Company description

Natural Roots Farm is a diversified horse-powered farm focusing on organically grown vegetable, berry, and pastured egg production for a 220-family CSA and farm store. The nature of work done with horses - sweet smells, gentle sounds, feet on the ground - lends itself to a heightened sensitivity to the subtle and dynamic qualities of the world around us. Sharing work and life with our equine partners is simultaneously grounding and uplifting. Our farm is graced by the South River, which runs between our crop fields and our roadside CSA & Farm Store barn. We cross the river either by horse and wagon or over it by foot, on a wooden suspension bridge. CSA families often spend hours at the farm when picking up vegetables, wading in the river, picking you-pick crops in the fields, and visiting with friends. We are proud to be a place which deepens human connection, both to the land and with each other.

Our five workhorses contribute immeasurably to our goal of strengthening the vitality of the farm. From our perspective, the horses offer a multitude of benefits over tractor-powered farming. The horses are instrumental in enriching the soil, as they are the primary source of manure on the farm. In the fields, they tread lightly and do not cause the soil compaction that can result from the wheels and weight of a tractor. The horses are also essentially solar-powered. They run on grass, hay and oats, which they help us grow and harvest right here on the farm. By using horses for our farm power, we help to minimize our carbon footprint; they deliver living, clean, and sustainable energy.

Job description

We’re looking for a capable, energetic team member to join us for fun and meaningful work during the 2023 growing season. We are seeking FULL-TIME help (38 hours per week, M-F) from mid-August to mid-November for general fieldwork, transplanting, harvesting, and washing/packing produce.

Our days begin at 8:30am, we take an hour lunch to recharge and maybe take a dip in the river, and we end our days at 5pm. This position could also be fulfilled by two PART-TIME helpers, so please let us know what kind of schedule would work best for you when you apply! We’re looking for energetic, positive, detail-oriented folks who can work well in a team and also independently. Previous farm experience is preferred, and you must be able to consistently lift 50lbs. Pay is $15/hour. You will also receive a CSA shares worth of veggies each week that you work.

We also have a teamster training apprenticeship program that runs March to Mid-December each year - this position would be a great way for prospective applicants to get a sense of what being an apprentice would be like! Details on the apprenticeship program can be found on our website.

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

August 01, 2023