The Farm at Sunnyside is seeking several farm workers for the 2013 growing season. Experience in organic vegetable production is helpful, but not necessary. More important is the willingness and desire to work outdoors, be a member of a small community, and learn how to grow high-quality, nutritious produce using ecologically sensitive practices.  Seasonal workers will participate in and be exposed to all facets of sustainable vegetable production, and each will have the opportunity to specialize in one or more areas of focus, which could include irrigation, pest and disease management, greenhouse management, packing shed management and others.  Successful candidates will be enthusiastic, energetic, eager and quick to learn new concepts, positive in attitude and action, detail-oriented, and able and willing to follow directions.

We are a PCO certified organic farm and employ many of the techniques used by other organic vegetable operations, such as cover cropping, crop rotations, and composting.  Beyond that, we are active in exploring the intersection between sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. In addition to producing vegetables, herbs, flowers, tree fruit, blackberries, and eggs from pastured hens, we have recently begun beekeeping for both honey production and pollination. We also plant native wildflowers as pollinator beacons, restore former hayfields and pasturelands to native warm-season grass and wildflower meadows, and actively monitor species quantity and diversity as a measure of ecosystem health. The farm, located in the picturesque rolling hills of Rappahannock County, VA, sits at the foot of a mountain directly adjoining the Shenandoah National Park and is remarkably beautiful.

Beginning farm workers can expect to net around $1000/month though pay will vary depending on experience. The average workweek is 55 hours but depends on the time of season.  Everyone will have a minimum of one day off per week, with one additional day off per month.  The season runs from April or May through the end of November. Housing is provided on the farm in a shared house with private bedrooms, laundry facilities, two bathrooms and a communal kitchen. Food from the farm is also available. This position involves daily opportunities for learning by experience, but this is a production vegetable farm and while we enjoy teaching as we work, our primary motivation will be to grow and market high quality organic fruits and vegetables with professional efficiency. Workers can expect to participate in at least two farmers’ markets in the Washington, DC area per month, but most of the effort will be farm-based. Occasionally we will have group training sessions, make visits to other farms, or pursue other educational opportunities as our workload allows, but we believe that the best education in this type of farming lies in actually doing the work, day-by-day and month-by-month.