About Coastal Roots Farm

Coastal Roots Farm (CRF) is a nonprofit community farm and education center. We cultivate healthy, connected communities by integrating sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom. 

Since our inception in 2014, Coastal Roots Farm has provided dignified access to fresh food for those who need it most. Inspired by Jewish agricultural practices, we raise organic crops and share the harvest with our community through pay-what-you-can farm stands, donation-based Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and direct donations to food insecure communities in North County San Diego as well as local hunger relief organizations. Through volunteering, school visits, agricultural festivals, and other community programs, we offer hands-on education and invite our neighbors to connect to the land and each other. 

Coastal Roots Farm is located in Encinitas, CA on approximately 20 acres of land. Our Farm consists of vegetable gardens, greenhouses, a food forest, animal pastures, compost systems, and a vineyard. Coastal Roots Farm was incubated by the Leichtag Foundation and received 501(c)(3) public charity status in 2015.

Position:                 Community Farmer

Status:                    Regular, Full‐Time, Non‐Exempt

Hours:                    40 hours per week, Sunday-Thursday. Evenings, weekends, and holidays on occasion.

Reports to:          Assistant Vegetable Production Manager

Position Overview

The Community Farmer will support the operational teams with the cultivation, development, maintenance and follow through of projects within the following five organically maintained production areas: vegetables, food forest, vineyard, chicken runs, and composting program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Production Areas:

• Support crop production on the farm in all land-based areas of production, including pest management, greenhouse propagation, transplanting, weeding, watering, and harvesting.
• Support infrastructure development, irrigation, farm maintenance, cleanliness and organization, distribution efforts, occasional deliveries, and farm stand shifts.
• Lead volunteers as needed.
• Collect data and support organized record keeping.
• Support resource development for department as needed.
• Support chicken operation and chicken run upkeep and care.
• Incorporate Jewish agricultural practices into the development and management of the departments.

Education and Events:

• Assist in implementation of farm education and events.
• Host guests and lead occasional tours, highlighting our practices. 
• Provide support for Coastal Roots Farm programs and events.

General Administration:

• Participate in regular staff meetings

Required Qualifications and Experiences

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 2 to 3 years of relevant work experience or a relevant college degree, especially within the fields of organic/ecological Agriculture focused on vegetable production, agroforestry, viticulture, and poultry operations.
• Passion for interacting with, educating, and leading a diversity of community participants, volunteers and staff of varied ages and backgrounds.
• Knowledge and passion for community farming, food justice, food systems development, etc.
• Strong knowledge of agricultural equipment use and safety.
• Cooperative, service‐oriented attitude and ability to work independently and take initiative, set priorities and see projects through to completion. 
• Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship development skills.
• Ability to be open and flexible to new ways of working with diverse communities. 
• Creative skills and ability to experiment to attain new, better strategies, approaches, and solutions to challenges. 
• Flexibility and willingness to take on a variety of tasks along with an ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, team environment. 
• Strong work ethic and ability to perform strenuous physical labor in inclement weather.
• Intermediate computer skills and some proficiency in Microsoft Office. 
• Detail oriented. 
• A valid driver’s license. 

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Familiarity of organic certification and/or experience with ecological agriculture.
• Food safety training. 
• Technical knowledge and familiarity with irrigation construction, troubleshooting, and repair. 
• Knowledge of species and climate specific to Southern California. 
• Knowledge of Greenhouse production systems.
• Experience as an agricultural or environmental educator. 
• Familiarity with Jewish agricultural or arboreal concepts, texts, and traditions. 
• Project management experience. 
• Training in active listening and constructive communication techniques such as Non‐Violent Communication, meeting facilitation, etc. 
• Understanding of working within a non-profit organization.
• Experience working within production enterprises while simultaneously hosting the public and supporters in a community farm, experiential setting.

Reporting Relationship

Reports directly to the Vegetable Production Coordinator.

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience. Coastal Roots Farm offers a competitive benefits package.

Typical Working Conditions

This is an agricultural laborer position. Community Farmers will work outdoors conducting a variety of tasks, often times repetitive and under the supervision of a multitude of coordinators. There will be exposure to Southern California outside temperatures, chemicals used in the agricultural industry, and loud noises.

Essential Physical Tasks

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Continuous walking, standing, climbing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting and pushing/pulling up to 50 lbs., cutting and carrying.

Equipment Used

Tractor, bobcat, Kubota RTV, delivery van, farm truck, hand and power tools, post-harvest packing line equipment, pressure washer, pallet jacks and carts, computer/laptop, and tablet/iPad.

Coastal Roots Farm is an equal opportunity employer.