Company description

Weavers Way has two farm sites in Northwest Philadelphia, located a few miles apart from one another. The farm sites consist of a 2 acre farm at the Awbury Arboretum (the Mort Brooks Memorial Farm), and a 3 acre farm at Saul High School (the Henry Got Crops farm), as well as a 1.5 acre fruit, nut and berry orchard adjacent to the Henry Got Crops farm at Saul. The farms are a part of Weavers Way Coop, a 10,000 member, community owned market with locations in Mt Airy and Chestnut Hill, Ambler and soon Germantown. Both farms offer experience with small scale, diversified, no-till organic farming and the opportunity to develop skills in greenhouse production, season extension, pest management, planting, weeding, harvesting, farm market experience, as well as volunteer management. Each farm grows a unique set of vegetables, few of which are duplicated at the other farm. The harvests of the two farms are coordinated in order to satisfy our existing outlets. Each farm position will focus most of their time at one of the two sites, yet we all work in conjunction with one another, as one team. Produce from the two farms is sold at the three Co-op stores, our Henry Got Crops CSA, our on-site farm market, the cafeteria at Saul High School and occasionally a few restaurants in Northwest Philadelphia as well as.  The Henry Got Crops site also hosts the education programs of our affiliated non-profit, Food Moxie. The Henry Got Crops farm is located right on the campus of Saul High School and through the facilitation of Food Moxie, teachers and their classes come to the farm on a regular basis and are involved in the operations of the farm.

Job description

Purpose: To work with Farm Manager to oversee farm operations and implement the seeding, planting and harvest plans for the 3 acre Henry Got Crops farm at Saul High School. These seasonal plans are either provided by, or created with, or approved by the Farm Manager, depending on the circumstances and tenure of the Field Manager. This position is ideal for someone with a few years of farming experience, who is looking to gain experience managing a community-centric, urban, production farm, with the mentorship and support of a Farm Manager.

Duties/Responsibilities:

The Field Manager is responsible for day-to-day farm operation and maintenance, including crop, site and tool/equipment maintenance. Field Manager must maintain a tidy, organized work site for safety and efficiency. Basic tasks include preparing beds, planting, watering, and harvesting, as well as amending the soil, weeding, mulching, thinning, and pest and disease prevention and control. This position will share responsibilities for ensuring a smooth CSA pick-up with the Farm Manager or Field Manager from the other farm site. This entails making sure walk-ins are well organized, and explaining pertinent CSA details to the assistants. Field Manger is also responsible for estimating harvest availability, and ensuring the assistant knows what they need to clean up the CSA at the end of the night.

Field Manager is expected to communicate and coordinate as necessary with Education Manager for that site. Field Manager and Education Manager share farm space and tools and equipment. Education Manager and Field Manager coordinate projects in the field for Saul classes, visiting tours and groups. In the absence of an Education Manager, Field Manager and Farm Manager will work together to ensure Saul students have access to the field as a learning laboratory to complement their existing curriculum.

Field Manager is expected to communicate with Saul staff about daily or immediate concerns, such as shared equipment or spaces, etc.

Field Manager is responsible for supervising volunteers on a daily basis. Field Manager also is also responsible for coordinating and guiding field assistants while the Farm Manager is off site.

Field Manager may be asked to help maintain or harvest in the adjacent orchard, on occasion.

This position may be required to help with large harvests or large projects at the Mort Brooks Memorial Farm, on an as-needed basis, as is the Mort Brooks Field Manager for the Henry Got Crops site.

Field Manager is expected to use and maintain walk behind tractor, riding tractor, mowers and weed whackers. Training will be provided.

Administrative tasks include: Farm record keeping, such as filling out time sheets, tracking volunteer hours, writing in log book, completing invoices, logging harvest pounds, submitting receipts for expense reimbursements or mileage reimbursements.

Minimum Qualifications: At least two full seasons of farming (spring, summer, fall), more preferred. A valid driver’s license.

Physical Requirements and Time Line Commitment:

Field Manager is expected to commit to a minimum of one growing season, from February through November, with a preferred commitment of multiple seasons. You should be able to work under adverse conditions (heat, humidity, cold, rain) and be able to lift 50 lbs, preferably at the same time.

Skills/Attributes: Must be team oriented, a strong communicator, have a positive attitude and be flexible. Must have a strong work ethic and willingness to get dirty, as well as an ability and strong interest in working with and supervising volunteers of all ages and abilities. Must be good at mental math, have strong people skills, and be a strong multi-tasker. This is a very social farm with students and customers on site. Must enjoy engaging with the public and be able to navigate interruptions from customers and the school while remaining focused on the work at hand. An ideal candidate manages their time, and the time of others, with an aim to maximize efficiency in all farm tasks. Prior experience with equipment such as tractors, walk behind tractors, mowers and weed whackers is a benefit, but not required. Living near the farm is strongly recommended, although not required.

Hours: Hours are dictated by the ebbs and flows of the season. Field Manager is expected to work 5 or 6 days a week, averaging 55 hrs per week. More/less hours per week and days per week might be necessary during the slower/busier times of the season. Weekend days are expected during the growing season for field work, watering, venting high tunnels, or volunteer days.

Paid time off during the winter is provided for Field Managers that return for the next season; typically this is the month of January, although winter time off is decided year to year based on the winter work load.

Compensation/Benefits: This is a full time, salaried, year-round position, starting at $37,565, eligible for the co-op’s health insurance and benefits plans. Farm staff can have produce from the farms, and receive a staff discount of 15% at Weavers Way.

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

December 04, 2022