Applications for the 2026 season will open mid January 2026!

Check back here to find the link to apply.

Zumwalt Acres (ZA) is a multifaceted farm, community, and educational hub. We steward vegetables, fruit and nut trees, mushrooms, honeybees and chickens. We also conduct climate change research and implement sustainable soil management practices. We host events to exchange learnings, gather community, make music and art, and celebrate Jewish holidays. We work towards regeneration of the local ecosystem, climate change mitigation, providing food for our community, and creating a space where young people can collaboratively implement their vision of an abundant future. 

ZA fellows are self-directed folks, approximately aged 18-28, who live at the farm, co-create community, and support farming operations, event hosting, and other organizational work. Fellows and long term community members will collaboratively build work and community systems that are mutually supportive and center learning.

What type of work will you be involved in?

  • Farm Work:

    harvesting, weeding, planting, processing produce, tending compost, tree care, mushroom cultivation

  • Marketing:

    maintaining a good relationship with distributors and directly marketing products at Down at the Farms, Watseka Farmers Market, Sheldon Food Pantry (and more); carving paths for equitable food allocation

  • Event Planning: Support farm events by preparing and tending the space and contributing to applicable programming

  • Community Building:

    creating a healthy and conscientious communal living environment with other members of the house and ZA community

  • Community Outreach:

    maintaining ZA’s connections with the Sheldon community, other farmers in the area, other food and climate justice organizations, and participants at community events and research field days

  • Imagining and implementing ideas that excite you and the community! We are excited to engage with applicants who are passionate about our mission -- so if you have a skill set that isn't listed, we want to hear about it in your application!

  • Other Skills:

    grant writing, research proposals
    social media and website management
    art, graphic design, music