Vacancy expired!
Organic/biodynamic farm is hiring for the 2020 season (Common Hands Farm)
We have three season-long assistant management positions available; prior vegetable farming experience is necessary.
1. Assistant field and crop manager:
This position works directly under our head farmer to track and help manage all aspects of crop production. This aspiring farmer has direct experience with growing crops, managing field rotations, crop health, and harvest plans. They will understand the principles and systems that create a healthy organic farm from the soil to plant, and have understanding of the many outlets and customers that farms work with and depend on.
This position is ideal for someone who has the goal of starting or managing their own vegetable farm operation. All farms have a constant need for strategies to optimize efficiency and crop yields. This person will play a key role, together with the head farmer, to make the best of our many resources despite any limitations.
Some areas of focus for the assistant field and crop manager :
Crop planning and field overview
Fertility mgmt and soil prep
Biodynamic Compost mgmt
Irrigation systems
Assisting with equipment use and maintenance
Planting, cultivating and harvesting many diverse crops every day
2. Greenhouse propagation and Microgreen production specialist
This person will have a focus on greenhouse efficiency, watering schedules, using a planting calendar, maintaining regular successions of microgreens, and the baby greens and crops we grow indoor year round. We utilize a unique low waste system. Our microgreens and shoots are grown in flat trays and harvested for our wholesale customers, chefs, CSA members, and farmers markets on demand. We constantly need to keep a greater supply than we sell so we don’t run short of what’s needed for our fluctuating demand. All leftover trays are re-planted into greenhouse and herb garden beds to be sold as mature crops, and all remains of harvested or expired trays are fed to our chickens and pigs to produce superior quality eggs and pork. All of these stages of production need to be managed with excellent efficiency to be profitable and small differences in organization and work ethic ripple through the entire greenhouse and its ability to function well for our farm. This person would also be responsible for all of our seedling propagation from April 1 onwards, and the health of all of our crops depend on quick adaption and innovative thinking to keep the greenhouse healthy and happy.
This person would also manage our tomato greenhouse together with our summer apprentices and other farm employees .
It can be very hot in the summer in the greenhouse, so hours may need to be flexible to work in the greenhouse at the more optimum times in the day. It is also possible to create an outdoor work/tray planting space in the shade during the hotter months.
This person needs to do their best to meet our weekly greenhouse planting goals, as well as assist with some other general field harvests in between.
Responsibilities include:
Seedling planting, germination, and maintaining their overall health
Micro green planting and harvesting on a set weekly schedule
Watering regularly, and coordinating other employees to water throughout the week
Maintaining organization, proper seat storage, and a sterile greenhouse environment to avoid mold and bacteria
Ensuring all mechanical, and infrastructural components are in good working order
Coordinations with other employees and field team about crops ready for the field and assistance needed by other employees to keep planting on schedule
Constantly refining with the head farmer how efficiently greenhouse systems and activities can be implemented for overall success.
3. Assistant harvest, sales and distribution manager
This is another ideal job for someone interested in seriously learning the ins and outs of running a small farm business. We sell through many diverse outlets such as farmers markets, wholesale accounts for both delivery and pick up, and our 80 member unique CSA model.
This is a job that must be flexible and able to split time between working in the field, the packing and processing shed, and local deliveries and farmers markets working under our business manager. This job is the most diverse job on our farm and requires proficiency at marketing, sales, along with a passion for produce and and understanding of the culinary arts.
We harvest 5 days a week on our farm and many mornings during our peak season consist of 5-7 hours of focused and intensive harvesting, processing, washing, packing, organizing and preparing each wholesale order, restaurant delivery, farmers market load, or other specific products for our many customers and distributors.
This person would work together with our farm business manager to familiarize themselves with over 100 specific crop varieties, and our many diverse outlets and customers. They would also meet with the head farmer at the beginning of each week to discuss all up and coming crops, weekly availability, and our retail and wholesale pricing.
Together with both the head farmer, and farm business manager, they would work to manage inventory, and send out information to our customers about weekly availability, product specials, and all other distribution information.
This is a job for someone who is detail-oriented, has a strong sense of quality control, food safety, and is also mindful of meeting our farms goals in executing a viable and profitable farm season. Must be flexible with one’s schedule based on making sure each and every order is filled, and reaches the appropriate customer each day of the week.
We are also constantly growing our distribution reach and customer base, and this job entails approaching new restaurants, stores, and wholesale customers to promote ordering from our farm. Working together with the farm owners to ensure we are hitting the sales goals needed to keep our farm profitable and viable. Some afternoons may be spent going door to door with potential wholesale clients and strategizing/expanding our wholesale delivery route.
Responsibilities include:
Proficient harvest, packing, sorting and handling of our many varieties of fruits, veggies and herbs
Maintaining field and storage inventory and updating online database
Creating harvest and packing lists together with head farmers to make sure our morning flows smoothly
Adapting and making changes when necessary to maintain harvest efficiency and ensure only quality produce gets sold
Sales and marketing, strong personal skills
Basic understanding of invoicing and some data entry
Driving our delivery van safely and making sure all orders are correct on delivery
Good communication with head farmers and all other employees about day to day needs, goals and objectives
Maintaining harvest/packing facilities in an orderly fashion making sure all supplies are in sufficient stock, and all necessary farmers market supplies are ready each week.
To apply, please send:
A current and brief resume
1-2 references
A personal cover letter about you that incorporates the following questions:
We want to know what drives you to farm, and what your goals are with our farm.
We are interested to know about your past work experience, and how you would bring your own skills and passions to your work on our farm.
Tell us about your past farming experiences and what you learned from them. Reflecting on these experiences, why would you choose our farm as your next venture?
Tell us a bit about your work ethic. What are your strengths and weaknesses in general work environment?
If able, name any specific skills you feel would benefit our farm or community.
Do you have experience with biodynamic farming? If you are unfamiliar with it, look it up and tell us a little bit about what you think of the idea.
We look forward to hearing from you and building a strong, caring, and co creative team!
