Weavers Way has two farm sites in Northwest Philadelphia, located a few miles apart from one another. The farm sites consist of a 2 acre farm at the Awbury Arboretum (the Mort Brooks Memorial Farm), and a 3 acre farm at Saul High School (the Henry Got Crops farm), as well as a 1.5 acre fruit, nut and berry orchard adjacent to the Henry Got Crops farm at Saul.  The farms are a part of Weavers Way Coop, a 9,000 member, community owned market with locations in Mt Airy and Chestnut Hill and Ambler.  Both farms offer experience with small scale, diversified, organic farming and the opportunity to develop skills in greenhouse production, season extension, pest management, planting, weeding, harvesting, marketing as well as volunteer management.  Each farm grows a unique set of vegetables, most of which are not duplicated at the other farm. The harvests of the two farms are coordinated in order to satisfy our existing outlets. Each farm position will focus most of their time at one of the two sites, yet we all work in conjunction with one another, as one team. Produce from the two farms is sold at the three Co-op stores, our Henry Got Crops CSA, our on-site farm market, the cafeteria at Saul High School and occasionally a few restaurants in Northwest Philadelphia as well as.  The Henry Got Crops site also hosts the education programs of our affiliated non-profit, Food Moxie. The Henry Got Crops farm is located right on the campus of Saul High School and through the facilitation of Food Moxie, teachers and their classes come to the farm on a regular basis and are involved in the operations of the farm.

For more information about Weavers Way and our farms, please visit www.weaversway.coop

Purpose: To assist with all farm operations and the implementation of the seeding, planting and harvest plans for the farm. This position is ideal for someone who has one or two years of apprenticeship/internship experience and is looking to deepen and broaden their farming skills at a community centric, urban, production farm.

Duties/Responsibilities: The field assistant is responsible for supporting the field manager in day to day farm operations, including crop, site and tool/equipment maintenance. Basic tasks include preparing beds, planting, watering, and harvesting, as well as amending the soil, weeding, thinning, and pest and disease prevention and control. Field assistant will supervise and work with volunteers on a daily basis. This position will help monitor and seed in the greenhouse on site.

The field assistant may be required to help with large harvests or large projects at the other farm location, Henry Got Crops, on an as-needed basis. Field assistants may also be asked to assist with the on-site farm market and orchard at Henry Got Crops.

Field assistant is expected to use and maintain walk behind tractor, mowers and weed whackers. Training will be provided.

 Administrative Tasks: filling out time sheets, completing invoices, logging harvest pounds, submitting receipts for expense reimbursements or mileage reimbursements.

 Minimum Qualifications: A full season of farming.

 Physical Requirement and Timeline Commitment: Field Assistant is expected to commit to a minimum of one growing season, from April through November. You should be able to work under adverse conditions (heat, humidity, cold, rain) and be able to lift 50 lbs, preferably at the same time.

 Skills/Attributes: Must have a good sense of humor, strong work ethic and willingness to get dirty as well as an ability and desire to work with and supervise volunteers of all ages and abilities.

Hours: Hours and days are dictated by the ebbs and flows of the season. Field Assistant is expected to work a 5 day week, averaging around 50 hours per week for most of the season. More/less hours per week might occasionally be necessary during the slower/busier times of the season. For example, most of April and November are 40-45 hours per week, and hours may increase to 55 during especially busy weeks in June, July and August. Occasional weekend days are expected for special events or additional field work. Usually a weekend day will be compensated with a week day off, but occasionally a 6 day work week might be requested.

 Compensation/Benefits: This is an hourly paid position, starting at $10.50/hr, eligible for a $0.50 raise after 6 months, eligible for Weaver Way Co-op benefits.  Farm staff are welcome to have produce from the farms, and receive a staff discount and working member discount of 15% at Weavers Way Coop. All hours worked over 40 hours/week are straight pay, not subject to over time rate.

 
Reports to: Farm Manager/Farm Department Head