Coronavirus Update:  We have rearranged many plans to adapt this season, including our crew setup. So that we can maintain separation from the wider world and feel safe working with each other here on the farm, we are only hiring for full-time crew, living together in on-farm housing. Our intent is that the farm will be a great place to be with neat people during the coronavirus, producing food that people will appreciate now more than ever.

Second Spring Farm is a 5-acre vegetable farm in Wheatland, VA, 45 miles northwest of Washington, DC and 10 miles from the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in the Blue Ridge mountains. Within the neighboring 400 acres there are five quite different sustainable farming operations, a dozen farmers (some retired), and a couple dozen farm workers (mostly in their 20s), making for a dynamic farming community. We are going into our 9th growing season and have developed a stable, profitable farm business based around a mix of CSA and wholesale sales, efficient tractor-work, and dedicated workers who are a part of the social life of the Wheatland farm neighborhood (although at a 6’ distance, this year). We have two to six people working on the farm depending on the time of year. Each season’s vegetable sales provide the sole income for the farm and farmer; while there are many things to enjoy about the farm life and we attempt to have a positive effect on the wider world, this economic reality underlies our daily efforts to pack out the freshest, most delicious, and most beautiful vegetables for our 300 CSA shares each week. Since farms like ours are more resilient than conventional systems in times of crisis, there is unbelievable demand for our food this year. Our work takes on more urgency and purpose as people rely on us to provide fresh, safe food during this time of stay-at-home directives.

We are hiring sharp, curious people with or without vegetable farm experience, who would like to spend time working and living outdoors this season with the crew, and who we can rely on to sweat the details and get stuff done. If this sounds like you, this position would be a good fit if you have excelled at being a part of a farm crew and are now looking for the “next level” farm job with more involvement in all aspects of farm operations, or if you have enjoyed doing similar outdoor, physical, and/or detail-oriented work and are confident in your ability to rise to the challenge of the farm season.

Our approach to production and planning is more similar to that of a larger farm, but since we are a smaller farm, you would understand and be a part of all sides of these systems from seeding to selling, while working and living closely with the crew of 4-6 people, who are mostly in their twenties.  Some people who come here have worked on farms before, but many have not. We enjoy teaching people about the farm and work.

• Housing: Rustic housing provided, with community kitchen.

• Hourly wage and bonus: Pay is effectively $7.50-$10.50/hr; higher for those working here for 9 weeks or more, working in the spring and fall, and staying through their committed end date.

• Season and hours: Late April through late November, 35-50hrs/wk depending on time of year and your interests; 7-9hrs/day, 5 days/wk.  We accept applications for any portion of the season.

More information about our farm can be found on our website, www.secondspringcsa.com.