Assistant Farm Manager - Posting No. 1411
Date Posted
October 15, 2008
Employer
Atlas Farm
Location
Deerfield, MA
Job Description
Atlas Farm is a small family farm located in Deerfield, MA committed to growing high quality produce. We grow a wide variety of certified organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers and sell our products at farmers' markets in Boston. We also sell wholesale to area grocery stores and grower co-ops throughout the season. Gideon and Sara Porth are the farm owners and started the farm in 2004. Currently about 30 acres are in production. Responsibilities: The assistant farm manager is an integral position on the farm and requires an applicant with a variety of skills. Specific job responsibilities will shift with the season and may change based on the skills and experience of the individual in the position.
Late winter/spring: The position functions primarily as an assistant to the farmer, as full-time field workers will not be starting until May and the field crew will not reach full capacity until July. Job responsibilities will include assisting the farmer with: Building projects (greenhouse and high tunnels, improvements to packing area, etc.). Tractor work (plowing, disking, bed prep, cultivation) & maintenance depending on experience. Greenhouse work. Transplanting early crops in the greenhouse and field. Picking up supplies from local vendors. Maintenance of hand tools and field equipment.
Time will also be dedicated to training the assistant farm manager in to specific farm systems.
Late spring-early fall: The position transitions into more of a management role in the farm operations. Responsibilities will focus on managing part or all of the field crew. Harvest work will be a significant portion of the management responsibilities. Primary responsibilities include: Managing a crew of up to 11 workers in planting, hand weeding/hoeing, and harvest; directing work that will be detailed in a weekly or daily work list created by the farmer Maintaining harvest records, other record keeping. Motivating workers to work with speed and quality. Communicating with the farmer about conditions in the field and the crew. Some tractor work (tillage, mowing, cultivation)
Late fall- early winter: The job shifts back to an assistant to the farmer, focusing on late season jobs such as seeding cover crops, cleaning and storing equipment, harvest of late season crops, and deliveries.
Job Qualifications
Qualifications: Minimum 2 seasons experience on organic vegetable farm and min. one season experience with tractor work required. Previous supervisory experience desired. Clean driving record and reliable personal transportation required. Experience with driving box trucks or other large trucks also desired. We seek someone with a solid work ethic, an attention to detail and a dedication to producing a high quality product.
Salary
Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience.
Contact Information
To apply please send a letter of interest and resume to Sara at sara.porth@uvm.edu
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Email - sara.porth@uvm.edu
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