Here's how it works
Join our work trade crew (General shifts)
Join our crew as a divider
Sign up for harvest and fulfillment
WATCH
Please watch the brief intro videos above.
CHECK THE DAHLIA LIST
View dahlia varieties available as compensation for work trade participants
SIGN UP (GENERAL)
Click here to sign up for a shift as a DIGGER, WASHER, STAMPER, or PICK-N-PACKER
Fill out the registration form so we can contact you about the schedule
SIGN UP (FOR DIVIDERS)
Sign up for a DIVIDER try-out session
View the schedule for accepted dividers (if accepted, we'll send you a link to sign up for shifts)
ORDER YOUR CLUMPS (FOR EVERYBODY)
Click here to place orders for your clumps (we'll email you the password to the order form before your shift)
COME TO THE FARM!
Show up ready to have fun, work hard, and learn lots on the day of your shift at:
Sunset View Farm Dahlias
27 Pierce Road
Lafayette NJ 07848
Trade your time for tubers while you learn about the world's most beautiful hobby
We have our roots as a community garden and teaching farm, and for years we've been hosting workshops and events that give our local dahlia lovers a chance to drop into the adventure of the farm for a few hours at a time.
We have three work trade programs throughout the season: fulfillment, planting, and harvest.
Participants have a blast and make new friends while learning all about what goes into caring for these unique plants. And of course, everyone gets to take home tubers for your own gardens!
How it works
Whether you're joining us for fulfillment, planting or harvest, here's the process.
Join the interest list
We finalize details and release shift sign ups a month or two ahead of the program. Please drop us your email below to be notified when sign-ups are open!
Sign up for a shift
When sign-ups are open, we'll send you an email with a link to claim your shifts and (if applicable) place your pre-order for the dahlia tubers you'll take home as your compensation.
Join us at the farm
We train everyone together at the start of your shift, then we spend the day working together. Bring your dahlia questions so you can pick our brains about all things dahlias, and don't forget to pack a lunch if you're staying all day.
Get tubers!
Compensation rates vary depending on the point in the season you're joining us for, so please check each section (fulfillment, planting or harvest) to see how many tubers you'll take home after your shift :)
The Work Trade Contract
Us, you, & 2,000 gardeners
While it is lots of fun, our Work-Trade Program is not a free community event.
It is an exchange of our valuable skills training, our farm products, and our expert knowledge for your valuable time, attention to detail, and good faith effort -- all in the service of our customers around the country.
Our promise to you
We promise to give you top quality tubers, hands on skills practice, and quality education.
Your promise to us
In return, we ask for your best efforts, timeliness, and concern for our customers.
Our commitment to our customers
We will only get to work together because of our wonderful customers! Over 2,000 people trust us each year by allowing us to be a part of their flower garden, which is something very precious to them. In order to honor that trust, we must uphold the highest quality standards.
You are a valuable part of our farm business
Whether for one shift or ten, you will become a valuable part of of our farm business. Provided the pace and quality of your work is good, you can work as many shifts with us as you like, until the process is finished.
We may ask you to switch roles
However, if your skills or motivation are not a good fit for a particular role, we will politely ask you to switch roles, not to return in a particular role, or not to return at all if there is no suitable role available.
We have had to redirect some people to a task more suited to their ability and interest. If this happens to you, don't worry, we don't hate you, and we still want to enjoy the day working together.
While we're all having fun, we must do what's best for everyone, but most especially our customers.
Tuber Fulfillment
(November 2025 and April 2026)
Send beauty to gardeners all over America
Help us in the packing room! Work trade participants will help us pack boxes with tubers and send them on their merry way to their new homes.
Customers start placing orders for tubers with us in July. Some customers want delivery in the fall, so after the harvest, we set up our farm for fall shipping. Then we store the rest of our customers' tubers safely over the winter until it's time to set up for shipping again in spring.
The job is fairly simple, but you'll need to pay close attention to detail to make sure you are choosing the right tubers for each order. You'll be indoors in a cool environment, so please bring layered clothing and comfortable shoes, since you'll also be on your feet for your entire shift.
Fall fulfillment (Pick-n-Packers)
Week of November 17th 2025
2025 Fall Compensation rates:
Participants will take home freshly dug, undivided clumps of tubers at the end of your shift. You'll be able to place an order for the specific varieties you want before your shift, we'll dig them for you; and you'll take your clumps home the same day.
Pick-n-Packers will receive 4 clumps per 3.5 hour shift ($240 value)
Shift dates and times
3.5 hours each | Dates and times in November TBD
Notes on spring fulfillment (April)
Spring fulfillment is a very similar experience to fall. Rather than clumps, participants in spring will be compensated with pre-sprouted, individually divided tubers to take home the same day. More details will be posted here closer to the date of our next program in 2026.
Harvest
(Oct-Nov 2025)
Bring in the tuber harvest
The 2024 Harvest Work Trade Program was an absolute blast. More than a hundred participants helped us process over 7,000 dahlias in record time.
Participants had a great time learning about the different stages of the process, and of course, took home lots of tubers for their own gardens!
We are hosting a similar program in November of 2025.
2025 Harvest Work Trade: Oct 29 - Nov 15th
(2025 Work trade will continue with fulfillment shifts the following week)
Roles
DIGGERS: Digging clumps in the field
WASHERS: Washing clumps
DIVIDERS: Dividing clumps (by application only)***
STAMPERS: Stamping tubers
Compensation rates:
Participants will take home freshly dug, undivided clumps of tubers at the end of your shift. You'll be able to place an order for the specific varieties you want before your shift, and you'll take your clumps home the same day.
Diggers, Washers, & Stampers will take home 4 clumps per 3.5 hr shift ($240 value)
Dividers will take home 6 clumps per 3.5 hr shift ($360 value)
Shift dates and times
3.5 hours each | Tuesday - Saturday | Oct 29- November 15th 2025
Other flexible hours may be available for dividers
Field Planting
(May)
Help us plant 10,000 dahlias!
In 2025 we planted nearly our entire field in a single day with the help of a team of fellow dahlia lovers. We'll be revisiting planting day in 2026.
May (2026 dates TBD)
Planting day is usually run in two shifts. You are welcome to sign up for one or both!
Work Trade Participant Roles
Folks will be under the direction of a manager planting dahlia tubers in our ground cover mats (see photos). There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions about all things dahlias while we work together.
This is a fun process, but it is a strenuous one. Your shift will involve being in full sun, bending, and working on hands and knees for four hours. If that doesn't sound like something you're interested in, please pass on this event! We'll have less strenuous work trade opportunities again in the Fall.
Compensation
Planting shifts get to take home pre-sprouted tubers to plant in your own gardens! Specific varieties are determined by our available stock in early May.
This event is weather dependent
Conditions must be just right for successful planting. If we get rained out, we'll let you know via text and email if we have to reschedule.
Words from past participants
"Thank you SO much for this garden changing opportunity!! I legit cannot tell you how excited I am, how much I learned working on your farm, and how much joy it’s already brought me. I really appreciate all your time, kindness, and knowledge sharing!"
Jamie S, 2024
"It was so much fun being around your family and learning so much!"
Jennifer T, 2024
"It was a great experience for me as well 😎"
Ken B, 2024
"My sister and I so enjoyed our time at the farm and will be back definitely! Thank you so much!"
Jennifer B, 2024
