Company description

Woodland Gardens is a 12+ acre, USDA Certified Organic vegetable, fruit and cut-flower farm in Winterville, Georgia, located just outside of Athens. Established in 2000, we specialize in highly diverse annual production, and we grow over 50 different types of fruits and vegetables.

Led by Celia Barss, the farm’s focus is on specialty production for chefs and markets. We currently deliver our vegetables, fruit and flowers to Atlanta and Athens restaurants, Freedom Farmers Market and a local (Athens), year-round weekly produce box program.

The farm operates year-round by using heated greenhouses and high tunnels, which extend our growing season and increase the quality of our production. Fields are constantly rotated and cover cropped to replenish the soil health as we strive for efficiency and quality over the long term.

Our farm family are a diverse group of skilled and experienced professionals, and that keeps us busy, tremendously productive and (usually) well organized. We are proud of our veggies and the hard work that goes in to every box we deliver.

Job description

PRODUCTION AND CSA MANAGER

POSITION AVAILABLE: NOVEMBER 1, 2021

Woodland Gardens is an established, certified organic fruit, vegetable and cut flower farm in Athens, Georgia. We have an opening for a Production and CSA manager. This position will report to Celia Barss, farm manager. Experience is required, but more important to us is someone with the right fit and a professional commitment to the farm. This is a rare opportunity to work with one of the area’s leading farms. Our field production team has very little turnover, so you will be part of an established and skilled team. With time, this position could easily grow to take on more responsibility for greater farm management.

Responsibilities and Expectations

1. On- Farm Management
2. Assist farm manager in coordinating and executing main harvest days
3. Maintain all farm buildings in an organized manner – manage the use and return of all tools to appropriate locations and ensure a general level of tidiness.
4. Assist farm manager in keeping all needed supplies on hand (packaging, soil amendments, cleaning, office supplies, and maintenance supplies, etc.).
5. Maintenance of small and large farm equipment and infrastructure.
6. Assist farm manager in management of farm crew
7. Markets and CSA
8. Saturday Farmers Market – prepare van for market and keep van supplied each week with all supplies necessary for market, work the stand each Saturday morning (with one Saturday off/month), operate register, help train market workers, help prepare all produce for sale. You will be expected to interact in a friendly and professional manner while multi-tasking.
9. Manage, with assistance, all aspects of a 120-member, year-round CSA program – this includes all communication with members, bookkeeping, attending pick-up site periodically.
10. Coordinate and execute, with assistance, weekly Athens and Atlanta restaurant and/or CSA deliveries- load van, drive and deliver in a professional manner, maintain invoices and checks organized, wear appropriate attire for handling produce boxes efficiently.

III. Organic Production

1. Work alongside farm crew in all production related activities – bed preparation, harvest, and general farm upkeep.
2. The production manager has been responsible for a large portion of the tractor work and cover cropping
3. Qualification, Requirements and Expectations:
4. Experience with annual and perennial organic systems and production is required.
5. Experience with delivery van driving and a clean driving record are required.
6. Must be able to lift 50+ pounds on a regular basis.
7. Production Manager shall attend most markets in Atlanta on Saturdays (February-December) and will typically have one market off per month.
8. Weekly work hours may exceed 50 hours in peak growing times, less during non-peak times.
9. Basic record-keeping skills are required, familiarity with Excel and a comfort with email.
10. Ability to work alongside a diverse farm crew on all aspects of farm production – harvest, planting, weeding, maintenance is required; also, must be comfortable working independently.
11. Must have a strong work ethic and a desire to learn. This is critical!
12. Must be detail oriented.
13. Some proficiency in Spanish would be valued greatly
14. Compensation and Benefits
15. Production Manager shall receive an annual salary of $40,000.
16. Production Manager shall have the opportunity to join the company’s generous health insurance policy at no cost to employee.
17. Production manager shall receive two (2) weeks of paid vacation, and opportunities for other planned days off.
18. Farm team enjoys occasional off-farm fun group activities that are optional: dinners, kayaking, etc.

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

November 01, 2021