Student Employees at the Student Farm

We hire for multiple positions in the Market Garden, Eco Garden, Flower Project, Fresh Focus, and SCOPE! Programs hire usually in the spring, fall, and winter quarters. 

Learn more about the open positions by going to UC Davis Handshake

and searching for the Student Farm. 

The Student Farm employs undergraduate and graduate students. Most student employees already have significant experience at the Student Farm through volunteer, internship, or course participation or experience at other similar gardens and farms. Employment opportunities in the Fresh Focus, Market Garden and Ecological Garden (see below) are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. There are also graduate student TA positions for courses that are hosted by the Student Farm, including PLS 193: Garden and Farm-Based Experiential Education Methods and PLS 49: Organic Crop Production Practices.

Ecological Garden and Flower Project Employment

There are 3-5 employees each year in the Ecological Garden and Flower Project hired as “Lead Student Gardeners” (LSG).  These employees guide interns and volunteers working in gardening crews of 3-6 people to maintain all aspects of the Ecological Garden site or Flower Project. To qualify for this position, a student must be a competent gardener with previous experience in organic gardening practices as well as a strong commitment to sharing skills and knowledge with others.  LSGs meet weekly with lead EG staff to determine overall management of the site. It is ideal that any applicant has previous experience at the Student Farm. Job announcements will be posted on this page. For more information about the Ecological Garden contact Julia Schreiber, the Ecological Garden Coordinator at jascreiber@ucdavis.edu

Fresh Focus Employment

The Fresh Focus program is a food access program where students grow and glean produce at the Student Farm. Produce is then distributed to campus partners for donation. Partners include the ASUCD Pantry, Aggie Compass Fruit and Veggie Up! program, and others. Students hired as Lead Student Farmers help with all aspects of production, harvest and distribution, coordinate partners and interns and manage the programs social media. To qualify for one of these positions, a student should have a passion for food access and food justice and some experience with the Fresh Focus program, another Student Farm program, or similar programs. Job announcements will be posted on this page. If you have questions, please contact Student Farm Director Colin Dixon at cghdixon@ucdavis.edu

Market Garden Employment

Each year there are several students hired in the Market Garden as “Lead Student Farmers.” Lead Student Farmers help to manage, produce and sell crops, as well as provide instruction, training, guidance and leadership to less experienced students participating in the Market Garden. To qualify for one of these positions, a student should understand and have experience with organic crop production. Additionally, it is ideal that applicants understand how the Market Garden functions, and possess desire to lead and educate fellow students throughout the farm. Job announcements will be posted on Handshake. If you have questions, please contact Market Garden Manager Emma Torbert at eetorbert@ucdavis.edu

S.C.O.P.E. Employment

The Student Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding Education (SCOPE) project is a student-led collaborative of faculty and student plant breeders working with local organic growers on improving crop varieties for organic farming systems in California. This position provides an opportunity for a student to
advance the SCOPE breeding projects at the Student Farm and beyond in tomatoes, peppers, beans, zinnias, and wheat, including maintaining the SCOPE field trials and greenhouse crossing blocks, making selections, saving seeds, data collection, entry, and analysis, supervising other students in breeding tasks, and outreach. On-the-job training will include horticultural practices, plant breeding practices, data collection and analysis, strategies for effective crew management, in-field group problem-solving, providing and receiving constructive feedback and culturally competent communication.. If you have questions, please contact S.C.O.P.E. Coordinator Antonia Palkovic at alpalkovic@ucdavis.edu

Communications Lead

The Student Farm Communications Lead works with the Student Farm Director and other Student Farm staff and Lead Student Farmers to lead communications and marketing efforts for the farm. Responsibilities can include social media content development - including photos and video, website content management, listserv management, creating flyers or posters, interviewing students and writing news stories. This position will be supervised by the Student Farm Director. Job announcements will be posted on this page. If you have questions, please contact Student Farm Director Colin Dixon at cghdixon@ucdavis.edu