Hiring: Assistant Farm Manager – Just Roots

Just Roots is committed to making healthy, local food accessible to everyone in our community. Our mission is to increase access to healthy, local food by connecting people, land, resources, and know-how. We accomplish our mission in many ways, including: growing approximately 7 acres of produce at the Greenfield Community Farm and providing educational programs for all ages, community garden plots, financial assistance, and advocacy for healthy, local food as an equity builder. We are working to begin a conversation with healthcare providers to offer healthy, local food as a health benefit. We offer our food through a 200-member vegetable CSA, farmers markets and wholesale, and extend our CSA year-round with a soup share. Each season, 60-70% of our CSA shares are subsidized by community giving to make our produce more affordable for income-qualifying households.

We are not certified, but follow organic practices. We seek to increase biodiversity, and foster an environment where beneficial insects, fungi, and microbes can thrive. We use practices that protect the diverse ecology on the farm, and minimize environmental harm both on and off the farm. The farm is managed by Aaron Drysdale, and is entering it’s fourth growing season.  For more information about the farm and other Just Roots projects, visit www.justroots.org .

ASSISTANT FARM MANAGER

This job provides an opportunity to be part of a local organization that is committed to food justice and a farm that is continually evolving and growing. Together with the farm manager, the assistant manager will work to fulfill Just Roots mission by mentoring 3 farm apprentices during the season, producing fruit and vegetables for a 200-member CSA, hosting school groups and other visitors at the farm, and carefully and continuously stewarding the land.

The assistant farmer position includes a wide range of responsibilities that reflect the diversity of farming enterprises on the Greenfield Community Farm. They include but are not limited to:

• Tractor operation.
• Greenhouse management
• Perennial crop management (elderberries, black and raspberries, asparagus, and strawberries)

• Postharvest handling and marketing of vegetables
• Interacting with customers in both retail and wholesale settings
• Leading and mentoring farm crews and volunteers
• Basic carpentry and maintenance skills

An ideal candidate will have:

• 2 seasons minimum of experience in production vegetable farming
• Experience with small fruit production
• Ability and willingness to work independently, as well as part of a team
• Supervisory experience
• Punctuality
• Sense of humor
• Love of food and farming
• Tractor driving experience
• Valid driver’s license
• The ability to repeatedly lift 50 lb or more.
• Ability to work cheerfully in heat, cold, wind, rain, and clouds of mosquitos
• Willingness to train others and lead small crews.
• Attention to detail, farm systems, and organization
• Problem solving skills
• A sincere desire to learn from and with one’s co-workers.

Schedule: First week of March to Thanksgiving, 40 to 50 hr/wk plus paid 1 hour lunch break.

The assistant manager is encouraged to stay on at the farm for more than one season. Though, a multi-season commitment is not required.

Compensation:

• $20,000 over 9 months (March – Thanksgiving)
• Worker’s Compensation
• Unlimited produce
• 1 week paid vacation + paid sick/personal time
• Paid registration for NOFA/MA Summer Conference

TO APPLY:

Please send a letter of interest, 3 references, and your resume to farm manager, Aaron Drysdale. We look forward to hearing from you! We will start interviewing candidates in the beginning of January, and will fill the positions on a rolling basis. A farm visit is strongly encouraged, but phone interviews can be arranged for candidates who live far away.