Farm Crew Member The Farm at Our House
- Date Posted April 08, 2020
- Location Brookeville, MD
- Category Agriculture
- Job type Full-Time
The Farm at Our House's mission is to to grow fresh produce sustainably and provide work development opportunities for young people. We are located in Brookeville, Maryland, 15 miles north of Washington, DC. We grow certified organic small fruits and vegetables and raise honey bees on 7 acres. We manage an additional 11 acres. The farm is located on 140 acres owned by Our House www.our-house.org , a residential job training center for young men ages 16-21. We do not own the land we farm on, but have farmed the land for a decade and have a license to the land for an additional 5 years as a result of our collaborative relationship. We currently gross $115,000/ year, manage a 130 member 24-28 week CSA, sell at 1 local farmers market, and to local restaurants and grocers. Our House residents have the opportunity, should they choose and comply with our work expectations, to work on the farm, earn income, and develop job skills to prepare for adulthood. College students and high school students also intern on the farm.
Fieldwork: Implement daily priorities and policies as determined by farm owner and farm manager. Lead and perform field work, including planting, cultivation, irrigation, harvesting, post-harvest handling of crops; assist with mushroom production, equipment maintenance, repair and requisition, greenhouse and high tunnel maintenance and supervision and property landscaping; Identify crop selection including crops specific to Southeast Asia.
Marketing, Delivery Services and Business Development:Possibly represent farm at weekly farmers markets or CSA pickup site; ensure delivery of produce to wholesale and retail customers; manage produce allocation among market, wholesale and CSA; possibly contribute to newsletter, website, social media presence and marketing materials. Potential to participate in budgeting, crop rotation planning, crop/variety selection, capital project planning exists.
Administrative: Ensure work is documented; sales are recorded and organic certification documentation requirements are met.
Management: Help oversee team of college summer interns, high school volunteers and Our House residents. Farm Crew members report directly to our farm manager.
Requirements:
- Enthusiasm and Curiosity for Farming
- Bachelor's or Associate’s degree in any field preferred
- Driver’s License
- Ability to do physical labor for long periods of time.
- Six months of experience farming or horticultural experience with the application of sustainable agriculture principles and organic farming preferred
- We will work with you so that you can focus on your specific focus on the farm as much as possible.
- Experience working with at-youth preferred, but not needed