Company description

Skinny Dip Farm is owned and operated by Hannah and Ben Wolbach. We started it in 2011. We farm both at our home, on about 1.5 acres in Little Compton, RI and on another 4 or so acres of leased land in Westport, MA. We grow a wide variety of crops which are sold at farmers markets, through a small CSA, to restaurants and caterers and through an online store. We primarily grow vegetables, with an emphasis on salad greens, but also grow flowers (+/- .25 acre), herbs and some other oddball crops like dry beans and flour corn. We also run chickens on cover crop as part of our fertility plan and sent about 250 to slaughter in 2021. We grow and sell year round, with winter production in 4 unheated high tunnels, 3 cat tunnels and right outside for as long as we can, which is pretty deep into December most years in our ocean influenced South Coast locations. We manage our two properties differently, leaning towards minimal till, intensive methods on the home property and tractor based extensive methods on the leased land, though that is and has been evolving. We run the farm with a small crew, 6 people in 2021, who are very involved in most aspects of running the farm. We take great pride in the quality of our produce and our commitment to caring for the land we farm. All in all, the farm is very successful and we are able to significantly invest profits into our operation.

Job description

This is a year-round, salaried job, with private on-farm housing available for the right candidate.

We are looking for an assistant manager to help us continue to grow top notch veggies, flowers and herbs, but in a more sane manner. The farm has grown, demand has grown and our family has grown—we have two daughters, ages 4 and 6—so we could use a highly skilled, up and coming farmer to share the managerial work load. We like working hard, and have no intention to ease up, but want help getting back to being more on top of the weeds and proud of how our farm operates.

We are looking, first and foremost, for a really great person—we’re going to spend a lot of time together—with a strong commitment to growing quality produce and caring for the land. Applicants should have significant vegetable farming experience and be ready to step into a wide variety of roles including, at times, crew leader, washstand manager and harvest coordinator among other responsibilities. We really value good communication skills and the job will require working closely with Ben and Hannah to implement their farm plan.

We assume that those applying:

• Love working outside
• Know how to work hard, desire to work smart
• Are physically capable—can lift 50 lbs repeatedly, are ready for hands and knees work, and are ready to work long hours during the summer.
• Have a driving record clean enough to make it onto our insurance
• Have several years of experience working on farms and are considering farming as a vocation
• Are interested in working multiple seasons at Skinny Dip Farm

The workload will ebb and flow with the season—a 50 plus hour workweek during peak season will be balanced with a lighter winter schedule. Most work is Monday-Friday, though weekend chores and a share of greenhouse tending on some weekends is expected. This is a year round, salaried position. Two weeks paid winter time off provided, more unpaid winter time off is possible. We have on-farm private housing to offer to the right candidate (or couple/family) as part of the compensation. Exact compensation will depend on experience, and if you live onsite, but our goal is to create a situation for the assistant manager to be able to save money towards one day launching their own venture. We are definitely open to hiring a farming couple.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,568* - $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

March 01, 2022