Rock Bottom Ranch

Rock Bottom Ranch is a 113-acre site which dedicates approximately 70 acres to natural wildlands and about 35 acres to pasture-based, rotationally grazed multi-species livestock systems and intensive low-till vegetable production. Rock Bottom Ranch also serves as an outdoor classroom for summer camps, school groups, and community education programming to engage visitors and staff alike with questions about how humanity interacts with and impacts our ecosystems through a lens of nature-based scientific exploration and food production.

The Regenerative Agriculture Program

The Agriculture Program aims to spark a community of food-educated citizens through the demonstration of forward-thinking, environmentally, socially, and climate-aware agriculture and land stewardship practices. We seek to educate farmers on profitable, scalable, and replicable agriculture systems. Our livestock production includes raising sheep, laying hens, cattle, broiler chickens, turkeys, rabbits, and bees. Our vegetable production grows 50+ crops on our ⅔ acre of intensively spaced outdoor production and in our five-season extension structures. Rock Bottom Ranch’s livestock and vegetable products are featured at our summer dining events, weekly farmers’ markets, vegetable CSA, and on-farm sales.

Our production farm and educational site is open to the public four days a week during the summer and offers farm tours, youth and adult programs, and dining events. Agricultural staff are primarily involved in the diverse array of production agriculture operations, but have some opportunity to become involved in customer service, event, and educational experiences.

Agriculture Stewardship Position Summary

The Agriculture Stewardship is part of Rock Bottom Ranch's Farmer Training Program. This introductory field crew position provides intensive hands-on learning geared towards those who are curious about regenerative agriculture and want to learn more, but cannot commit to a full growing season of work on a farm. High school students, college students, and community members are encouraged to apply. It may be possible to integrate into school internship requirements.

As an Ag Steward, you will work on the day-to-day field tasks in vegetable and livestock production. The Agriculture Stewards play an important role on the Agriculture Crew as they join as field crew for peak summer season. Time will be taken to explain the why and hows, but those who are observant, ask questions, and are eager to learn will succeed most.

The Ag Stewards work Tuesday-Friday each week between June 4, 2024-August 9, 2024. We ask each steward to make a 10 week commitment, 5 weeks will be spent working with our vegetable production, and 5 weeks will be spent with our livestock.

Education opportunities:

• In-depth exposure to the basics of agriculture production.
• Opportunity to attend farm tours of other local area farms.

Possible Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) Vegetable Production:

• Assist with vegetable production including: soil preparation, seed propagation, irrigating, transplanting, and cultivation.
• Assist with harvesting, washing, packaging, and sales of final vegetable products.
• Assist with maintenance of the vegetable production area by mowing and weed whacking.

2) Livestock Production:

• Assist with the daily care of cattle, sheep, goats, laying hens, broilers, turkeys, and rabbits.
• Daily care includes: providing feed and fresh water, creating electric fencing paddocks and moving animals through a multi-species rotational grazing system, mucking out stalls and houses, collecting and washing eggs.
• Stewards may participate in humane, on-property slaughter of chickens and turkeys.

3) Site Maintenance:

• Site maintenance, including mowing, weed whacking, fence repair, trail repair, event preparation, cleaning, or other site duties as needed.

4) Customer Service

• Provide a welcoming and educational environment to all guests.
• Assist with sales of produce and meat at the ranch.
• Assist with on-farm events including, but not limited to, educational programs and farm tours.
• Opportunity to work select evening events for additional hourly pay.

Qualifications:

Candidates must have the following:

• Strong willingness and desire to learn.
• Strong work ethic and understanding that farm work is rewarding, yet physically demanding.
• Enjoy working outdoors all day in varying weather conditions.
• Able to lift heavy items.
• Friendly, inviting personality and positive attitude!
• Respect for farm products, fellow crew members, and all ACES staff.

Location: This position is located at ACES’ Rock Bottom Ranch site in Basalt, Colorado.

Work schedule: 7:30am-4:30pm, Tuesday-Friday.

Position Dates: Start date June 4, 2024- August 9, 2024.

Compensation: This position is compensated at a $136 day rate, not to exceed 8 hours per day ($17/hr). Housing is not provided, and we are seeking candidates who already have housing in the Roaring Fork Valley. Staff eggs and staff vegetables available.

Please email rbrjobs@aspennature.org with any questions.