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Farm Assistant Needed in Aravaipa Canyon (Full Time)
About Aravaipa Farms Orchard & Inn:
We are a family-run orchard & country inn, and we are looking for a hardworking, enthusiastic and reliable person to join our team. Our mission is to share the beauty of Aravaipa Canyon with our guests, while growing sustainable, nutritious food for Arizonan communities.
For the past 20 years, we have operated as a small Country Inn featuring 5 Casitas and a 3 bedroom Farmhouse. We offer nutritious farm-to-table dining while attracting down-to-earth visitors. We are all about hospitality and ensuring our guests have a great experience. We have a Certified Excellence rating on Trip advisor.
We are a small oasis in the desert, with about 800 stone fruit & citrus trees and a 10,600 sq ft garden growing veggies and herbs. We have a strong commitment to sustainable/organic practices and responsible water usage.
The Employee Experience:
This position provides a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of running a small hospitality operation along with active participation in managing an organic vegetable garden and a 14 acre fruit orchard. Youll be responsible for managing our garden and assisting our innkeepers with all activities, including but not limited to the below:
You will ensure the success of the garden produce throughout its entire lifecycle, including successive planting, growing and harvesting of all produce.
You will help us plan seasonally, ensuring were meeting the needs of the Inn and the local markets while also focusing on desert-adapted varieties whenever possible.
You will keep the garden aesthetically pleasing for guests of the Inn.
You will be an active part of the hospitality team and be available to help guests with any requests when the innkeeper is unavailable, including managing retail purchases/transactions, answering the phone, etc.
You will assist in any other tasks that may be needed, including but not limited to:
Checking in guests & assisting with any requests
Helping with food prep/closing down the kitchen after dinner
Help with housekeeping and cleaning rooms.
Landscaping, irrigating, light maintenance
Ideal Candidate
Working at Aravaipa Farms will be rewarding and provide lifelong memories, but do not come here expecting a vacation. We work hard as a team to provide the highest quality guest experience as well as the highest quality produce, so there is always plenty to do!
We are looking for an apprentice who is eager to learn the backend of running a country inn. You must have good communication skills and be willing to have daily interactions with guests. You must be highly detail oriented, personable, and be passionate about nature and gardening. You also must have experience in planting and maintaining a garden, be a self-starter, & be able to work alone on occasion.
Room and Board
The position starts September 1, 2019 and ends June 30, 2020. The position is expected to work an average of 5 days a week, and includes a private room & bathroom, access to whatever fruits & veggies are growing on-site, basic toiletry amenities, and WiFi. Your days off will likely be during the week, as weekends are our busy period. Compensation is $1000/month plus room and board, plus an END OF SEASON BONUS of up to $2000[a].
Employee Perks
We encourage you to take advantage of all local activities and on-farm amenities on your days off. There are lots of hiking and mountain biking trails as well as hundreds of acres to explore within the surrounding Aravaipa Wilderness Area. You will have access to all seasonal produce grown on-site. The biggest perk of all will be learning from our Farm Managers/Innkeepers, whether it be hospitality, garden management, basic maintenance/construction skills, etc. They are two of the most skilled people around!
Getting Here and Getting Around
We are located 5 miles from the West Entrance of Aravaipa Canyon, which is about 1.5 hours NE of Tucson, and 2 hours SE of Phoenix. You will likely want a car (or mountain bike) of your own to fully explore the surrounding area on your days off.
For Fun
Aravaipa Canyon is a narrow, winding canyon chiseled by Aravaipa Creek, lined with lush, riparian habitat. It offers some of the most spectacular and remote scenery found in Arizona. Aravaipa Creek meanders through private and federal land within Graham and Pinal counties. A total of 69,600 acres surrounds this perennial stream, including the 19,700-acre Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area.
Only 30 people are permitted to enter the canyon each day from the West Entrance so this habitat remains pristine. Permits are cheap and easy to get during the week (when youll likely have your days off; weekend permits are very difficult to get), and it never gets old no matter how many times you hike it. Birding and wildlife is outstanding due to the year round water supply in the canyon, which is rare in the state.
There are plenty of other adventures waiting outside the canyon as well for those interested in rock climbing, mountain biking, or visiting nearby towns and cities such as Tucson and Phoenix.
How to Apply
If interested please email cover letter and resume.
