Shefa Teen Programming
שפע, or Shefa - Hebrew for Abundance – is a paid teen educational internship centered on meaningful work outside, community building and Jewish Land Justice values. A Jewish background is not required! In fact, we enthusiastically welcome and encourage people of all cultures to participate and contribute their perspectives.
We welcome both new and returning teens to work alongside each other on our community farm to help grow food for our community while having fun outside together. Activities will include learning ecologically integrated farm skills like building soil, low-impact crop management, pollinator plant care, harvesting medicinal and food crops and preserving crops for future enjoyment. In addition to these skills, teens will spend time each day exploring topics of food and land justice through the lens of Jewish tradition.
Applications for Summer Shefa are now live!
Want to get paid to learn and work outside while building the skills to create a more beautiful, just, sustainable world?
Spring Opportunities 2026
This year we are extending a special invitation to Shefa alumni to join us for Community Volunteer/Harvest Hours and Work Party this spring! Farmers Nat and Avi will be there leading a volunteer farm work project and would love to see you there! Unlike our Shefa internship, this is not a paid opportunity. However, we’d be happy to sign off on community service hours.
Community Volunteer/Harvest Hours are 3-6pm on the following Wednesdays: 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20 5/27, 6/3, and 6/10
Community Work Party: 5/10, 9:30am-1pm
All teen volunteers on the Farm this spring must have a parent/guardian sign this waiver and email it to avi@abundancefarm.org before volunteering.
Summer Shefa 2026
In the summer, we welcome both new and returning teens to work alongside each other on our community farm to help grow food for our community and discuss food justice topics while having fun outside together.
This year, Summer Shefa will run as three sessions, please see below to apply for the option that is the best fit for you. For all participants, Summer Shefa will be held Monday through Friday, 8 am - noon.
8-10th Grade: Shefa “Squash” is a 2-week, hands-on, paid seasonal program for young people entering 8-10th grade. The program is 2 weeks long, running from July 27th to August 7th. Participants receive a stipend of $25 per day. The program will include farm work, community building, Jewish food justice learning, supporting our revamped flower CSA, and so much more!
Click here to apply for Shefa Squash.
11th-12th Grade: Shefa “Corn” is a 4-week, hands-on, paid seasonal program for young people entering 11th and 12th grade. The program runs from June 29th to July 24th and includes honing low-impact farming skills, running our revamped flower CSA, and off-site visits to nearby food justice partners. (If transportation is a barrier for applying, we have travel stipends available.) Participants receive a stipend of $35/day.
Click here to apply for Shefa Corn.
11th-12th Grade, Option 2: “Corn COBS” (Counselors Of Blossoming Squash) is a 6-week, hands-on, paid program intended for past participants of Shefa at Abundance Farm, though first time participants are welcome to apply. Participants will spend the first 4 weeks as part of the Corn crew and then stay on for 2 more weeks to support the new Squash crew! This is a new opportunity for Shefa participants who are excited to take on a leadership role at the Farm. The program runs from June 29th to August 7th. Participants receive a stipend of $35/day.
Core Components of Shefa Teen Programs
Meaningful Work Outside
Participants will learn and practice:
Seeding, planting, plant care, harvesting, mulching, seed saving, and compost production;
Growing food to share with our community;
Working outside in all kinds of weather: hot, rainy, muggy, and cold!
Community Building
Participants will engage in the work of:
Developing personal and community practices in reflection, awareness, and growth;
Exploring personal social identities and how they relate and intersect with our food system and community;
Developing leadership skills and exploring our capacity to create change at Abundance Farm and in the wider local food system
Jewish Food Justice
Participants will engage with questions such as:
What is food justice?
What can Jewish tradition teach us about food justice?
How can we be part of building a more just food system?
Shefa is for participants of any or no faith backgrounds.
Questions?
Feel free to reach out to our farm education staff with any questions at avi@abundancefarm.org
The Shefa program of Abundance Farm is made possible, in part, through the support of the Jewish Federation of Western Mass.
