically, the program includes in-field instruction, weekly discussion time with farm managers, and a handbook that guides and supplements educational topics (described below). The goal of the program is to teach the skill set necessary to launch a new farmer’s career in sustainable agriculture, and prepare them for subsequent growing seasons that will include advancement into higher level positions in farm leadership, management, or entrepreneurship.

As a vertically integrated farm operation, we are uniquely positioned to provide robust training to  business planning, budgeting, and marketing associated with running a modern farm business. We specialize in value-added products ranging from shelf-stable jarred goods to packaged baby greens, salads, and floral arrangements. Apprentices’ involvement in this production model showcases the multiple avenues to pursue a productive career in food and agriculture post-apprenticeship. 

Among key topics covered over the course of the season, apprentices will work towards mastering technical skills associated with plant propagation in the greenhouse, harvesting and post-harvest handling, and an introduction to tractor work. The intensive production of vegetables requires considerable hand-labor (weeding, harvesting, trellising, etc.), which is accompanied by mechanized (tractor) tillage, cultivation, and preparation of beds. The field work is very physically demanding, and will require that apprentices are motivated, have a good attitude, can tolerate working in inclement weather, and be able to lift at least 50 lbs at a time.

Educational Enrichment: 

There is a tremendous amount to be learned in a first season at Amber Waves Farm, where hands-on fieldwork dominates the workday and daily repetition of relevant, critically important tasks are what drive an apprentice’s holistic understanding of the farm operation. To supplement fieldwork, we provide an apprenticeship curriculum and handbook that outlines weekly educational topics throughout the season. We begin with topics associated with getting the season started, including: plant propagation, seedling care, and equipment and safety overview. As the season progresses, topics include plant and soil health in the field, irrigation, harvest, post-harvest handling, marketing produce successfully, and finally crop planning, budgets, and a season review. Apprentices will explore topics with farm managers during a weekly meeting and group field walk.

The farm also participates in the local CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) Program and throughout the season apprentices have the opportunity to attend workshops and lectures led by other farmers, tour neighboring farms and food operations, and attend a farming conference. Upon completion of the farming season, the aim is for each apprentice to have the foundational understanding and skill set necessary to move on to more advanced work in agriculture or food-related work elsewhere, or to remain at Amber Waves Farm for additional seasons in a more advanced role as many past apprentices have done.

Job Description:

The field crew position is an important position at Amber Waves Farm. As a vertically integrated farm operation where we start vegetables from seed and also clean, prepare, serve, and distribute our products through our on-farm kitchen and cafe, retail market, and CSA, we are dependent on the farm team to grow high quality produce and manage the harvest and movement of this produce in an efficient manner. 

The field crew is the backbone of our operation, and there is much to be learned while working with this team. This team member should be prepared for the physically demanding nature of this work, as well as working in all types of weather conditions. The position is both fun and challenging, and a great opportunity to develop a new skill set and learn. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Perform field work tasks such as seeding, planting, weeding, etc., harvesting produce according to daily orders, and washing and packing farm produce.

• Ideal candidates will have a genuine interest in food and food production, possess a hard work ethic, and a desire to be part of a team.

• Learn and practice basic field work skills, as well as learn to manage time and resources efficiently.

• Develop understanding of cultivating vegetable and flower crops.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong physical and mental work ethic, sense of pace and self-awareness

• Genuine interest in agricultural production, with the intention to continue a career in food or agriculture post-apprenticeship 

• Desire to learn and improve skill set and knowledge base 

• Strong organizational and time management skills 

• Ability and willingness to collaborate and work well with (and sometimes manage) others, including coworkers and the public 

• Prior agricultural experience is not required, although any work or study in the field of food or agriculture is a desirable attribute to apprenticeship applicants

Work Schedule & Compensation:

• Position Duration: willing to commit mid-March - Thanksgiving

• Full-time (40-50 hours/week); one guaranteed day off/week 

• $18/hour; covers paid learning/instruction time on-farm 

• Farm housing available for rent (not on-farm - within walking/biking distance)

Job Description:

The Apprenticeship Coordinator is responsible for facilitating the Apprenticeship Program and providing hands-on training for farm apprentices throughout the season. In addition, the Apprenticeship Coordinator is also responsible for seasonal farm hiring including interviewing, checking references, and initial onboarding and orientation. This role requires extensive communication skills including the ability to provide clear feedback and instruction as well as excellent time management and organizational capabilities.

Core Responsibilities:

• Oversee the pre-arrival logistics and onboarding/orientation of incoming apprentice class

• Coordinate with other farm managers and topic facilitator to schedule topics and assignments throughout the duration of the apprenticeship program

• Provide oversight and logistical support for CRAFT Tour scheduling + apprentice conferences including travel arrangements, lodging, and registration fees

• Send out early-season (first week of apprentice arrival), mid-season (July), and end of season (late October/November) evaluations

• Lead quarterly performance reviews of farm apprentices

• Ensure apprentices have monthly meetings with their mentor to talk through current performance, goals, and progress, as well as explore areas of interest within the farm or elsewhere

• Seasonal hiring oversight

  • Post positions as needed

  • Screen applicants, keep them organized, update and check on status

  • Conduct interviews + check references

  • Ensure new employees have work agreements, have filled out new hire paperwork, done any necessary training (Sexual Harassment training, etc)

• Work with farm crew on harvest + field crew tasks with an emphasis on hands-on instruction, safety, and pace setting

Skills & Qualifications:

• 3+ years experience working on a vegetable production farm

• Must be able to lift 50lbs, kneel and bend, and perform repetitive tasks

• Detail-oriented, flexible, organized, strong communication skills, and ability to lead

• Ability to model and uphold efficiency and safety standards, providing consistent and clear feedback

Work Schedule & Compensation:

• Position Duration: on site early March - Thanksgiving with remote work in winter months

• Full-time (40-50 hours/week); one guaranteed day off/week 

• $23.00 - $26.00 per hour, commensurate with experience

• Farm housing available for rent (not on-farm - within walking/biking distance)

Job Description:

Field Leaders are responsible for managing crew members during specific tasks throughout the work day with a special focus on safety, pace and efficiency, quality of work, and ensuring task-completion to reflect daily/weekly/seasonal goals and priorities. Specifically, a Field Leader is responsible for plant care and harvest for their designated field along with general oversight of specific areas of farm production. This position requires consistent attention to detail and strong independent decision-making capabilities while remaining flexible and adaptable to changing situations. You are expected to have excellent communication skills and be comfortable holding a group accountable to efficiency and quality standards and working on or around medium sized farm equipment. You are also expected to assist in the training of farm apprentices and provide feedback on their performance throughout the season.

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead farm crew—set pace, keep momentum in the fields, and oversee team members so that jobs are done correctly and thoroughly

• Oversee daily harvest teams of two to five crew members ensuring harvest quality standards are met and produce is directed to the correct outlet

• Instruct and lead field work projects including staking and trellising, rolling out row cover, hand weeding and thinning

• Lead greenhouse teams in seeding, potting up, and plant moves while making sure all recordkeeping is up to date and correct

• Complete tractor work (if desired) on an as-needed basis including: bed prep (mowing, discing, spading), spreading amendments, cultivation, operating the water wheel transplanter

• Understand and communicate availability changes or crop shortages

• Run drip or overhead irrigation and make fixes during watering sets

Skills & Qualifications:

• 2+ years experience working on a vegetable production farm

• Must be able to lift 50lbs, kneel and bend, and perform repetitive tasks

• Detail-oriented, flexible, organized, strong communication skills, and ability to lead

• Comfortable providing feedback and instruction

• Tractor operation experience preferred

Work Schedule & Compensation:

• Position Duration: early March - Thanksgiving 

• Full-time (40-50 hours/week); one guaranteed day off/week 

• $22.00 - $24.00 per hour, commensurate with experience

• Farm housing available for rent (not on-farm - within walking/biking distance)

Job Description

The Post-Harvest Produce and Receiving Manager is a dynamic and fast-paced position at the heart of the farm. Playing an essential role in the post-harvest process, this team member links the farm and harvest with our onsite retail market, kitchen, 300+ family CSA, and wholesale accounts. The ideal candidate should possess a high level of organization skills, attention to detail, a positive attitude and the ability to multitask. This position will supervise Farm Apprentices and Market Associates assigned to their station.

Core Responsibilities:

General Oversight

• Participate in meetings with other managers (market produce manager, field manager, etc.) to identify process or quality problems/challenges and find solutions

• Communicate with the market produce manager to discuss any special notes about that day’s harvest/processing, including urgent out of stocks, high-priority processing, or cooler/storage overstock or culling needs. Relay any pertinent information to the field manager and/or harvest teams 

• Coordinate labor as needed with produce manager and field/harvest managers

• Overseeing up to five wash station crew members and a farm apprentice daily 

• Coach, train, and motivate team to perform up to Amber Waves standards and work towards common objectives; serve as a role model to others instilling a positive attitude in team members

Wash/Pack Processing

• Oversee assembly (wash, pack, gather) of complete and correct orders for all of our distribution outlets: wholesale, kitchen, Amber Market, CSA, food pantry, events, etc.

• Manage inventory through daily communication with farm regarding order status, and changing availability

• Prepare orders for delivery or pickup, ensuring timely and efficient fulfillment.

• Fulfill grains orders for all of our distribution outlets (wholesale, kitchen, Amber Market, CSA, special events, etc.)

Food Safety

• Maintain sanitation standards of processing and storage areas to ensure cleanliness and good organization (coolers, wash station, packing line, dry storage)

• Be able to follow, teach, and update if necessary Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to comply with FSMA regulations

• Be familiar with proper produce safety and handling guidelines to ensure our packing and storage processes promote extended shelf-life and freshness

Cooler & Backstock Oversight

• Organize items in the cooler/freezer, rotating FIFO (first in, first out) as needed. Track expiration dates

• Ensure the cooler stays organized and tidy via sweeping, mopping, and record keeping

• Weekly cooler cleanouts including organizing, consolidating, and culling old produce

• Conduct daily inventory and communicate shortages/needs to fulfill orders

Receiving/Deliveries

• Receive, inspect, and check-in incoming shipments of produce, supplies, and other goods from distributors, verifying accuracy and quality

• Manage all team package deliveries, either notify appropriate person or deliver package in a timely manner

• Organize all packaging for the market and kitchen

Workspace

• Delegate bins washing/sanitizing and oversee organization of dirty and clean bins pallets

• Oversee cleaning and weekly sanitizing of surfaces, wash tubs, bins, knives, etc in wash station

• Keep drop tent and loading dock area clear, clean, and organized

Skills & Qualifications:

• Previous farming, retail produce or wash/pack experience is preferred but not required.

• Have knowledge of or interest in produce, cooking, food systems and/or local agriculture

• Experience in a management role is preferred

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Must have strong communication skills and the ability to delegate tasks

• Able to multitask in a fast paced environment

• Excellent time management and strong sense of pace and urgency associated with task completion

• This position requires communication in English, both verbally and written. Bilingual Spanish-speaking candidates are encouraged to apply.

• This is a physically demanding position which requires: standing/walking for long periods of time over uneven surfaces; exposure to heat, cold, or wet environments, working in and outdoors with exposure to the elements, repetitive motion such as lifting, kneeling, or bending; and carrying up to 50lbs at a time, with or without assistance.

• Must be 18 years of age or older

Compensation:

• Position Duration: May - Thanksgiving

• Shifts starting as early as 7:00 AM

• $24-28/hour, DOE

• Full-time (40-50 hours/week)

• Farm housing available for rent (not on-farm - within walking/biking distance) 

Job Description:

The field crew position is an important position at Amber Waves Farm. As a vertically integrated farm operation where we start vegetables from seed and also clean, prepare, serve, and distribute our products through our on-farm kitchen and cafe, retail market, and CSA, we are dependent on the farm team to grow high quality produce and manage the harvest and movement of this produce in an efficient manner. 

The field crew is the backbone of our operation, and there is much to be learned while working with this team. This team member should be prepared for the physically demanding nature of this work, as well as working in all types of weather conditions. The position is both fun and challenging, and a great opportunity to develop a new skill set and learn. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Perform field work tasks such as seeding, planting, weeding, etc., harvesting produce according to daily orders, and washing and packing farm produce.

• Ideal candidates will have a genuine interest in food and food production, possess a hard work ethic, and a desire to be part of a team.

• Learn and practice basic field work skills, as well as learn to manage time and resources efficiently.

• Develop understanding of cultivating vegetable and flower crops.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Genuine interest in agricultural production.

• Strong physical and mental work ethic, sense of pace and self-awareness, and desire to participate in daily field work as a productive member of the farm crew.

• Desire to learn and improve one's skill set and knowledge base via hands on practice.

• Strong organizational and time management skills anchored in successful completion of specific tasks.

• Ability and willingness to collaborate and work well with (and sometimes manage) others, including coworkers and the public.

• Must be 18 years of age or older

Work Schedule & Compensation:

• Position Duration: July- October (Flexible), must commit to minimum 6 weeks

• Flexible, minimum 3 days per week

• Beginning hourly rate of $17/hour

Job Description

Our farm mechanic oversees the management of equipment, including: tractors, tractor implements, vehicles, trailers, gators and golf carts, small machines (weed whackers and mowers), power tools, hand tools.

Core Responsibilities:

• Regularly scheduled maintenance, service, and repairs (either personally execute or arrange for additional professional work as needed (welding, miscellaneous mechanical work))

• Equipment modifications and retrofitting

• Manage stock levels of important shop and repair supplies (fluids, filters, fasteners, etc.)

• Ensure work areas and tools are kept clean and stocked

• Operate equipment as needed to move and unload material (skidsteer, front loader, trucks, trailers, wagons, etc.)

• Retrieve parts, supplies, equipment, etc. from offsite locations

Skills & Qualifications:

• Experience in diesel and gasoline engine repair and maintenance

• Experience with small engines and hydraulic equipment

• On call for emergencies only

• Willingness to work outdoors

• If part time, minimum of one full day or two half days per week

Compensation:

• Position Duration: Year round or seasonal (Flexible)

• Flexible, full or part time - If part time, minimum of one full day or two half days per week

• Start Date: Flexible

• Hourly rate: $35-$45/hour DOE