A further word
We hope to give you a better sense of what’s going on at Bluestem Farm. Please give us a shout if you have any questions!
Key points on the below row of images: beautiful lakes and recreational opportunities, our rural location, our far northern location, and the lay of our actual land. Because our farm is not perfect for large-scale monocrops, our 80 acres of all this is perfect for a small, diversified farm.
Humans of Bluestem Farm
Clockwise from top L: Aaron + Mary harvesting rutabagas with style. Melissa and Mary (and little Nora) making sauerkraut in the commercial kitchen at the local elementary school. (Melissa has worked here for 4 seasons.) A number of fine people have come and gone here over the years. This year we’ve been fortunate to have 7 out of 7 returning on the crew. There’s also a cadre of good neighbors who are part of our world. And our kids are around, of course. There they are, catching frogs. Peter (10) and Nora (7).
Customers + Friends + FOOD
We do our best to treat our CSA members really well, making sure to give them the best food we have, making a point of getting to know everyone as well as we can, involving them in decision-making as much as possible, and generally sharing the bounty of the farm. We also sell our food at one really great local farmers market, and to wholesale accounts. Clockwise from top L: ‘State of the Farm’ winter member meeting, a sweet family from Charlevoix, our market stand, a winter CSA we are proud of, Mary delivering CSA shares in the polar vortex, CSA boxes ready to go.
Vegetables
This is the main job description! Clockwise from top L: vegetable field, Aaron as saguaro cactus inside a high tunnel, Rebekah washing scallions, strawberry rows, Rebekah and Laura on the mechanical transplanter. (Rebekah and Laura have both moved on to awesome next chapters.)
Animals at Bluestem Farm
Animals are a big part of what we do, but we’re not hiring in that area. In general, we’d just ask you to feel just fine with the idea of seeing farm animals around, but we wouldn’t include them in your job description. Aaron takes care of all the animals. Clockwise from L: heritage pigs in the woods, laying hens on pasture, broiler chickens, Peter helping some baby chicks get started.
Thanks so much for your interest in our farm!
We know a job search can be an anxious time for anyone. Whatever happens with you and Bluestem Farm, we wish you the best in your season of decisions.
We do ask everyone who’s seriously considering coming here to be plain with us about your intentions. If you’re seriously about to maybe fall in love with someone 2,000 miles away, hitchhike to Alaska, schedule an elective surgery, start your own farm, or hold out for another job you actually prefer over ours*, we get it! We were young and free once. We truly understand how challenging it can be to choose among a world of options.
Just be as clear and honest with us as you can about your decision making process. If your answer is maybe, we understand maybe!
Warm wishes,
Mary and Aaron
* The above are all true and actual reasons people have called our farm in May to change their minds about a job they previously accepted with us. If you’re curious, falling in love holds solid at position #1.