Full-Time Seasonal, Staten Island, New York

The Position:

The Snug Harbor Heritage Farm Team Member – Production helps grow and maintain our 2.5-acre production farm with fellow farmers, volunteers, and local workforce development programs.   As one of the largest urban farms in NYC, Heritage Farm grows over 100 varieties of crops for our 20-week CSA, as well as on-site farm stands and institutional clients. 

Snug Harbor is looking for a Full-Time Seasonal Farm Team Member to join us from April to December, focused on our day-to-day production operations, from starting seedlings in our greenhouses in the spring to spread compost and cover crop in the fall and everything in between!  Experience in production farming is highly preferred but not required.  A positive, collaborative, and energetic approach is required.  This job requires attention to detail while juggling multiple tasks, communication, and strong record-keeping skills.

This is a highly physical role. Team Members will be standing, bending, crouching, pulling, pushing, and using basic hand tools in all weather conditions (including rain and extreme heat) while maintaining a fast and efficient pace. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Anyone who is enthusiastic to learn, has a strong work ethic and interested in working on a small team in sustainable small-scale agriculture should apply.

This position reports to the Manager, Heritage Farm as part of the Community Impact Team.

Responsibilities:

Farming and Land Management

• Perform various farm labor tasks with a constant improvement mindset
• Transplant, thin, propagate, direct seed, cultivate, trellis, prune, weed, harvest, and wash produce, track production in coordination with Manager
• Participate in compost and farm production logs by maintaining accurate seeding, transplant, harvest, and donation records
• Support processing and usage of compost as it pertains to building healthy soils community-wide, including organics collection and compost processing
• Perform landscaping tasks such as weed-whacking, mowing, mulching, pruning, and other site management tasks as needed
• Perform snow removal, with expectations of availability during inclement weather

Community Engagement

• Collaborate with the Farm Manager to set up and break down CSA distribution events and farm stands
• Communicate the vision and goals of Snug Harbor professionally with the general public and act as a front-facing member of the Heritage Farm team with enthusiasm and a positive attitude
• Deliver wholesale orders and produce donations to local partners
• Welcome volunteers and interns onto the Farm with a welcoming and inclusive mindset

Community Impact Team Support

• Drive company vehicles offsite to make purchases and deliveries, as well as support programming initiatives, local partners, and site operations
• Coordinate with Community Impact team members to provide weekly checks on all Community Impact Team vehicles, including the bobcat. Checks consist of fuel levels, warning lights, tire pressure, fluid levels, registration and inspection expiry dates, mileage, insurance, running hours, and other issues associated with vehicle care
• Support the Community Impact team in updating and improving the Farm Training Manual, which includes standard operating procedures, policies, and references.
• Support in completing administrative tasks, including daily and weekly agendas, work orders, purchase orders, inventories, and crop plan updates.

Qualifications:

• Experience working outdoors with physically demanding work for extended periods of time in all weather conditions (including rain and extreme heat) while maintaining a fast and efficient pace
• Interest in actively engaging community members in small-scale production agriculture and the techniques used in organic, low-till farming, and teaching others the importance of this type of work
• An enterprising attitude with a constant improvement mindset for teamwork
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly and execute them immediately including the use of hand tools, power tools and small machinery
• A valid driver’s license is required
• Able to manage multiple tasks at once while managing time effectively
• Able to follow and uphold all safety protocols
• Exemplary communication skills and workplace professionalism, including appropriate work attire, positive attitude, timeliness, and adaptability
• Enthusiasm and commitment to being an active and flexible member of a small team
• Ability to lift 50 lbs regularly and be able to stand, squat, kneel, bend, and crouch for extended periods of time in all weather conditions
• English facility required; Spanish facility preferred

Salary and Schedule:

The salary is $16.00 per hour. This is a full-time position, generally working a 35-hour work week with a 1-hour unpaid lunch. Typical hours are 8:30 am-4:30 pm, depending on weather and business needs.

Weekend and holiday work will be required for this position.  Snug Harbor offers a seasonal vacation/holiday schedule.