Company description

Small Axe Farm is a no till, off grid, 1 acre organic market farm in the beautiful hills of Northern Vermont. Since 2009, Small Axe Farm has focused on growing the highest quality produce using human powered tools, focusing on efficient techniques and using regenerative practices. We farm on a south facing hillside on our homestead in Barnet. We are interested in working with self motivated individuals who want to learn and want to farm. We are a valuable resource for those who want to start their own farm, as we have close to 2 decades of experience.

Job description

We are looking for someone to join our team for 2023. If you have farming experience and want to learn what it takes to run a successful market farm, Small Axe Farm may be a good fit for you! Strong candidates are self-motivated, have strong references and work well in a team. This job is seasonal, from April through the end of October. Compensation depends upon experience. No housing is available.

• PROFILE OF THE IDEAL APPLICANT:

  • Seeks to advance their knowledge of no till and regenerative market farming with the aim of starting their own farming business or looking to move into a farm manager position.
  • Has a good level of experience in market gardening (minimum 1 season)
  • Experience in greenhouse culture management and climate control (minimum 1 season)
  • Experience in harvesting and conditioning for selling to markets, retail and restaurants (minimum 1 season)
  • Capacity for physical work under variable weather conditions
  • Ease of working independently and in teams
  • Attention to detail and work
  • Has a valid driver's license and reliable transportation
  • Has a smartphone with phone service on our farm (Verizon works best)

  AMONG YOUR POTENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Propagation (paperpot seeding & transplanting, direct seeding with Jang seeder, direct transplants, etc.);
  • Preparation of permanent beds (weedwacking, applying compost, amendments, tilthing)
  • Biological fertilization (foliar feeding, fertilizing)
  • Irrigation management
  • Preventive management and control of weeds, pests, and phytosanitary diseases
  • Implementation and maintenance of greenhouse crops
  • Harvest, conditioning and storage of vegetables
  • Processing and packaging of vegetables for various point of sales (CSA, restaurants, coops)
  • Order preparation and delivery to various markets.
  • Management of online store (managing wholesale and retail orders)
  • Harvest day organization and implementation

  WHAT WE OFFER:

  • The acquisition of plant production skills in a bio-intensive no till, off grid system
  • An overview of the challenges inherent in starting a diversified, small-scale organic farm
  • Experience in direct marketing and semi-wholesale
  • A beautiful place to work in the hills of northern Vermont
  • Exposure to a market farming system that is transferable to many different settings (rural ,suburban,urban etc..)
  • Experience with off grid farming
  • Access to our 2 decades of no till farming, gardening and homesteading experience

  The work will be challenging both physically and mentally. This position requires a full commitment, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the farm.

  EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:

  • Seasonal full-time position -early April to mid-late October (40 hours/week)
  • The schedule is 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, including a 45 minute paid lunch break. We sometimes start early and end early on Mondays & Thursdays during the busiest harvest weeks. The salary starts at $15.00-$17.00 per hour, depending on experience. We will pay above this rate for a highly qualified candidate.
  • As a full time/full season employee you will be entitled to 5 un-paid vacation days and 2 paid sick/personal days during the 2023 season, to be determined in consultation with farm managers.
  • There is a 4 week probation period, starting at the hiring date.

  ACCOMMODATION:

  • When we have extra veggies after harvest we make them available for the crew at no charge
  • There is also a 10% discount for employees if they want to order items we would be selling elsewhere, those items would need to be ordered through our online farm store. We will set you up with a discount code.
  • Full time/full season employees (those who work May through October 28th):
    • 2 paid sick/personal days
    • 5 unpaid days off

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

April 30, 2023