Hiring: Assistant Grower – Upswing Farm
Job Title: Assistant Grower
Reports to: Farm Manager
Hours: 32-40 hours/week
Position Period: April 1st-December 13th (both start and end dates can be modified)
Classification: Hourly
Compensation and Benefits: $15-$18/hour depending on experience, up to 20 hours of paid participation in Emass CRAFT or other farm-relevant educational experience, 5 paid wellness days, a weekly vegetable CSA share, $200 gear stipend. On-site, shared housing with all utilities included for $600/month may be available.
Fair Hiring Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, or sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Farm Overview
We are a for-profit, certified organic, family farm, managed by two experienced owner/operators. We distribute to 450 member families through a year-round CSA, our primary outlet. We attend one summer farmers market, offer retail sales during CSA pick-up, sell 120 bouquets/week from July to October, and sell over 1000 flats of certified organic seedlings at our spring seedling sale. Our goal is to distribute high quality produce and flowers, continually refine our systems to improve soil fertility, crop quality, production efficiency, provide a meaningful employment opportunity for our team, and achieve the financial success required to make our goals possible.
Job Summary
Assistant growers work closely with the farm managers and the rest of the farm team in all aspects of vegetable and flower production including, but not limited to, propagation, planting, trellising, mulching, harvesting both produce and flowers, washing and packing, distribution, and tractor work relative to skill level and experience. Our success depends upon the swift, efficient and collaborative work of our team to grow and distribute high quality produce to our customers. Assistant growers should be prepared to learn and practice a wide variety of vegetable and flower production skills in a fast-paced work environment. Our training is hands-on, real work, with extensive information provided on the rationale for our chosen systems, tools and techniques.
Responsibilities
Participate in all aspects of production including:
Harvesting, washing, sorting and packing produce and flowers
Transplanting by hand or on the tractor mounted transplanter
Cultivating/weeding either with hoes, hand tools or by hand
Seeding in the propagation house
Maintaining clean workspaces like the wash station, farm trucks, propagation house, etc
Participate in weekly work planning meetings
Follow directions and ask clarifying questions to accomplish each task to farm standards
Some basic tractor work, with training, may be possible
Minimum Qualifications
Some farm experience desired but not required. Similar relevant experience may include: other production experience, participation in team sports, work in a commercial kitchen, etc.
Must be 18 or older
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Able to do fast, quality, detailed work like bunching, picking, seeding and hand weeding
Able to lift and carry 25-40lbs repeatedly, 50lbs on occasion
Willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions
Good communication skills
Able to receive and digest constructive feedback
Able to work independently as well as part of a diverse team
Adaptable to a shifting work plan based on the multitude of uncontrollable variables in farming
Self-motivated and eager to continually improve
Capable of productive collaboration with a variety of managers and team members
Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Foundational understanding of vegetable production and crop quality
Valid driver’s license
Ability and willingness to safely drive a 16-foot refrigerated box truck
Willing and able to manage an off-site CSA distribution
How to Apply & Application Deadline
Email kevin@upswingfarm.com with a letter of interest, resume, and two professional references.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
