Company description Bumbleroot Organic Farm is a certified organic vegetable and flower farm located just 10 miles from Portland, Maine. We grow 8 acres of vegetables and cut flowers for our CSA, farm stand, and wholesale accounts. Our mission is to connect people from our community with the land and food that sustains us, and to strengthen our local food system.

We are working to incorporate no-till practices and perennial crops into the farm. We use tractors to prep fields for planting, but planting, weeding, harvesting, and processing are all done by hand. We are committed to renewable energy, community building, climate resilience, prioritizing quality of life, and creating a supportive and inclusive work environment. Job description

SEASONAL VEGETABLE CREW LEADER (2024)
Hours per week: 40+ hours a week
Anticipated start & end dates: March - November
Schedule: Monday - Friday (Occasional Saturday shift)
Compensation: Starting at $18/hr, based on experience.

Job Description:

This seasonal, full-time role will encompass all vegetable-related work on the farm. Regular tasks include seeding, transplanting, weeding, fertilizing and irrigating, row covering, prepping beds, harvesting, cleaning, washing and packaging vegetables, and tractor work. Crew leaders will work closely with Bumbleroot owners/managers as well as farm hands on a daily basis, and will also be expected to take on some public-facing shifts at our farm stand.

After a training period to get accustomed to Bumbleroot systems and procedures, crew leaders will be tasked with leading small crews of between 2 and 5 crew members in the field and executing to-do lists with a rotating team. There will be regular guidance and support from upper management. These leaders will be expected to drive efficiency and set the pace for their crews, as well as providing guidance and feedback along the way. There is potential for specialized training and responsibility in certain areas over the course of the season (for example wash/pack, greenhouse, etc.).
 

Requirements:

Crew lead candidates must have multiple years of farming experience on a commercial farm with a strong background in vegetable production. Much of our field work is done by hand (including transplanting, weeding and harvesting) and it is fast-paced and physically demanding.  The ideal candidate has experience in all aspects of small-scale vegetable farming with a willingness to learn the systems and methods used here at Bumbleroot.
 

We are seeking crew leads with the following qualities:

• excellent listening and communication skills 
• interest in learning and openness to feedback
• positive attitude and enthusiasm for hard work
• self-motivated and organized
• confident leading others in tasks and executing a to-do list
• strong stamina and willingness to sustain/inspire high levels of efficiency, pace and productivity in the groups you lead
• ability to lift 50lbs. and be on your feet for 6 hours straight, 5 days per week

We do not offer housing so reliable transportation to and from the farm is necessary (we are located 25 minutes from downtown Portland), along with a valid driver’s license for driving farm vehicles.
 

Work Environment & Schedule:

Bumbleroot’s seasonal veggie crew is made up of 8-10 farmers; some tasks are completed together and some are tackled in smaller crews led by managers and crew leaders. We have regular meetings and check-ins to discuss priorities and workflow and we value strong communication, respect, and clarity of expectations in the workplace.

The job will be 8-9 hours per day, 5 days per week with a one hour unpaid lunch break. Crew leads will be expected to work occasional Saturday shifts as part of our team rotation. We generally work a 7am-4pm schedule with earlier start times on harvest days during peak season (6am, 2 days per week). We work in all weather conditions. For this position, the majority of the work will take place in the field with some time spent in the greenhouse and wash/pack.

We pay overtime for every hour worked over 40 hours per week, and we offer paid time off among other farm benefits (a workers compensation package, food and flowers from the farm, etc). Compensation this position is : hourly, $15-20/hr Application instructions Deadlineno deadline