Company description

Minka Farm is a family farm set in a convenient location of the Triangle area of NC. The farm encompasses a beautiful setting with life abounding: domesticated animals and wildlife, plant and animal, with ponds, fields, forests, and amazing sunsets; all of which help make working here enjoyable and fulfilling. There is a seasonal rhythm to the work but there are also consistencies throughout the year. We use sustainable, earth friendly methods to raise high-welfare, pastured meats and eggs; and, sustainable, no-chemical methods to grow vegetables and orchard fruit.

The Minka Farm livestock list includes: beef cows, meat goats & sheep, hogs, chickens (meat & eggs), ducks (eggs) and Great Pyrenees for livestock protection. All are raised outdoors, on pasture or in the woods. Our beef is 100% grassfed and grass-finished, certified by A Greener World. Our layers (duck & chicken), beef cattle and pigs are Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World. We provide food from livestock raised with dignity. We do not treat our animals like production machines but rather strive to provide them with lives that take their specific needs into account: interspecies social interactions (human-animal, in particular), low stress handling, protection from predators, and encouraging natural behaviors. We also aim to offer our customers educaitonal experiences on our farm to further understanding of why all creatures matter in the web of life on earth. We will not tolerate abusive treatment of our livestock.

In the orchard, we grow PYO blueberries, pawpaws, Asian persimmons, apples, pears, figs, jujubes and muscadine grapes using no-spray techniques.

The garden spaces include 3/4 acre of well-amended soil, an indoor sprouting room and a 35x60-foot covered, unheated greenhouse. Our rich compost's main contributors are our livestock and is properly aged and allowed to "cook" to promote safety.

Minka Farm sells most of our products directly to the public through an on-Farm Store, CSA and pre-order pickup from the farm. We sell pork and beef by the side as well as by the cut, live goats and sheep and eggs. We deliver to a few local restaurants and grocery chains.

Job description

The Garden and Sales Farm Hand position at Minka Farm will include work across these areas of our farm: orchard and garden care, product prep, sales & deliveries, and livestock care. Specific duties will include: post-collection care of the duck and chicken eggs: washing, candling and packing, and delivering to the restaurants and stores that we work with; running the on-Farm Store on Saturdays and filling orders for pick up during the week; assisting with pruning in the orchard (we'll teach you) and harvesting orchard fruit that isn't picked by the public; planning and growing for a 10-20 share CSA and manage 1-2 seasonal employees to help with the garden; at times, you will need to help with medical care of the animals or assist with daily care of the animals.

We value independence and clear communication in our team. We expect you to offer suggestions when you see opportunities to increase productivity and efficiency as well as communicating effectively with daily updates on the status of the areas of the farm that you tend. If you don't understand what we are asking of you, need clarification, or think there's a better way to do a task, we expect you to speak up as we'd rather explain or talk through protocols multiple times than have continued misunderstanding.

Qualification Skill musts:
Good communication abilities in English
Good work ethic
Relevant experience or education
Desire to learn
Can work outdoors in all weather
Can lift at least 50 lbs
Small-scale vegetable production experience (doesn't have to be at a commercial scale)
Interest in working with many animal species using high-welfare methods
A sense of humor
Willingness to commit to 25-45 hours/week and at least two years of employment

Desired Qualifications:
Previous farming experience
Previous CSA experience
Tractor experience
Landscaping tool experience: zero-turn mower, trimmer

While we have lots to do on the farm, we don't have hard-set hours. We are happy to work with you to find a schedule that works for you as long as the animals are cared for in a timely manner and the work gets accomplished.

If you are coming from a distance too far to drive daily for a few weeks, we would like you to visit Minka Farm and work with us for at least 2 weeks to ensure a good fit. We will provide housing for your visit.

Come to work every day at a haven for the soul that is still close to Universities (UNC, Duke, NC State, and many more), top notch medical care, a wide variety of grocery stores, and entertainment options. The beach is a couple of hours to the east and the mountains are several hours to the west. Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro are all 1-2 hours away. The weather is variable and we experience all four seasons. Central North Carolina is a great place to live!

There is 1 position available.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $15.00 - $23.00

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline