Farm Jobs and Apprenticeships

The Job: A packshed manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the farm's packing operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety in packing produce for our community. Key duties include managing staff, enforcing quality and food safety standards, controlling inventory, minimizing waste, and maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the packshed. A packshed manager also handles administrative tasks like communication with customers, projecting, reporting, and coordinating with the team to meet our goals. 

To Apply: Application is here and send resumes with 3 work related references to reddoorfamilyfarm@gmail.com

Timeline: Hiring is usually done November through January for the following season but we are accepting applications now.

Duration: April-November (possibility for more)

Compensation:

• $20+/hour, depending on experience

• Housing (optional)- Insurance, electric, water, taxes, trash disposal

• SIMPLE IRA- 3% match and access to financial advisor

• Furthering education- Veggie growers conference, etc

• Gear Stipend-$200

• Access to Farm Food

• Access to tools, equipment

• Seasonal bonuses (farm performance bonus) 

• Unemployment insurance

Responsibilities:

• Take ownership over the packshed space and be a positive leader

• Be the epi-center of daily communication

• Implement packshed procedures

• Manage crew when in the packshed

• Communicate with field leaders and Stacey

• Keep inventory of all post harvest materials

• Maintain the highest quality standard 

• Maintain coolers- Inventory-label, cleanliness, temperature

• Fulfill online orders and communicate any problems

• Lead CSA pack

• Keep record of harvest and farmers markets log

• Help maintain records for Organic Cert

• Online store

• Website updating

• Basic accounting

• VAPG/RFSI Grant

  • Record keeping

  • Reporting

Requirements:

• A positive attitude and an appreciation for the work

• Experience in farming, food handling, or a similar processing environment 

• Experience in a leadership role

• Strong capacity for organization and leadership

• Strong communication skills

• Willingness to learn and implement our current standard operating procedures and strive to make them better.

• Ability to pivot and problem solve (the farm can throw some curve balls!)

• Ability to design efficient workflows, move quickly, and prioritize deadlines.

• Comfortable with technology -spreadsheets, Quickbooks, willing to learn our online platform

• Ability to arrive to work on time and ready to work

• Ability to work independently and make decisions with common sense

• Open to learning our specific processes and an eye for efficiency and quality

• Willingness to work and thrive in every kind of weather

• Physical stamina and strength to easily lift and carry 50 lbs, sustained bending for long periods of time, and use sharp tools without injury.

The ideal candidate has:

• An interest in a 2 or more year commitment

• A desire for efficiency, detail, and a sense of urgency

• Strong community and communication skills

• Willingness to take initiative and take on responsibility

• Creative outlook on problem solving

• Writing grant proposals and/or managing grant awards

• Enthusiasm in our work

To Apply: Application is here and send resumes with 3 work related references to reddoorfamilyfarm@gmail.com

Timeline: Hiring is usually done November through January for the following season but we are always accepting applications.

Duration: May-November

Compensation $15+/hour, depending on experience

• Housing (optional/until its gone)- Insurance, electric, water, taxes, trash disposal

• SIMPLE IRA- 3% match and access to financial advisor after second year

• Furthering education- Veggie growers conference, etc

• Gear Stipend-$200

• Access to Farm Food

• Access to tools, equipment

• Seasonal bonuses (farm performance bonus) 

• Unemployment insurance

Responsibilities:

• Working as a team to get our daily tasks accomplished. 

• Seeding, transplanting

• Greenhouse/high tunnel production

• Irrigation

• Cultivating

• Harvest/wash/pack of produce

• Book keeping

• Training and managing volunteers

• Farmers market preparation and sales

• Whatever else comes up!

Requirements:

• Ability to arrive to work on time and ready to work

• Ability to communicate effectively and be a team player

• Ability to work independently and make decisions with common sense

• Open to learning our specific processes and an eye for efficiency and quality

• Willingness to work and thrive in every kind of weather

• Physical stamina and strength to easily lift and carry 50 lbs, sustained bending for long periods of time, and use sharp tools without injury.

The ideal candidate has:

• A serious interest and experience in organic farming

• A desire for efficiency, detail, and a sense of urgency

• Strong community and communication skills

• Willingness to take initiative and take on responsibility

• Commitment and enthusiasm

Preferences

We prefer but don’t require applicants to have some experience working on a small farm, ideally with certified organic growing experience. Experience with any of the following is highly welcome:

• A CSA system

• Wash/pack procedures

• Record keeping

Our Apprenticeship Program

We are passionate about teaching aspiring farmers and farm managers what we know!

If you are interested in the apprenticeship program, please visit the Fairshare CSA Coalition website.

We prefer entering into an apprenticeship/mentor relationship after at least one year working on the farm team.