Worker Share Volunteers

What is a Worker Share?

A worker share volunteer helps the farm by working in the field, and receives a free weekly produce share in return.

We offer the following worker share positions: Full Season Field Crew, Summer Season Field Crew, U-Pick Garden Crew, Farm Mower, Farm Stand Crew, and Pizza & Event Crew.

Worker share volunteers are an essential part of our farm. Your hard work and contribution to Troy Farm is truly valued. We could not do it without you!

Please read the program and position descriptions below. If you would like to become a worker share volunteer, please fill out the sign up form below.

Overview of worker share positions

Full Season Field Crew

Season: June 9 – October 17 2025

Hours and membership: 76 hours over the full season (4 hours per week for 19 weeks) in exchange for a weekly produce box valued at $790 from June to October

Schedule: 8:00am to 12:00pm once per week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (please contact us if you can only work later in the day).

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Full Season Field Crew helps the farm for 76 hours over 19 weeks during the main growing season. Field Worker Shares mostly help the farm with morning harvest and post-harvest cleaning and packing. Other production tasks may include planting, weeding, mulching, trellising, box packing, etc. Please be aware that this is a very physically demanding job that involves lifting, kneeling on the ground, and working in various weather conditions.

Summer Field Crew

Season: June 9 – August 29 2025

Hours and membership: 76 hours over the summer season (4-8 hours per week over the 12 week summer season) in exchange for a weekly produce box valued at $790 from June to October

Schedule: 8:00am to 12:00pm one to two times per week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday (please contact us if you can only work later in the day).

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Summer Field Crew helps the farm for 76 hours during the 14 week summer season. Field Worker Shares mostly help the farm with morning harvest and post-harvest cleaning and packing. Other production tasks may include planting, weeding, mulching, trellising, box packing, etc. Please be aware that this is a very physically demanding job that involves lifting, kneeling on the ground, and working in various weather conditions.

Thursday Market Worker

Season: June 15 – October 12

Hours and membership: 80 hours over the season (4.5 hours per week for 18 weeks); $600 share

Schedule: 3:30-8 p.m. Thursdays

Location: Troy Kids’ Garden Pavilion, 502 Troy Drive

Thursday Market Worker Shares help the farm for 4.5 hours per week (Thursday evenings) for 18 weeks and receive a $600 share. During the Thursday evening market stand at Troy, worker share volunteers help to set-up, run, and break down the market, including stocking produce and interacting with and selling produce to customers. After the market, they help organize and clean up at Troy Farm.

Sunday Market Worker

Season: May 21 – October 8

Hours and membership: 80 hours over the season (4 hours per week for 20 weeks); $600 share

Shift: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m Sundays

Location: Northside Town Center, 1865 Northport Drive, Madison

Sunday Market Worker Shares help at the farmers market for 4 hours per week (Sunday mornings) for 20 weeks and receive a $600 share. During the Sunday Market, worker share volunteers help to stock the display, interact with customers, conduct sales, and break down the stand at the end of the market. After the market, they help organize and clean up at Troy Farm.

COMMUNITY WORKDAY COOK

Season: May – September

Hours and membership: 20-30 hours over the season; $300 share

Schedule: Flexible. Must have availability on many Saturdays

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Community Workday Cook uses supplies and vegetables provided by Troy Farm to prepare meals for the Community Workdays on the last Saturday of each month from May to September.

Greenhouse Waterer

Season: March – September

Hours and membership: 60 hours over the season: $450 share

Schedule: Late morning (around 10 a.m.) on Saturdays from March – September and late morning on Sundays during March, April and part of May

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Greenhouse Waterer comes to the farm in the late morning on Saturdays (around 10 a.m.) to water the transplants at the farm. This task usually takes around 1 hour but may take more or less time, depending on how many plants we have in the greenhouse. The greenhouse has the most plants in April and May and watering may take up to 2 hours during that period. In March, April, and part of May, the Greenhouse Waterer will help with watering on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.

U-Pick Garden Crew

Season: Early May through October 2025

Hours and membership: 76 hours over the course of the season in exchange for a weekly produce box valued at $790 from June to October

Schedule: We will coordinate a schedule based on when all members of the crew can meet up to work together.

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The U-Pick Garden Crew will maintain the site near the farm stand so members of the community can harvest high quality crops in a clean and safe environment. This work will include planting, weeding, watering, landscaping, special projects and general maintenance of the area. Most work will be done May through early September, with some clean up work done in October. Please be aware that this is a very physically demanding job that involves lifting, kneeling on the ground, and working in various weather conditions.

FARM MOWER

Season: May – October 2025

Hours and membership: 76 hours over the season in exchange for a weekly produce box valued at $790 from June to October

Schedule: Flexible

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Farm Mower helps the farm for 76 hours over the season. They use a tractor mower, weed wacker, and tools to keep farm pathways and farm fence areas mowed. They also use a riding lawn mower to mow walkways and other common areas throughout the farm and garden property. The schedule is flexible, depending on the availability of the volunteer.

Farm Stand Crew

Season: June 19 – October 16 2025

Hours and membership: 76 hours over the course of the 19 week season in exchange for a weekly produce box valued at $790 from June to October

Schedule: 3:45pm to 7:45pm every Thursday from June 19th to October 16th.

Location: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive

The Farm Stand Crew will help distribute produce to CSA members and fellow worker share volunteers each week. During Pizza Night weeks, the Farm Stand Crew may help as needed with pizza production and distribution and/or other tasks as needed. Please be aware that this is a very physically demanding job at times and it involves lifting and working in various weather conditions.

Pizza and Event Crew

Season: May 10 – October 4 2025

Hours and membership: 40 hours over the course of the season in exchange for a bi-weekly produce box valued at $395 from June to October, or 80 hours over the course of the season in exchange for a weekly produce box valued at $790 from June to October.

Schedule: Pizza and Event Crew worker shares can choose to work schedule A (40 hours), schedule B (40 hours), or both schedules (80 hours).

Schedule A: 3:30pm to 7:30pm on Thursdays from July 31st to September 18th: help cook, check out customers, and serve pizza and drinks.
As available: help at special events on May 10 (Plant Sale), September 27th (Farm Dinner Fundraiser), and October 4th (Harvest Fest).

Schedule B: 4 hours during the week (days and times TBD) from July 31st to September 18th: help prep vegetables for pizza.
As available: help at special events on May 10 (Plant Sale), September 27th (Farm Dinner Fundraiser), and October 4th (Harvest Fest).

Location: Schedule A: Troy Farm, 502 Troy Drive
Schedule B: Badger Rock Neighborhood Center, 517 East Badger Road

The Pizza and Event Crew prepares vegetables and other ingredients for our pizza nights during the week, helps cook, check out customers, and serve pizza and drinks on pizza nights, and helps do various other tasks during our special events throughout the season.