Crew Member (Full time or Part Time) 2018 Farm Season Sassafras Creek Farm is a USDA certified-organic market diversified vegetable 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 and facilities 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 seeder, spader, 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 – Position Description The Crew Member will work alongside the Farmer/Owner, Assistant Farm Manager and other employees, on a wide-range of tasks that include: -
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Harvesting, washing and packaging Transplanting High tunnel production & maintenance Irrigation management Mulch laying & removal Organic spraying Field preparation & clean-up
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Record keeping Farm maintenance Trellising Hand weeding Row cover management Disease and pest scouting Greenhouse seeding Assist at farmer’s market
Starts: March
Ends: late November
App Deadline: Open
Hours Full-time seasonal (5 days/week; 8-9 hours/day) - or Part-time (3 days/week; 8-9 hours/day). Friday is a required workday during the market season (April – November). Other days are negotiable Qualifications & Preferences - 1 season’s experience in farming or similar field - Ability to work efficiently doing outdoor physical labor, lift and carry 50 lbs - Experience working in a fast-paced team environment - Ability to focus on quality while performing repetitive tasks - Willingness to learn and take on responsibilities to help manage assigned crops - A can-do attitude, attention-to-detail and able to work well with others - Record-keeping - Mechanical aptitude - Interest in returning the following season and an agricultural career Benefits - Full-time Seasonal - Starting at $11.00/hour or more depending on experience (DOE), 24 hrs of paid leave per season and a year-end bonus - Part-time seasonal - $10.25/hour or more depending on experience - You will learn small-scale organic vegetable production on a mechanized, modern, year round diversified profitable market farm - Exceptional employees may have opportunities for increased responsibility and long-term employment - Free produce, fruit, grains, and herbs for your own use To Apply Please complete the following application and e-mail your resume to:
[email protected] Application – Crew Member 1.
How did you hear about us?
2. What relevant 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 farming that are most important to you and that you have interest in learning about. 5. Please list any schools you have attended, major areas of study, technical certificate training or degrees. 6. What goals do you have working a season on our farm?
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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. What is the most difficult physical task you have ever accomplished? 9. Do you have reliable transportation? 10. How do you like to spend your free time? 11. Do you smoke? 12. Do you have any health conditions that would prevent you from doing physical labor regardless of the weather on our farm? 13. LAST: Please attach your 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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