Company description

The University of the South, commonly known as Sewanee (/səˈwɑːni/), is a private Episcopal liberal arts college in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is owned by 28 southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church and its School of Theology is an official seminary of the church. Academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences are secular. The university's School of Letters offers graduate degrees in American Literature and Creative Writing. The campus consists of 13,000 acres of scenic mountain property atop the Cumberland Plateau, with the developed portion occupying about 1,000 acre

Job description

On the one hand, this is a typical, obligatory 40 hour a week *job* with benefits, without housing, paying in the low 40K's in the SE U.S

On the other hand, your potential new boss (me) has a Permaculture Design Certificate and a Master's degree in soil microbiology. We expect you might like to run your own farm one day and we are willing to help you fill any skills gaps with on the job training while you earn a salary, pay down debt or stash savings and move toward your long term goals. This is an entry level position for someone who has 2-4 years of practical experience growing vegetables. We understand that people want to rise after gaining skills. We are hoping you can commit to 3 years with us and we expect to build your resume in consistent ways that makes you want to hang around and to then become unstoppable when you leave. There is also some space for you to do small research projects and I'm interested in co-authoring a paper or two with you if you are into that. If hired, you will have an opportunity to influence many people in the ways of permaculture and regenerative agriculture who might otherwise go through life unexposed to it's wonders.

This position includes a lot of crew-leading and mentoring through all phases of bed prep, planting, harvesting, and packing. The student vegetable growing crew changes each year and is mostly eager, but also mostly unskilled, so you need to already have enough practical experience that you can lead them with some confidence and prevent injuries. If you you enjoy teaching people practical skills about gardening, fence building, or plumbing, you will like this. Sometimes you have to pull the crew uphill, so this is not a good job for people who like to moan about whatever is wrong that day. Nor is it appropriate for raw beginners or career changers even though they might be "fast learners." This is probably not a good fit for people who are totally experienced and ready to run their own place. Labor laws do not allow us to pay people below their education and experience level and our budget is limited. A bachelor's or associate's degree in the sciences is preferred, but not required.

Previous people in the job who were mostly satisfied with it were steady, sunny, funny, mildly irreverent and had high energy. Check out our Instagram feed @universityfarm and be aware that it is all true, but highly curated and romantic. Actual conditions on the ground are rough, with poor infrastructure (hence your opportunity for acquiring skills and for building a reputation for being able to pull uphill.) The southeast U.S. is incredibly humid in the summer and there is little air conditioning. We work outside for part of each day in all seasons. This job involves stooping, bending, twisting, lifting and carrying up to 50lbs over rough ground or up a few steps of stairs. We have a herd of goats, but they are quite self sufficient. So, animal care is only about 5% of the job.

Dress might be a little more formal than is typical at most farms; a collared shirt and belt is appreciated, and political clothing is not allowed). If you have a pet, it can not come with you to work. Most of our students are over 18, but we have some younger tour groups come through in the summer, so even though you will never be alone with a student, there is a drug screen and an FBI background check and driving record check. You will be expected to show up on time, sober and ready to work. To be in the preferred pool of candidates, you will need 3 work or significant volunteering references and 2-4 years of practical experience. That practical experience might be in your own back yard if you keep a 1/2 acre garden or larger. You'll need a valid driver's license.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

February 28, 2022