Kern Family Farm is situated in the foothills of the Sierra National Forest. It’s a certified off-grid organic farm operates two acres of row crops on about 40 terraces, has a four-acre dryland hay field, and seven hoop houses that are 2000 square feet each, growing salad greens year-round. Chickens and goats are also raised here with holistic grazing methods. Regenerative forest management using animals, tools, and fire are  part of the farm activites as well. The farm uses permaculture methodologies to not only produce nutrient dense food but to improve health of the land, the air, the water and the community for current and future generations.

About the work exchange opportunity

Kern Family Farm is primarily interested in those who want to learn how to operate a small farm and able to stay in the job at least two months.

Work exchangers can participate in the daily farmwork. Your tasks could be the following:

• help with planting
• weeding and harvesting seasonal vegetables
• caring for and milking goats
• small construction projects like putting up greenhouses, and other tasks necessary to maintain an organic farm and provide healthy produce to our community.

Harvests are on Mondays and Thursdays. Delivering harvested products to restaurant partners in the local town of Oakhurst or seasonal farmers markets are part of your job as well. You will be able to assist with the off-farm school garden project which Kern Family Farm runs on Fridays at North Fork Elementary.  From June through October, the days are very long, often with more tasks to complete than there is time to get them done! Vegetable production on the farm is in full swing in the summer months. It gets hot here in the summer, but we can always cool down in the creek that runs through the farm.

Food and accommodation

Work exchangers can stay in RV’s or mobile homes of the farm,  and a cobb house is also available for those who stay longer. Work exchanges are expected to prepare their own meals from food the farm supplies, except for lunch on work days when a big meal for the crew in prepared by your host.

What to do in your free time?

Located in the Sierra National Forest, there are tons of great hiking trails running in, through and off the farm. The Saganaw Creek runs along the edge of the farm, all summer long in good years, and provides many great spots to cool off from the summer heat. Note that there is a lot of walking up and down rugged hillsides when working on our property; it’s a great place to build up fitness but if you’ve not done much walking then you should be prepared to have sore legs for a few weeks while your body adapts to the landscape. The farm is located only a short distance from the entrance to Yosemite, and the Kings Canyon / Sequoia National Parks.

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Accomodation offer

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Flight offer

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