BU Acres Farm Internship

BU Acres Farm Internship in Sustainable Agriculture – Summer 2025

Are you passionate about sustainable agriculture and eager to gain hands-on farming experience? The BU Acres Farm Internship offers students the opportunity to cultivate fruits and vegetables at BU Acres Farm on Bunn Hill Road, while also learning about organic and sustainable agricultural practices.

Through this internship, students will:

• Gain practical experience in planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops.
• Explore the organic movement and understand how sustainable agriculture differs from conventional farming.
• Visit working farms across Broome County and surrounding areas, observing diverse agricultural operations, including both crop and livestock production.
• Learn about the financial realities of running a farm and what makes sustainable agricultural businesses stand out in the marketplace.
• Engage with the community by hosting groups at BU Acres Farm.
• Contribute to food security—all produce grown at BU Acres Farm is donated to the Binghamton University Food Pantry.

Internship Details:

• Location: BU Acres Farm, located at the top of Bunn Hill Road on the outskirts of Binghamton University’s campus.
• Transportation: Interns must provide their own transportation (personal vehicle required).
• Duration & Hours:
  • 4-credit option: 140 hours over 10 weeks (approximately 14 hours per week).
  • 2-credit options are also available.
• Work Environment: Interns should be prepared to work in various weather conditions, including heat and rain, unless conditions are unsafe or impractical.

Responsibilities Include:

• Maintaining the BU Acres Garden (seeding, weeding, transplanting, harvesting, mulching, etc.).
• Attending farm field trips and working on other farms in the area.
• Assisting with compost management (turning and cycling compost).
• Collaborating with community-based agricultural groups.

Academic Credit Options:

Students have the option to earn credit for this internship through:

• The Fleishman Center by enrolling in CDCI 395.
• Environmental Studies Majors:
  • ENVI 495 (can replace an Environmental Studies major requirement).
  • Additional academic requirements for ENVI 495 include:
    • Logging activities on Brightspace.
    • Completing a 15-page paper documenting the internship experience (does not count toward the 140 required hours).
    • Submitting a request for registration before enrolling.

Application Process:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submission is encouraged.