Villageside Farm is a certified organic vegetable and seedling business in Freedom, Maine.  We have lived on this land in Freedom for 21 years and 2022 will be our 16th season farming here. Villageside produces seedlings for gardeners and farmers, both sold “on-farm” as well as to wholesale accounts like garden centers and natural food stores. Villageside also produces vegetables and herbs for wholesale institutional customers, natural food stores, restaurants and caterers, and for distribution through at least two distribution companies.  We’ve built our farm business over these years on efficient systems, hard work and a commitment to providing the most nutritional, highest quality farm produce that we can.

As owners, we, Polly Shyka and Prentice Grassi, are committed to environmental stewardship and aspire to build a successful, sustainable farm that is also an asset to our community. We aim to maintain a farm business that supports our family financially as well as provides fairly-compensated jobs in a healthy, professional, and fun workplace.  We employ 8-10 people each growing season and tremendously value our employees’ commitment to the work here.  We couldn’t do it without them!  We hope to show that appreciation in many ways, every day.  For employees that return year to year, we aim to provide means to increase their stake in the farm and challenge them in new ways.

Villageside Farm employees are expected to approach their coworkers with professionalism, kindness and respect. Employees must be willing to pay close attention to detail.  There are a lot of them!  They must approach the work with a desire to improve the farm’s systems and success and be open to constructive comments from managers and coworkers alike.  

Specifically, employees are expected to: 

• Be committed to open and clear communication
• Be on time, reliable and responsible
• Be comfortable working at a quick pace
• Be capable of physical work in all weather conditions
• Uphold a positive attitude in the workplace

Villageside’s farm crew team is made up of individuals who enjoy physical, outdoor work.  They are involved in many different tasks around the farm as we move through the season together.  Crew members must be team oriented and have a desire to get the work done in a fast-paced collaborative way.

Farm crew members are involved in many aspects of operating the farm.  If crew members have specific areas of interest, we can often focus on those.  Generally speaking, the farm work includes:

• Greenhouse production (seeding & transplanting)
• Field planting
• Weeding
• Irrigation
• Harvest
• Wash & pack produce

For interested workers with sufficient experience, the work can also include construction, building and equipment maintenance, and equipment operation.

Season & Hours:  March 1st - November 1st.  The work day is 8 hours.  Employees take a 1/2 hour (unpaid) for lunch and can expect a 15 minute paid morning break if the work block exceeds 4 hours.  Start time is between 6 and 8AM depending on the season.  We work a regular schedule on holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day).

Wage: Base starting wage at $15/hour for full-time employees (32-40 hrs./week).  Will consider higher starting wage based on applicant experience. Time and a half is paid for all hours over 40 hours/week. Part time positions are available with starting pay commensurate with experience. 

Benefits: Unemployment Insurance, Workers Comp Insurance, 8 hours paid personal time for every 160 hours worked (1 day/month full-time), free access to “seconds” produce, overtime pay