Hiring: easonal Grower/Farmer Teacher – The Farm School

Seasonal Grower/Farmer Teacher at The Farm School, May 1 – October 1, 2022 

The Farm School’s Program For Visiting Schools in Athol, Massachusetts is looking for a highly motivated, energized individual who wants to help us give authentic farm experiences to over fifteen hundred students a year while holding core components of our production vegetable growing operation.

In collaboration with a team of food growers/distributors and the PVS farmer/teacher team, the seasonal grower will provide direct vegetable operation support in growing food for our partner school communities (especially those facing food insecurity) while continuing to address food insecurity in our local Orange/Athol community by providing food for programs run through Quabbin Harvest such as their Senior CSA Shares and HIP funded CSA shares.

Our goal is to provide beautiful, healthy and nutritious crops, honor the land and build more reciprocal relationships with those in our community as well as the visiting teachers and youth who help us plant the seeds and care for the land creating a direct link to the source of the food they eat.

Core responsibilities:

— Participate and collaborate with growing team to meet vegetable production goals and to maintain all vegetable systems, equipment and infrastructure

— Ability to be timely, task oriented and work independently when needed; fulfilling delegated growing tasks from start to finish including harvest, wash up, pack out and delivery support as well as weeding, watering, compost application, bed preparation and greenhouse support

– Participate in initiatives and goals related to our food distribution and correspondence with partner organizations

— Participate in PVS and all-staff meetings

— Participate in PVS programming/weekday and weekend chore rotations

— Work alongside youth and integrating them into all aspects of the production vegetable operation

The Seasonal Grower’s typical week will include a mix of integrating youth into all aspects of the production vegetable operation as well as fulfilling your tasks on the weekly to-do list of the vegetable operation goals in our 2 acre market garden.

In addition to the particular aspects of this position, the unpredictable nature of farming/working with youth and our shared responsibility for the care of the farm requires that all employees engage in the process of meeting the needs of the farm/program- gardens, fields, forest, barns, bunkhouses, kitchens etc. and to do so in communication with the PVS Program Director, Co-Directors and fellow farmer/teachers. This includes participation in a rotation of weekend recycling and animal chores across the farm.

Qualities we’re looking for…

• A passion for working with youth and adults on the land
• A commitment to racial equity and liberation
• A deep understanding of the skills and concepts of sustainable/regenerative agriculture
• 1 or more seasons of commercial vegetable growing experience
• Strong organization and follow up skills
• An ability to work within a schedule that has multiple transitions
• Knowledge & experience with soil fertility management, weed management, pest & disease management practices, greenhouse support, harvest and post-harvest handling.
• Knowledge & experience with drip & overhead irrigation set up & operation.
• Comfort with repetitive, physical work.
• An understanding and openness to multiple foodways and knowledge of food systems/history
• Excitement about communicating your work with others.
• An ability to prioritize, work efficiently and ask for help when needed.
• Comfort with farm machinery operation and drive farm vehicles are a plus
• Basic carpentry and building/equipment maintenance skills are a plus
• Must be able to bend, lift and carry 50lbs and work in various weather conditions from

Compensation/benefits: 

• Salary commensurate with experience, range: $13,500 to $16,000 for the 5 -month position
• Full health insurance coverage (no dental)
• Participation in our Simple IRA retirement plan
• On-site housing as available and access to Farm School produced food

To apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@farmschool.org with title: PVS Seasonal Grower. We will review applications on a rolling basis and look to fill the roll as soon as possible. We will review all application submissions and will follow up with candidates who have been selected to continue in our search process.

We serve diverse communities of students and we are striving to develop a staff that reflects that. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply to our open positions. The Farm School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in any of its school administered policies or programs.