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 and 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

2024 CUT FLOWER MANAGER
Hours per week: 40+ hours a week
Start & End Dates: March - November
Anticipated schedule: Monday - Friday (Occasional weekend shift)
Compensation: $20/hr
 

Job Description:

Bumbleroot’s flower manager manages flower field work and oversees the flower crew. This is a middle-management position with a focus on leading the flower team in flower crop production, harvesting, and bouquet making. Primary tasks include seeding, planting, weeding, trellising, scouting for pest and disease pressure, washing totes and flower buckets, fertilizing, setting up irrigation, planning harvests and making bouquets for CSA, farmstand, and wholesale accounts. 
 

After a training period, the flower manager will be expected to have a full understanding of the Bumbleroot seeding schedule, transplant schedule, fertilization regimen and field maintenance program (bed prep, weeding, trellising, etc). They will also be responsible for creating harvest lists and bouquet recipes, executing to-do lists, and packing and filling orders for DIY and wholesale customers. This position entails independent work and record keeping responsibilities in addition to the daily role of managing the flower team as efficiently as possible.
 

Requirements:

This role requires a leader with multiple years of farming experience in cut flower production and harvest at a commercial scale. Responsibilities shift with the seasons so adaptability and organizational skills are keys to success. A strong understanding of– or willingness to learn– the nuances of over 100 different flower varieties and their life cycles is essential.
 

We are seeking candidates with the following qualities and skills:

• Excellent leadership and communication skills; confidence training and directing others in a variety of tasks 
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Experience navigating Google Suite and Quickbooks (for crop plans, harvest lists, and invoicing)
• High level of attention to detail and quality standards
• Ability to stay focused and physically active for long periods of time
• Highly efficient and capable of setting and maintaining a fast pace across tasks
• Willingness to learn and openness to feedback 
• Kind, respectful, patient, and compassionate
• Self-motivated and willing to take initiative and problem-solve
• Positive and enthusiastic, able to motivate others through monotonous and challenging tasks
• Comfortable working alone and in group settings
   

Work Environment & Schedule: 

The Bumbleroot flower team is made up of 4-5 farmers and works in tandem with our larger farm crew. You will work closely with Bumbleroot owners, other managers, and crew members every day. We strive to create a collaborative, committed work environment where everyone is motivated to work hard and is fulfilled by a team mentality and positive work environment. We have regular meetings and check-ins to discuss priorities and workflow for the day/week and we value strong communication, respect, and clarity of expectations in the workplace.
 

The job will be 8-9 hours a day, 5 days per week with a one hour unpaid lunch break. The flower manager will be expected to work occasional weekend 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, 2-3 days per week). We work in all weather conditions. For this position, the majority of the work will take place in the field and in our pack house.
 

We do not offer housing so reliable transportation to and from the farm is necessary along with a valid driver’s license for driving farm vehicles. 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). There is potential for year-round employment, to be decided after a 6 month performance review. 

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline