Company description

We are 5 acres of certified organic vegetable production just outside of Austin, Texas. We are looking for an experienced farmer to join our crew and help manage production in the field. We grow mostly for wholesale restaurant accounts (70% of sales) and operate a 175 member vegetable subscription for households in Austin. This is a full time, year round position.

Mission & Vision:

We believe in honest food and let our values drive our farm business. We know people are at the heart of what we do. We believe sustainable, regenerative farming practices grow more than delicious food: we are growing a vibrant, local economy, lasting relationships and nurturing our soil and landbase.

Overview:

Founded in 2017, Steelbow Farm is a small, dynamic operation. This season we will be cultivating 3.5 acres; organically, intensively, sustainably for our CSA, restaurant and wholesale customers. We care truly, madly and deeply about the quality of the produce we grow. We love our work because it is physical, honest, gratifying and we love to eat the food we grow.

We grow a rich array of vegetables and culinary herbs right outside of Austin, Texas. We are extremely lucky to lease land from the good folks of Tecolote Farm.

We strive for exceptional flavor and quality in all we produce. While we are working towards a minimal till system, we currently do utilize some tillage and we are increasing our tractor use for efficiency and physical exertion reasons. We farm with soil health and ecological diversity in mind. Being that we are 3.5 acres, we practice an intensive market gardening style, with many succession plantings and predominantly hand cultivation. We use both a BCS and four wheel tractor for bed preparation and incorporating crop residues.

We as farmers and community members believe wholeheartedly in supporting the renaissance of local economies. We are excited to support the community that supports us and believe farms can be the cornerstones of their community once again. We also believe that it is extremely important to show up and speak out for what we believe in as farmers and as business owners. The personal, the financial, the commercial is political.

We are a young farm and we are still scaling and growing. Each season brings ample learning experiences and challenges. We are still figuring things out as we go, on the fly. We are dynamic and we are rooted in the belief that failure brings about opportunities for betterment. There is ample room for your ideas and the opportunity to leave your mark on the farm. We believe deeply in creating a positive, open and amicable work environment. We have respect and admiration for our employees as whole people, with full and complicated lives. We believe in and strive to create healthy work/life balance and boundaries.

Job description

Year 1 (2022) Responsibilities: We are looking for someone who is invested in staying for awhile and putting down some roots. We understand that many farmers want to begin their own operation and want to gain experience on different farms, but if we all feel like the position is a good fit, we would love a two-year commitment.

• Field prep for planting: Production manager will be responsible for some primary field preparation.
  • Manger and Jason will discuss tools and techniques.
  • Includes applying amendments
  • An emphasis on looking ahead and prepping beds (stale seed bedding) for ideally three weeks prior to planting.
  • Manager and Jason will work together to train and delegate other crew members to help with field prep as needed.

• Transplanting & Direct Seeding in the field:
  • Transplanting: Manger will lead the oversight of the crew; early in the season non-manager crew members can be trained so that this task can be done independently.
  • Manager and Jason will be responsible for seeding all market field crops. We’ll develop a pattern and clear expectations about which one of us is seeding. We will delegate help to seed cover crops. All seeding will be recorded.

• Cultivation: Manger will help lead on field cultivation
  • Learning our tractor cultivation techniques
  • Helping to identify when hand cultivation is necessary
  • Helping to train and motivate the crew when cultivation is happening by hand or hoe

• Crew Management:
  • Manager will often take the lead in managing the crew in the field, and always be the lead voice and eyes when Jason isn’t present.

Communication:

• Transparency is valued. We will develop a safe and productive base for our communication, speaking our observations early and often.
• We’ll have a weekly field walk together and collaborative calendar time each Monday to plan the priorities for the week.
• Formal check-in’s will happen in the Winter, Spring, and Fall. Check-in’s can also be requested at any time.

Compensation:

An hourly position that pays at least $20/hr (DOE) before taxes in year one. Pay increase expected for year two, commiserate with greater independence. Although this is a year round position, there is a natural ebb and flow of work. There are generally more hours worked in the Spring and Fall, less in Winter and summertime. The pay will be consistent through both winter and summer months. You will be expected to track hours daily.

• 80 hrs. of flexible paid time off this can be used as vacation time, sick or personal days.
• Overtime pay.
• Paid Holidays: Thanksgiving and the following Friday; Christmas day & New Years Eve.

• Produce available for everyday consumption.

Potential Schedule:

We are looking for full time work, Monday-Friday. A four day work week may be an option if / when we decide that the workload will accommodate it.

The Team:

Finegan & Jason are the owners/operators of Steelbow Farm. Finegan heads up harvest, processing and sales & marketing. Jason is responsible for production and fieldwork. The person we hire will mostly be working with Jason and the rest of the crew in the field, but may get roped into harvesting as well. Having been responsible for just about every aspect of the farm business for the last 6 years we are ready to transition some of that responsibility to others. We know this can be a tricky process, but we are excited to begin and will do so with compassion, care and empathy.

Part of the reason we are wanting to find another manager is because we have a young child. Izzy is a 2.5 year old and is a big, loving presence on the farm. We are hoping to find more balance with our work & home life.

Apart from us, we have two other managers. Alaina is mostly responsible for wash/pack and harvest. Hannah is taking on greenhouse duties and will also be on hand for harvest days. They have both been with us for 2 plus years. Depending on the time of year the crew size will change. In leaner times there will be 6 folks besides us, but we have had up to 10 people.

Desired Skills & Qualifications for Field Positions:

• At least 3 years of full-time work on a production farm, ideally more.
• Experience with operating tractors for tillage, mowing, and other tasks. Must be confident changing implements on a three point hitch.
• Strong work ethic and an eye for both quality and efficiency.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills; patience, flexibility, and positivity.
• A strong understanding of organic agriculture methods and passion for sustainability.

Notes:

• Housing is not included and while we try to pay competitively, Austin can be an expensive place to live and rent.
• We are a production farm. We strive to teach and be transparent with our process, but within the context of running a market driven farm. This is not an apprentice opportunity.
• We lease our land! Everyone commutes to the farm daily and we share space with the landowners.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

September 22, 2022