Ad Astra Farms Fall 2025 Fellowship

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Overview

Ad Astra Farms has two (2) full-time, seasonal fellowships available beginning October 6, 2025 extending through mid-March 2026. The fellowships are intended to provide participants with a holistic view of running a small farm and CSA business as well as provide valuable training in regulatory requirements, food safety and cooperative economics. Fellows will complete mini projects around farm strategy, marketing and sales, as well as gain project management and on-farm cultivation experience at Ad Astra and neighboring operations. Successful fellows will meet a minimum of 85% of available working hours and 100% of required training and projects. Successful fellows will also be invited to submit a project proposal for land access at the farm for the 2026 growing season.

Position Type: Full time(40 hours/week), seasonal candidates preferred. Will consider part-time seasonal candidates (max 25 hours); schedule, comp and benefits will be adjusted proportional to hours worked.

Required Duties

• Required Hours:
  • T-F hours flexible, Sa 8a-4p during CSA/Market Season
  • M-F hours flexible during CSA/Market Off Season

On farm (50%)

• Attend weekly staff meetings
• Support on-farm operations from seed to harvest, including crop planning, seeding crops, transplanting, weeding, watering and harvesting
• Manage Saturday market booth during the market season

Administrative (40%)

• Support CSA and farm administrative functions,  such as timekeeping, establishing and maintaining harvest records, developing social media marketing content, developing and sending CSA communications, accepting and tracking CSA payments, regulatory reporting, etc.

Training and Stretch Opportunities (10%)

• Attend all required trainings, including food safety training and training on establishing cooperatives
• Support farm strategy planning sessions and farm expansion projects
• All other tasks as assigned

Required Skills and Experience

• 0-3 years experience farming or gardening
• Able to lift and carry 50 lbs.
• Good written communication skills
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Google Suite

Preferred Experience 

• Small repairs or minor construction experience 
• Canva experience 
• Social media marketing experience
• Retail or food service experience 

Compensation (Full time as shown; Part time negotiable)

• $20/hour
• Signing Bonus - $500 payable with first paycheck
• Term Bonuses - $250 payable with 1st check of preceding term if 85% of available working hours and all fellowship training and task requirements are met

Benefits (Full time as shown; Part time negotiable)

• 5 days PTO
• 2 paid holidays (Thanksgiving, MLK) plus 2 week end of year break (Christmas, New Year's)
• Weekly Staff Meal
• Free CSA Share
• Free Farm Swag

About Ad Astra Farms

Ad Astra Farms is a Black woman-operated farm in Upper Marlboro, MD. Our mission is to provide Prince George’s and Charles Counties with sustainably grown produce, home garden consultation and education. Our flagship product, our annual CSA farm share, serves 30 families in Prince George’s and Howard Counties, MD; Alexandria County, VA; and Washington, DC. Ad Astra also aggregates produce from other small, Black-owned and operated farms in Prince George’s County.