Farm Manager Apprentice - Local Cooling Farms

Laughing Buddha Nursery is hiring a full-time Farm Manager Apprentice for Local Cooling Farms in Bogalusa, LA. The regenerative farm focuses on raising livestock, composting, and soil blending while promoting nutrient cycling and ecosystem health. Responsibilities include daily livestock care, egg collection, and soil production tasks. Candidates should have a valid driver's license, be physically capable, and possess a positive attitude. Interested applicants should complete an application and email their resume to Kate.
Local Cooling Farms is a regenerative, pasture-based farm 10 miles south of Bogalusa. We raise egg laying chickens, a breeding herd of heritage mix pigs for pork production, a breeding herd of goats for meat and stocker beef cattle for grass-finished beef. The farm is also the home of our composting and soil blending operation, where we produce garden soil blends, compost, vermicompost and live composting worms.

Our farm model centers on maximizing nutrient cycling (nature’s loop of production, consumption and decomposition) and raising livestock with respect and integrity, allowing them to express their true nature (chickens scratch, pigs root, cattle graze, goats browse). Our primary goals are to: 1) Grow nutrient-dense food for people (that we sell through our shop, Laughing Buddha Nursery), 2) Recycle some of our community’s agricultural residuals such as coffee grounds, 3) Rebuild a healthy ecosystem on our property and the surrounding acreage and 4) Sequester carbon back into the soil (hence the name -- Local Cooling being the opposite of Global Warming).

We are seeking an individual interested in livestock and regenerative agriculture to join us full time as a farm manager apprentice. This position is well suited for someone who enjoys being outside, doesn't mind working solo, prefers a job without customer service and who has a genuine interest and care for animals, soil health and the environment.

Position Description: The farm manager apprentice completes all daily livestock chores, including feeding, watering, health checks and fencing checks for chickens, cattle, goats, rabbits and ducks, collecting eggs, moving portable fencing for new rotational grazing paddocks (this is an every other day to every 10 day task depending on the flock/herd, the size paddock and the weather) and washing and packing eggs (with a commercial egg washing machine) for retail sales. Other projects include screening, bagging, sealing and labeling garden soil and compost blends and feeding vermicompost beds.

Requirements for position:
• Possess a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
• Willing to learn the operation of farm equipment (primarily driving a small tractor, operating commercial egg washer and soil bagging machine) that is necessary to operate on a daily basis.
• Situational awareness.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and able to carry 25-30 pounds repeatedly.
• Willing to work outside, rain or shine.
• Positive attitude and good communication skills.

To apply: Complete application (via google form link) and then email Kate, Kate@LaughingBuddhaNursery.com with a resume and three professional references.