This job expired on March 22, 2023

Vegetable Production Manager

morning star farm

Date Posted January 21, 2023
Location Orcas, WA
Category Agriculture
Job type Part-Time

Company description

Morning Star Farm is a small family-owned farm and homestead on Orcas Island, WA growing organic vegetables, fruit, and flowers. The farm includes 20 acres of forested land, 4 acres of vegetables and flowers, a large pond, a small fruit orchard, and several acres of sloping pasture. We consider this land to be a creative sanctuary where we work hard while striving to foster balance and health for all life.

Over the past 30 years, we have offered vital food and flowers to all sectors of the community, including neighbors via CSA and farmers market, local grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and the food bank.

Job description

Morning Star Farm is hiring a full-time, vegetable production manager (VPM) to join our family operation! We are seeking a hard-working, diligent, and compassionate individual inspired to work towards our goal of vital growth, health, balance, and creativity. The VPM will be the primary vegetable farmer working with interns and alongside a lead flower farmer. They will be responsible for designing and maintaining vegetable operations on the farm through ecologically sound principles.

Duties & Responsibilities:

-Plan and manage the vegetable production from start to finish: develop crop plans, manage daily operations, monitor plant and soil health, oversee wash and pack procedures, troubleshoot irrigation, maintain greenhouses, and operate tractor.

-Create, maintain, and execute clear task lists and schedules to ensure vegetable production meets produce supply needs for diverse accounts.

-Mentor, motivate, and supervise a team of seasonal farm hands. We’re looking for a compassionate experienced leader that can encourage and build team when going gets tougher than expected.

Qualifications:

-2+ years of farming experience, management level preferred.

-Strong communication and interpersonal skills; a team player who is able to follow instructions as well as give them and who is open to both giving and receiving feedback. Leads with clarity, compassion for self and others, a sense of humor, and a willingness to admit mistakes.

-A highly organized systems-thinker who possesses the ability to see the bigger picture and has strong attention to detail. Can maintain focus and efficiency while working solo or on a team.

-Familiarity with all aspects of market garden farming, including planning, seeding, transplanting, cultivating, irrigating, harvesting, and preparing produce for markets.

-Tractor experience or willingness to learn
-Knowledge of soil health with the ability to identify pests and diseases
-Comfortable with quiet simple living, waking early, and able to lift 50 lbs repeatedly.

Compensation: Hourly salary $15-18, based on experience and seasonal production. Housing and farm produce included.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $15.00 - $18.00

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