Leadership and Support
“Plowshare Farm provides me a meaningful alternative to the mainstream concept of a 9-5 job while providing financial security and a fulfilling and challenging lifestyle.”
Plowshare Farm is an Anthroposophically-based, spiritually striving community which provides an opportunity to live your ideals within a community where everyone contributes and everyone cares for each other. All of us are constantly being challenged and inspired by each other. Service at Plowshare Farm usually takes people on a journey of self-transformation and often leads to significant personal development.
At Plowshare, we all live in extended family homes of various sizes. People who demonstrate qualities of leadership and presence are often asked to be responsible for a particular household and also carry a particular craft (such as woodworking, handcrafts, pottery, farming, etc).
There is room here for folks with a pioneer spirit and for the individual to make a difference. Though there is room for growth and further becoming as a community, we are also stable both financially and in our foundations.
We strive to offer a balanced lifestyle including meaningful work, adequate vacations, health care, compensation and retirement. We respect and value family life.
Personal qualities and characteristics are an important part of being a member of this community. In general, we are looking for highly motivated and capable people who are ready and able to take on responsibility for supporting others besides themselves, are driven by the highest ideals, and want to have an impact in the world. Additionally, we look for people with a real interest in community living, in creating an inclusive community that supports people of all abilities, a desire to develop their own personal and professional capacities and a willingness to work out of an understanding of human development based on Anthroposophy.
We also look for people with a variety of other skills, such as cooking, cleaning, homemaking, arts, baking, music, land care, fiber arts, handcrafts and gardening. Time management skills, flexibility, and the ability to work with diverse populations are also important.
Professional Development Opportunities
To ensure that the highest level of insightful care and inspired relationship are found in our community, Plowshare Farm offers an orientation, health and safety courses and a social therapy training seminar.
Each house at Plowshare Farm carries license and certification and our day program carries certification from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to provide care for people with special needs. As a result of these licenses and certifications, a number of courses are required in the areas of health and safety, including: CPR, First Aid, Medication Administration, fire safety, rights and abuse. These courses are offered as an orientation and at least annually thereafter.
The social therapy seminar is the crown of our educational offerings. This is a 2-4 year program of study in anthroposophy, the arts and social therapy which has its foundation in Camphill. Plowshare Farm’s program is a Community-based Extension of the Camphill Academy. Everyone taking on major leadership responsibilities (for a house, an area of work, etc) at Plowshare Farm is enrolled in this seminar or have completed the seminar or another relevant training such as Waldorf teacher's training.
The seminar is completed through a series of courses, professional development seminars, conferences and workshops both within the community and alongside seminarists from other Camphill or Anthroposophically-based communities in North America, ongoing work in art and movement, and anthroposophical study.
Additionally, longterm community members receive continuing education in trades-related fields such a biodynamic gardening and specific crafts.