Tamarack Vermont Sheep Farm and Redstart seek a candidate with strong interests in farming, livestock, ecological restoration, manual labor, and forestry. This position could include responsibilities at both Tamarack Sheep Farm and Redstart (ecological restoration and forestry). 

This position is ideal for someone who is excited about a wide range of agricultural and conservation work in Vermont and New Hampshire. Flexible and curiosity are important attributes, as are a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently or with a crew of like-minded individuals. Enthusiasm for restoring and caring for the land is essential, along with a strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, experience with manual labor, and commitment to communication. 

At Tamarack Farm, seasonal work includes:

• Winter: Infrastructure repair and equipment maintenance, planning for the following spring and summer, preparation for lambing. Lambing begins in February.
• Spring: End of lambing, managing ewe/lamb pairs, weaning, preparation for haying and grazing.
• Summer: Rotational grazing using flexi net, hay-making including tractor operation and maintenance, high tensile fence maintenance, soil and forage sampling, grazing planning, selecting breeding stock and market animals, preparing lambs for market, trucking.
• Fall: Breeding for the subsequent winter’s lambing, fall grazing management, feeding round bales in outdoor paddocks, finishing market lambs and bringing to market.

Year-round work at Tamarack includes livestock feeding and handling in indoor and outdoor areas, flock health monitoring and husbandry, basic farm construction and maintenance, equipment operation and maintenance, and assessing and improving the quality of our land base (pasture and hayfields).

Seasonally, Redstart technicians focus on:

• Winter: forest stand improvement using a chainsaw (chainsaw training provided), apple tree pruning, upland stream restoration, forest inventory and forest management plan development, carbon inventory, harvest tree marking, and boundary line painting. 
• Spring: Habitat restoration and improvement projects focus on native tree plantings along rivers and streams and in important wetlands. Technicians will be trained in proper tree and shrub care, planting, identification, and post planting stewardship.
• Summer and Early Fall: The focus is on treating non-native invasive plants. Technicians will join teams of 2-5 others, and learn to successfully identify and treat common non-native, terrestrial invasive plants. Treatments consist of herbicide application (including foliar backpack spraying and cut stump treatments) and manual treatment methods (pulling, mowing). Comfort with the use of herbicides is necessary. 
• Fall: Upland stream restoration becomes more prevalent – using chainsaws and other tools, woody material is added to create better aquatic habitat and to address flooding concerns, and improve water quality. Detailed inventories for carbon credit offset programs and conservation organizations are also common in this season. 

General Qualifications:

• Interest in outdoor and physical labor in a variety of conditions
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong work ethic and communication skills
• Valid Drivers’ license and reliable transportation
• Working cell phone

Desired Qualifications (Tamarack):

• Interest in sheep, lambing, grazing, grass, equipment, manual labor. 
• Interest in practical and efficient operations, positive attitude, proactive, organized and neat.
• Interest in hay making and equipment operation
• Pluses: interest in or skill with equipment; experience with livestock, especially sheep; experience with software.

Desired Qualifications (Redstart):

• A degree (completed or planned) and/or interest in the natural sciences including environmental science, forestry, or related area.
• Prior knowledge/identification skills of non-native plants - some on site learning expected
• Basic GIS and GPS skills.
• Willingness to become a certified pesticide applicator in the State of Vermont and New Hampshire.
• Chainsaw safety (Game of Logging levels 1-2 preferred) and/or prior experience using a chainsaw.

Terms of Employment:

• Full-time, with seasonal variation
• Year-round for the right candidate. Internships are also available for those seeking a shorter commitment.
• Basic housing available at a discounted rate.
• Compensation commensurate with experience, with increases as experience is gained.  
• For the right candidate the work can begin immediately. 

About Tamarack Farm: Tamarack Farm is located in Corinth, Vermont, and we are dedicated to producing good food, conserving heritage breeds, and restoring and caring for land. We focus on two main heritage sheep breeds: the Dorset Horn and the Tunis, which have been managed from the same bloodlines withing our family for 100 years. We have participated with nonprofit partners in generic collection efforts, with genetic material from our flock stored in the Smithsonian Institute Washington DC. We rotationally graze our ewes in the summer and use a combination of barns and out-wintering during the winter months. We make our own hay and use tractors and skid steers for hay making and winter feeding. After weaning, our lambs are fed a combination of grass, grain, and hay. Our primary product is meat, while hay is a secondary product. We own our farm in Corinth, Vermont, and lease other fields in the area. More information can be found at http://tamarackvermont.com.

About Redstart: Redstart is a diversified natural resource consulting and contracting company focused on assisting people, organizations, and communities address natural resource issues. We strive to balance the needs of people with the need to maintain and enhance the ecological integrity of our forests, fields, and waters. Our services include forest management, invasive plant treatment, riparian restoration, stream and culvert assessment, ecosystem restoration, and community land conservation. Our 1,100 non-industrial forest management clients collectively own 175,000 acres, and other clients include federal, state, and town government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Redstart is based in Corinth, Vermont and is made up of 18 full-time employees and 4-8 seasonal technicians. Redstart’s web site is http://www.redstartconsulting.com/.