Farm Manager Position:

The Farm Manager is responsible for all aspects of our mixed vegetable production and distribution on the 6.5 acres of land that we steward. The Farm Manager oversees all aspects of managing a farm crew, and has autonomy to fine tune systems, adjust the crop plan, and bring new ideas and outside expertise as time goes on. 

A large portion (roughly 10,000 pounds) of our vegetables are donated and distributed, with the help of grant funding, to local food pantries and community meal programs. We sell our vegetables weekly at the Beacon Farmers’ Market. We also grow vegetables for our 12-week U-Pick CSA in which 130 members come each week during the summer to harvest a share of veggies. In 2024 we are launching a 6-week Fall CSA, with the goal of selling 100 shares. 

Tractor experience is important as we use a tractor for soil preparation, but we are mostly operating with elbow grease to control weeds, with hoes, hand weeding, plastic mulch, and hay mulch. Therefore, being familiar and comfortable with both systems is necessary. For bed prep we use a Kubota M6060 and have a chisel plow, disc set, a small and a big perfecta, a plastic layer, and a rotary mower. Pretty much everything else is done by hand, including greenhouse propagation, transplanting, seeding, weeding, irrigating, cultivating, harvesting, washing, and general field maintenance. In addition to our propagation greenhouse, we currently have one 30’x96’ high tunnel primarily used for tomato and cucumber production during the summer. There is potential to add winter greens to the tunnel crop plan with interest and experience. 

As a farm rooted in creating equal access to food and farm education in our community, the Farm Manager should be serious about a career in agriculture and have a deep interest in community food security.  

This position reports to the Executive Director.

Job Duties include:

• Manage the farm’s 6.5 acres;

• Supervise, plan, schedule, and participate in all aspects of farm operations: seeding, greenhouse management, cultivation and field prep, transplanting, weed and pest management, harvesting, processing, and marketing crops. 

• Coordinate food distribution to our food access partners, and harvest and prepare for our weekend farmers’ market.

• Hire, train, manage, and work alongside the farm team (including 3 crew members, U-Pick work share members, volunteers, and Green Teen interns).

• Review and fine tune existing crop and distribution plan and update crop plan for future seasons. 

• Set and meet the farm budget; order and maintain supplies, as well as be responsible for production, distribution, and revenue goals (based on the previous year);

• Coordinate and engage with community partners as it pertains to the farm (such as internships or Farm to School programming)

• Attend bi-weekly staff meetings and monthly board meetings, and work with other staff members in long-term visioning and projects that overlap with the farm (like coordinating educational programs on the farm, events, etc.); meet weekly or biweekly with the Executive Director.

• Track and monitor all farm related data to support fundraising efforts, long-term planning, and assessment of programming.

Schedule:

This is a year-round position and will average 40 hours/week over the course of the year, however the hours will fluctuate with the growing season (up to 5 hours/week of overtime permitted for the peak summer months). The Farm Manager will set the weekly schedule, with our U-Pick CSA operating on Wednesday evenings, Friday afternoons, and Saturday mornings, and our farmers’ market sales on Sundays, plus weekend watering in the greenhouse.

Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of vegetable production experience on a similar scale; farm management experience preferred.

• Strong passion for production farming and desire to share and develop knowledge and skills.

• Excellent ability and desire to manage teams to cultivate both peak efficiency and personal growth.

• Attention to detail, experience building efficient systems, and record keeping.

• Excellent work ethic and physical endurance in all weather conditions.

• Positive attitude and flexible thinking.

• Ability to work independently and take initiative, set priorities and see projects through to completion.

• Outstanding communication (oral and written) skills; teach skills to crew, provide leadership to the farm crew team, share and accept feedback in a team environment, share farm updates on our newsletter and through social media.

• Driver’s license; comfort driving a pickup truck with a trailer.

• Tractor experience and knowledge in using various implements.

• Farmers’ market experience.

• Have basic carpentry skills, general “fix it” know-how, and familiarity with basic tools.