Company description

rTerra is a budding 95-acre hub focused on regenerative farming, innovative product development, and educational experiences. The farm includes 7 acres of apples, an 8-acre vineyard, a 4-acre market garden, a medicinal herb garden, and a glass conservatory for propagation and demonstration. The remainder is forest, additional orchards, and ornamental gardens.

Job description

rTerra is seeking a dynamic leader to direct daily farm operations. The Farm Manager will design and implement innovative systems for applying regenerative practices to annual vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and fungi. They will be responsible for the care for all integrative systems of gardens, orchards, vineyard and future animals and will help develop and implement a long-term regenerative plan for the entire property.

Responsibilities:

Regenerative Visioning - Plan Development - Implementation

• Supervise and direct the work of farm staff
• Manage all farming activities.
  • Includes managing all components associated with the
    • Diverse orchard activity
    • Medicinal herb garden
    • Vineyard
    • Market garden
• Crop planning and farm record keeping using Google Sheets
  • Maintain a daily work log to plan and record details of fieldwork accomplished, including a monthly report for the owners
  • Develop a crop plan consistent with organic standards and transitioning to a more regenerative approach to achieve harvest goals
  • Maintain an inventory of seeds and other supplies
• Participate in staff meetings and periodic strategic planning activities

Education & Experience:

• Preferred undergraduate and graduate experience in agroecology and/or agronomy
• 4 - 5 years of relevant farm work with at least 2 of those years in farm management
• strong production farming skills (organic and regenerative/restorative practices)
• Working knowledge of Asana, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Calendar and Slack
• Knowledge of the use and service requirements of tractors, plows, discs, cultivators, and other farm equipment and implements
• solid background in plant ecosystems that are suited for the Northwestern US

General:

• Ability to work with a diverse range of team members
• Self-motivated, highly organized, observant and detail-oriented
• demonstrates passion for and knowledge of the principles of regenerative agriculture and embraces rTerra’s core values and mission
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Able to process complex farm management scenarios and create regenerative farm plans
• The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time

Requirements:

• Driver’s license, because driving is a component of the job duties
• Ability to lift 50lbs
• Spanish bilingual communication skills are a plus!
• Professional references will be called

Works with:

• grounds/farm crew (x5)
• property manager
• ag consultants
• rTerra ownership

Core Technical Competencies:Soil Health

• Ability to assess and benchmark soil health in the field, conduct in-field soil sampling and interpret analysis of lab test results
• Soil biology
  • Understanding of microbial activity and mycorrhizal fungi development and how to foster living communities in soil

Management Systems

• Familiarity with no-till / cover crop implementation & ability to design tailored cover crop blends to address field-level soil conditions
• Practical management knowledge and experience to guide farm crew & troubleshoot through regenerative transitions
• Familiarity with the impact of holistic management grazing systems on soils
• Interest, if not experience, in permaculture and development of perennial cropping systems & agroforestry and their applications

Regenerative / Organic Certifications

• Functional understanding of organic & regenerative organic certifications, and the recordkeeping associated with each
• Ability to fluently discuss what changes would be needed to achieve certifications

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2022 growing season:

• Work together with rTerra inner circle to finalize farm design elements and infrastructure requirements and assist in the selection of the required farm equipment
• Manage all farming activities
  • create and implement annual crop rotation plan and organic fertility program (including cover cropping and field-scale composting)
  • Oversee and direct the implementation of holistic orchard management practices, including holistic spray regimen, as laid out by Michael Phillips
  • Oversee vineyard management working in tandem with vineyard consultant
  • Plant and manage covercrops in orchards, vineyard, market gardens and future animal paddocks
• Coordinate harvest of fruit
  • create an email database to advertise available produce to local buyers (e.g. restaurants and grocers) and coordinate delivery and payment for produce.
    • Grapes
      • Some grapes go to the winemaker for a small wine batch
      • Wholesale remaining grapes
    • Apples, plums, pears, blueberries, blackberries, and nuts
      • Develop distribution infrastructure for retail sales, wholesale to neighboring CSA and local markets, and donations

Post-2022 growing season:

• Establish both the cover crop as well as fencing & windbreaks, water, and shed infrastructure in preparation for introducing livestock to the property
• Select animals to establish an educational scale rotational fiber grazing operation with heritage breed sheep, goats, alpacas, and egg-laying chickens as well as beekeeping
• Greenhouse management to include year-round organic seed starts and establishment of a market garden, including 27 raised beds and 20+ inground rows to be planted in the Spring
• (herb garden)
• Establish forest farming activities including mushroom logs

2023 and beyond:

• Manage all farming activities
  • create and implement annual crop and nutrient management plans, with regenerative agriculture principles driving decision making
    • Includes managing all components associated with the diverse orchard activity
    • Includes propagation schedule, yields needed, crop selections, plans for rotations & sequencing of plantings, cultivation, integrated pest and disease management, harvesting, and soil fertility.
• Help to develop value-added farm products using fruits & vegetable harvest, mushrooms, honey, eggs, and establishing a micro-dairy for specialty goat & sheeps milk products
• Lead farm tours and regenerative farming educational programming
• Establish the framework for a local CSA that will serve the surrounding community

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $45,000.00 - $65,000.00

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline