Company description

Gwenyn Hill Farm is a diverse, 430 acre, certified organic farm in the Kettle Moraine hills 40 minutes west of Milwaukee. Our core enterprises are production and marketing of pasture finished meats and seasonal vegetables. Our vineyard and orchard will be coming into production in 2021 and 2022. In the summer of 2020 we purchased a 100 cow organic dairy herd and are moving them to a grass-based system. A significant portion of our farm is sown to pasture and hay but we raise heritage grains and our own poultry feed mix in addition to small plots of dry beans and popcorn. When the opportunities open back up we will again offer targeted educational events to fellow farmers, interested consumers and students.

Job description

Orchard and Perennial Plantings Manager – Full-time Exempt, Year-Round

Job Summary:

The Perennial Plantings Manager is responsible for the care, maintenance and planting of the varied perennial plants on Gwenyn Hill Farm, with the exception of the hay crop. Perennial crops include a 4 acre orchard of tree fruit and berries, a 1 acre vineyard of hardy table grapes, the hedgerows that divide the cropland into five and ten acre sections, and 10 acres of native grasses and forbs. In addition, there are perennial landscape installations around the farmhouses and buildings.

While impacted by the seasons, the Perennial Plantings Manager position is year-round.

The Perennial Plantings Manager reports to the Gwenyn Hill Farm General Manager.

Qualifications:

Experience: A qualified candidate should have experience in orchard and vineyard production and familiarity with native Midwestern species.

Skills

• Knowledge of landscape maintenance and installation, including variety selection for low-input practices. Some design experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of IPM and organic orchard and vineyard practices.
• Ability to operate, or learn to operate, tractors, mowers, sprayers, and skid steers safely.
• Pesticide applicators license or willingness to qualify and become licensed.
• Competence with spreadsheets, word processing and presentation software. A basic understanding of social media and use of internet resources is a plus.
• Proficiency to communicate orally and in writing both within the organization and with outside stakeholders.
• Productive team membership.
• Willingness to learn and implement best practices for diverse organic production and a wide variety of species husbandry.
• Satisfactory driving record and valid driver’s license and the ability to obtain a CDL.

Key Accountabilities:

Fruit Production:

• Care for tree fruit, including pest management, orchard floor management, pruning and harvest.
• Manage organic soil building practices.
• Manage irrigation.
• Procure organically allowable fertility inputs based on soil and/or tissue samples.
• Develop appropriate record-keeping systems to comply with organic certification requirements.
• Coordinate with other farm personnel for jobs requiring small teams.
• Train and supervise seasonal farm personnel while working in the orchard or vineyard.

Landscape Management:

• Lead seasonal maintenance tasks to control pests, weeds, and growth habits of installations.
• Procure organically allowable fertility inputs.
• As needed, work with the general manager to plan and install additional landscape installations.

Hedgerow Development:

• Remove invasive and unwanted species from existing hedgerows.
• Source and plant appropriate species to create improved habitat for birds and pollinators.
• Collaborate on maintenance of hedgerows to discourage invasive species and enhance beneficial species.

Prairie Management:

• Collaborate with Land and Livestock Manager to maintain diversity in native prairies plots, using grazing, burning, and reseeding.
• Seed collection.

Organizational Development:

• Contribute to the planning and acquisition of appropriate technology.

• Contribute to farm educational events, as needed.
• Contribute to marketing development and mission / vision alignment.
• Participate in budget development for crops and livestock.

Supervision and Training:

• Train seasonal/hourly employees in areas of responsibility.
• Contribute to regular employee reviews and goal-setting plans, as needed.

Performance Standards:

• The Perennial Plantings Manager exercises significant discretion on matters related to farming operations and must carry out responsibilities with minor supervision.
• The Perennial Plantings Manager sets priorities, manages time and completes tasks on time even during challenging conditions.
• The Perennial Plantings Manager excels at multitasking.
• The Perennial Plantings Manager communicates clearly, completely, collaboratively and respectfully.
• The Perennial Plantings Manager exhibits engagement and enthusiasm as demonstrated by effective contributions during planning and work tasks, including, but not limited to, the supervision of employees.
• The Perennial Plantings Manager demonstrates an understanding of safe machine operation and workplace safety.

Reports to General Manager

Start Date – Spring 2021

Compensation and Benefits: Annual starting salary between $34,000 and $44,000, based on education and experience. At this time Gwenyn Hill Farm does not offer health coverage or retirement matching funds.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,000 - $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline