Assistant Farm Manager 2018 Farm Season About Sassafras Creek Farm is a USDA certified-organic diversified vegetable market farm in Leonardtown, Maryland, located south of Washington, D.C. We are a husband and wife team growing over 30 types of vegetables, small fruit and grains. We are dedicated to producing exceptionally delicious organic foods, providing meaningful employment, teaching employees and new farmers about small scale sustainable farming while protecting our natural resources and operating a profitable farm business. We use modern, scale-appropriate equipment, facilities and systems to help increase production efficiencies and improve product quality. We believe in working smarter not harder. Facilities and equipment include: three seasonal high tunnels, a propagation greenhouse, washing and packing barn, walk-in coolers, tractors, mechanical seeders, rotary spader, mechanical cultivation, water wheel transplanter, bed-shaper, mulch-layer/remover, no-till cover crop seeder, manure spreader, boom sprayer, flail mower, fertilizer spreader and market van. Our vegetables and grains are sold at a local farmer’s market, natural food stores, farm-to-table restaurants, other farms’ CSA, local bakers and caterers. We grow and sell year-round. The farm was established in 2011 and is veteran-owned/operated. Duties and Responsibilities The Assistant Farmer will direct, lead and manage all Crew Members and assist the Farmer/Owner on a wide-range of tasks that includes, but is not limited to: 1/6/2018
Harvesting, washing and packaging Record keeping Transplanting High tunnel management Irrigation management Greenhouse production Field preparation & clean-up Farm maintenance Cultivation & hand weeding Row cover management Planting bed preparation
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Disease and pest scouting Plant Trellising Mulch laying & removal Tractor operation Small mower operation Organic spraying Assist at farmer’s market (part time) Foliar spraying Other duties depending on skill Maintain tools and equipment
Starts: February 2018
Ends: December 2018
App Deadline: Open
Work: Depending on time of season. 30 – 50 hrs/week; up to 10 hr days, 5 days/week Qualifications - 2 season’s experience in vegetable farming - Ability to organize, manage and lead crew to complete all Farmer/Owner assigned tasks - Ability to work efficiently doing outdoor physical labor; lift and carry 50 lbs - Ability and experience working in a fast-paced team environment - Ability to focus on quality and have attention-to-detail while performing repetitive tasks - Ability to manage crops for disease, pest, cultivation, irrigation and harvest - Ability to maintain records for greenhouse, harvesting, pack shed, inventory, etc. - Mechanical aptitude - Serious commitment to learn organic farming as a career Benefits - 40 hrs of paid leave per year and a year-end bonus - You will learn skills to manage a small-scale organic vegetable operation on a modern, mechanized, diverse and profitable market farm - Free produce, fruit, grains, and herbs for your own use - Exceptional employees will have opportunities for increased responsibility and long-term employment Compensation - Starting at $14.50/hour or more depending on experience (DOE) To Apply Please complete the application and e-mail your resume to:
[email protected] Application – Assistant Farmer 1.
How did you hear about our farm?
2. What management and leadership experience would you bring to the farm? 3. What strengths and technical skills would make you a good employee? 4. Please describe three specific areas of sustainable farming that are most important to you and that you have interest in learning about. 5. What farm goals do you wish achieve as an employee on our farm – short term and long? 6. Please list any schools you have attended, major areas of study, technical certificate training or degrees.
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7. When are you available? (start - end dates) Is there anything that might prevent you from being able to work on our farm for the entire season? 8. Do you have any health conditions that would prevent you from doing physical labor regardless of the weather on our farm? Describe the most physical task you have ever had. 9. Do you smoke? 10. How do you like to spend your free time? 11. LAST: Please attach a resume that provides a list of work experience, both paid and volunteer. Also, please include three references (at least two from recent employers).
Thank you! David and Jennifer Paulk Sassafras Creek Farm (301) 247-1002
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