Hiring: Tractor & Equipment Instructor All Farmers
Job Description: Tractor & Equipment Instructor
All Farmers www.allfarmers.world
Springfield, MA
Job Type & Schedule:
Part-time, hourly position. Average 24 hours/week. One weekend day and Monday’s required.
Location Primary work responsibilities in Agawam, MA and West Springfield, MA. Access to a vehicle is required.
Compensation Hourly, $26-30/hour commensurate with experience. Paid sick and vacation/holiday time.
About All Farmers supports autonomous groups of refugee and immigrant farmers in western Massachusetts. We understand the barriers immigrant and refugee farmers face from a social justice perspective, and work with the farmers to support their success in spite of the systemic barriers they face. Our strategic priorities are directed by the farmers collectively and through farmer representation on the Board of Directors. All Farmers works with over 60 farming families, sharing four farm sites. Current farmers come from 10 countries, and predominantly speak Maay Maay, Nepali, and Kiswahili, as well as Kirundi and Congolese.
Summary
All Farmers is training Peer Teachers and Community Coordinators from the communities we serve to manage the soils/equipment on the new community farm and train other farmers. Our goal is long-term sustainability of the community farm and for the farmers to be able to independently, cooperatively manage the site. The Tractor & Equipment Instructor will train Peer Teachers and Community Coordinators in comprehensive operation and basic maintenance of the equipment necessary to manage a 60-acre organic community vegetable farm. Safety is a high priority and prevention of accidents should be emphasized in all trainings. The Tractor & Equipment Instructor will implement our field management plan, using workshops and one-on-one TA sessions with Peer Teachers and Community Coordinators directly operating equipment as much as feasible. At times the Tractor & Equipment Instructor will need to complete some portion of the tasks themselves as necessary to stay on schedule. The Tractor & Equipment Instructor with these staff will implement cover crop rotations, incorporate biochar and compost applications, and other soil health improvement measures addressing current soil concerns including low organic matter and compaction. The Tractor & Equipment Instructor will make equipment and soil health recommendations, and participate in continued learning opportunities to promote healthy soils and farm efficiency. Workshops are held in multiple languages. We welcome but do not require bilingual language abilities for this position—interpreters on staff attend and interpret for these workshops.
Job Description Responsibilities
• Train Peer Teachers & Community Coordinators: Train Peer Teachers and Community
Coordinators in field management skills and practices, with a focus on equipment usage and
cover crop management. Provide hands-on technical assistance to Peer Teachers practicing
new skills.
o Safe equipment use and maintenance
o Soil health & fertility; field & bed preparation
o Ergonomics
• Field & Soil Management Implementation: With the goal to train Peer Teachers while
comprehensively improving soil health, incorporating best organic practices in consultation
with other experts and the Co-Directors:
o As part of training Peer Teachers, prioritize assigning implementation &
maintenance tasks to these staff and provide the training, support, and
guidance for these staff to carry out these tasks on schedule.
▪ Supervise or carryout tractor field operations as necessary to manage
cover crops, maintain soil health, and prepare farmer plots for the
season
▪ Coordinate delivery timing with biochar & compost company. (CoDirectors will otherwise manage the contract; application of the
materials will be completed by an outside contractor)
▪ Carry out other site care tasks such as mowing, maintaining drainage swales,
grading access roads, etc.
▪ Coordinate supply orders and equipment maintenance as-needed,
again involving Peer Teachers to the greatest extent possible for their
continued learning and professional development
▪ Winterize pumphouse and other temperature-sensitive field equipment
o Recommend field management improvements as they arise for:
▪ Drainage swales and wetter soil areas
▪ Cover crop mixes, rotations, and timing
▪ Equipment, tool, spare part, and supply acquisition & equipment management
▪ Increasing soil organic matter content, biological activity, fertility, and overall
soil health
▪ Learn best practices from agricultural service providers (e.g. workshops,
events, demonstrations) and recommend relevant practices to All Farmers
o Attend and support farmer orientation and annual farmer meeting
o Give other project collaborators site access as coordinated by Co-Directors
• Install and maintain interim irrigation system:
o Prioritizing Peer Teacher learning opportunities: Assemble and troubleshoot interim
irrigation system installation and winterization.
o Maintain the system, teach basic repair as opportunities arise.
Qualifications
Qualities:
● Self-motivated; self-organized; excellent follow-through (required)
● Reliable, and safe operation of equipment (required)
● Commitment to building and maintaining trust within the communities (required)
Experience:
● Extensive tractor and related equipment experience (required)
● Basic tractor maintenance (required)
● Preference for applicants with experience with the equipment listed below or comparable
● Experience evaluating soil conditions and developing comprehensive soil health plans (required)
Skills:
● Advanced use and basic maintenance of tractors and related equipment (required)
● Basic math skills (addition/subtraction, multiplication, calculator use) (required)
● Proficient written English abilities (required)
● Ability to source required materials and communicate clearly with vendors (required)
● Farm-based teaching/training experience (preferred)
● Bilingual language abilities (preferred but not required)
Education:
● No educational requirements
Our Equipment
John Deere 6130M
Imants Spader – 38 Series
Maschio Speed Disc with Air Seeder
Flail Mower
BCS Rototiller
Pending: Subsoiler; No-Till Seed Drill
To Apply
Please submit an application online at https://www.allfarmers.world/employment
