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This job expired on April 03, 2021

Lead Grower Retreat Farm Ltd

  • Date Posted February 02, 2021
  • Location Brattleboro, VT
  • Category Agriculture / Nonprofit
  • Job type Part-Time
Company description

Retreat Farm is an independent non-profit organization on a mission to connect people to the land and each other.  In 2020, in response to the pandemic, we launched the Community Food Project (CFP). The CFP is a food access and education program stewarding about 2 acres of field crops and gardens. In 2020 we fed approximately 65 families every week from March until October, as well as donating produce and other farm products to the Vermont Foodbank, the Westgate Foodshelf, and the SUSU Healing Collective’s BIPOC CSA. We grew 1.5 acres of vegetables, planted fruit trees and berry bushes, built the educational Hope Garden, and hosted the 2nd year of our community garden.

Job description

In 2021, the Lead Grower will manage vegetable production on 1+ acres of our South Meadows parcel to serve our pay-what-you-can farmstand, free farm share, and other food access and equity efforts.  The Lead Grower will work closely with the Farm Director and the Managing Director (MD) of Programs and Stewardship to set goals and targets and develop strategies and protocols for food production, and assist the Farm Director in laying ground-work for 2022 crop production.  This position also supports the Farm Director with vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and berries on the home parcel and other parcels. Additionally, the Lead Grower works closely with the CFP Coordinator to inform all aspects of food handling and distribution. This is a key position in Retreat Farm’s work to increase local families’ access to healthy food and  nutrition, responsibly steward our lands, and develop best practices to minimize waste (both time and resources), maximize efficiency, and ensure full compliance with Act 148 (Universal Recycling).

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

  • Work with farm staff to evaluate 2020 growing operations and develop a plan for an (approximately) 1-acre vegetable growing operation on the South Meadows parcel serving our food access programs and pay-what-you-can farmstand
  • Set and meet goals for vegetable production, pollinator & ecosystem support, and healthy soil
  • Design seed starting plan for field crops (working with MD of Programs and Stewardship, Farm Director, and CFP Coordinator) 
  • Communicate, coordinate, and carry out seed starting plan 
  • Manage field work on South Meadows Parcel, directing junior staff and volunteers
  • Collaborate with Farm Director and CFP Coordinator to make harvest days fun and efficient and to engage as many staff and volunteers as possible
  • Help design and develop efficient systems for harvest, storage, retail, and distribution
  • Help Facilities Director, Farm Director, and farm staff operate windrow composting system to optimize quality and efficiency
  • Assist the Community Food Project Coordinator in handling, storing, and displaying farm product safely, maximizing shelf life, and minimizing food waste.
  • Possibly support SUSU Healing Collaborative and Edible Brattleboro with growing operation/community greenhouse

Required Attributes/Experience

Flexibility, enthusiasm, curiosity, patience, and a sense of humor 

Experience establishing seed starting systems and wash packs, etc...

Familiarity with regenerative agriculture practices and comfort with a range of farm practices

Passion for food justice and ecological stewardship

Ability to work long physical hours and lift 50lbs repeatedly without strain

Preferred Attributes/Experience

Experience working with a drip irrigation system 

Experience with tractors and tractor maintenance is a plus

Comfort working around livestock, or willingness to learn

 

Compensation this position is : hourly, $15-20/hr Application instructions
This job expired on April 03, 2021
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