Worker Share Volunteers

Trade work for a farm membership

A worker share volunteer helps the farm in the field or at our markets, and gets a free membership in return. Troy Farm membership is a market share, which means members get a line of credit to spend on whatever vegetables they like throughout the season. This credit can be used at our Thursday farm stand and our booth at the Northside Farmers’ Market. As members of the farm, worker share members enjoy all the benefits of membership. Please read more about being a farm member for details. You can apply now for the worker share position of your choice.

We offer the following worker share positions: We offer the following worker share positions: Full Season Field, Summer Season Field, Thursday Market, Sunday Market, Community Workday Cook, Greenhouse Waterer, Farm Mower.

Worker share volunteers are an essential part of our farm. Your hard work and contribution to our farm business, as well as to our farm family, is truly valued. We could not do it without you!

Please read the program and position descriptions below. The application is part of the summer farm membership form. If you would like to become a worker share volunteer, please follow the prompts when you are filling out your Troy Farm membership form.

Overview of worker share positions

Full Season Field Worker

Season: May 29 – October 27

Hours and membership: 80 hours over the season (4 hours per week for 20 weeks); $600 share

Schedule: 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday mornings (please contact us if you can only work later in the day)

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

Full Season Field Worker Shares help the farmers for 80 hours over the 20-week season. Field Worker Shares are part of the farm crew and will mostly help the farm with morning harvest and post-harvest cleaning and packing. Other production tasks may include planting, weeding, mulching, trellising, box packing, etc. Please be aware that this is a very physically demanding job that involves lifting, kneeling on the ground, and working in various weather conditions.

Summer Field Worker

Season: May 29 – August 29

Hours and membership: 80 hours over the season (8 hours per week for 10 weeks); $600 share

Schedule: 7:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday mornings (please contact us if you can only work later in the day)

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

Summer Field Worker Shares help the farmers for 80 hours over the 14 week summer season. Summer Field Worker Shares receive a $600 share. See Full Season Field Worker description for tasks.

Thursday Market Worker

Season: June 15 – October 12

Hours and membership: 80 hours over the season (4.5 hours per week for 18 weeks); $600 share

Schedule: 3:30-8 p.m. Thursdays

Location: Troy Kids’ Garden Pavilion, 502 Troy Drive

Thursday Market Worker Shares help the farm for 4.5 hours per week (Thursday evenings) for 18 weeks and receive a $600 share. During the Thursday evening market stand at Troy, worker share volunteers help to set-up, run, and break down the market, including stocking produce and interacting with and selling produce to customers. After the market, they help organize and clean up at Troy Farm.

Sunday Market Worker

Season: May 21 – October 8

Hours and membership: 80 hours over the season (4 hours per week for 20 weeks); $600 share

Shift: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m Sundays

Location: Northside Town Center, 1865 Northport Drive, Madison

Sunday Market Worker Shares help at the farmers market for 4 hours per week (Sunday mornings) for 20 weeks and receive a $600 share. During the Sunday Market, worker share volunteers help to stock the display, interact with customers, conduct sales, and break down the stand at the end of the market. After the market, they help organize and clean up at Troy Farm.

COMMUNITY WORKDAY COOK

Season: May – September

Hours and membership: 20-30 hours over the season; $300 share

Schedule: Flexible. Must have availability on many Saturdays

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Community Workday Cook uses supplies and vegetables provided by Troy Farm to prepare meals for the Community Workdays on the last Saturday of each month from May to September.

FARM MOWER

Season: May – October

Hours and membership: 80 hours over the season; $600 share

Shift: Flexible

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Farm Mower helps the farm for 80 hours over the 20-week season. They use a tractor mower, weed wacker, and tools to keep farm pathways, farm fence, and other common areas mowed regularly. The schedule is flexible, depending on the availability of the volunteer.

Greenhouse Waterer

Season: March – September

Hours and membership: 60 hours over the season: $450 share

Schedule: Late morning (around 10 a.m.) on Saturdays from March – September and late morning on Sundays during March, April and part of May

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Greenhouse Waterer comes to the farm in the late morning on Saturdays (around 10 a.m.) to water the transplants at the farm. This task usually takes around 1 hour but may take more or less time, depending on how many plants we have in the greenhouse. The greenhouse has the most plants in April and May and watering may take up to 2 hours during that period. In March, April, and part of May, the Greenhouse Waterer will help with watering on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.