Company description

ABOUT LAZY ACRES FARM
We are a small-scale, regenerative farm that grows organic produce. We currently farm ¼ of an acre with intensive production. Our farm is no-till and we only use hand tools. Our inspiration and business model is derived from Jean Martin Fortier’s “The Market Gardener”, Curtis Stone’s “The Urban Farmer”, Eliot Coleman’s “The New Organic Grower”, and Jesse Frost’s “The Living Soil Handbook”. Our goal is not to expand and get bigger but to maximize the efficiency of the space that we have. Everything we do is with intention. We care about the health of the soil. We don’t use any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or spray.

Lazy Acres Farm is a 20 acre plot in rural Applegate Valley surrounded by BLM on three sides. Our closest notable neighbors are Vista 222, Schmidt Family Vineyards, and Noble Dairy. We are 20 mins from Grants Pass. Our land is a mix of open field/pasture, oak woodland, riparian, and mixed conifer forest.

ABOUT THE OWNERS

Beth and Casey are the only farm crew. Casey is the primary farmer while Beth helps when she is able, mostly on transplanting, harvesting, washing, packing, and market days. Beth maintains a remote job to help support the cost of the farm enterprise.

Casey grew up on a rural property on the central coast of California. His family raised their meat and grew their vegetables. After considering a career as a firefighter, he returned to his roots and started working in farming and environmental stewardship. He spent two years working on an organic lemon farm in Big Sur where he learned the fundamentals of organic farming and production. After that, he worked as the property manager and organic farm manager for MEarth, a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to educate and inspire through environmental stewardship. There, he managed their native plant nursery and one acre organic garden. All produce was donated on a weekly basis to communities in need. He managed volunteers and educated middle school students and adults through their programming. Casey has a degree in Business Marketing from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Beth grew up in the suburbs of San Jose, California but always had a passion for food, animals, and farming. She received a degree in culinary arts and used to cook for a living. Her passion for food led her to the garden and eventually to farming. She worked alongside Casey as a farmhand on organic farms in Big Sur. They decided that growing food is a lifestyle they wanted for themselves and their future family long-term. This led them to find farmland in Oregon where they could start their dream first by growing food for themselves, then growing food for their community. Beth is business and marketing savvy and manages the administrative and social media aspect of the business. Beth is highly involved in the community and makes a proactive effort to connect through education and community events.

Job description

Come work on our farm and learn to:

• Maximize profit on a small-scale
• Operate with hand tools only
• Increase soil health with regenerative practices
• Farm efficiently to avoid burnout
• Connect with the land and have fun!

Tasks & Responsibilities

The biggest days are harvest, wash, and pack on Thursdays and Fridays. Occasional help is needed on Saturdays for the market.

Main tasks include:

• Harvesting
• Washing
• Packing
• Labeling
• Market and selling

Other tasks listed below will happen on other days of the week, occasionally:

• Seed starting (soil mix, soil block composition, etc.)
• Transplanting
• Direct sowing
• Organic fertilizing
• Use of market garden specific equipment: soil blocker, gridder, Jang seeder, wire hoes, broadfork, etc.
• Indirect farm management and decision making
  • Knowledge and logic behind seed selection
  • Knowledge and logic behind bed and walkway sizes, plant spacing, and efficiency
  • Knowledge and logic behind marketing practices and display

Compensations and Accommodation

We can pay $15/hr. Breaks are paid. Farmhand is welcome to take home produce for personal consumption on a weekly basis.

On-Farm housing is not provided. We are 20 mins from Grants Pass, 30 mins from Jacksonville, 45 mins from Medford which have more housing opportunities. Housing can be difficult to find in the Applegate Valley. A car would be necessary to reach the farm.

Cell service and WiFi are available at the farm.

Qualifications

Commitment to agriculture, strong work ethic, no aversions to dirt/bugs/the natural world, and common sense are desired.

Equity and Inclusion

At Lazy Acres Farm, we embody equity and inclusion by ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all, especially our Apprentices, whom we compensate fairly and involve in diverse learning opportunities. Our commitment to regenerative, organic farming practices reflects our dedication to social and environmental justice. We foster a welcoming and supportive environment through comprehensive mentorship and active community engagement, underlining our belief in the importance of openness and inclusivity in agriculture.

Website: www.lazyacresfarm.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lazyacresfarm/

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline