Company description

Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center is dedicated to the practices of sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, community education, and the creation of access to healthy food systems. Hilltop is a 60-acre working farm and educational center operated by Westchester County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation that uses organic practices to grow produce, flowers, and seeds for a market-style CSA, on-site farm stand, and native plant nursery. The farm offers educational programming throughout the year and the property is open to the public, free of charge, year-round.

Job description

Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center is hiring full-time seasonal Field Crew members for the 2025 season. We are seeking farmers who are interested in developing their farm careers, and are passionate about sustainability, local food, and community.

Field Crew members will assist in all areas of production and help to ensure the farm is operating efficiently. Applicants should love getting dirty and take pleasure in a hard day’s work! This position is physical, requiring long hours of repetitive tasks and heavy lifting. Applicants should be excited to work with a team of farmers, educators, and other professionals, possess a good work ethic, and have strong communication skills. We are willing to train individuals with less than one year of farm experience who are interested in building their farm careers.

Responsibilities include participation in all aspects of farming on 5 acres. Field Crew members will spend the bulk of their time working as a team to weed, transplant, and harvest throughout the season. Other duties will include animal work (feeding chores, infrastructure maintenance, mucking), working alongside volunteers, and supporting other departments (such as the Native Plants team and Farm Stand).

Positions start at the beginning of April and end mid-November. The default work schedule is 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 7:30AM to 3:30PM, with an hour of unpaid lunch. The work schedule will shift throughout the season, based on the weather, needs of the farm, and time of the year (earlier starts on extremely hot days, and later starts around November). Occasional weekend work will be requested.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist with propagation, bed preparation, transplanting, irrigation, and weeding.
• Work efficiently during harvesting, processing, washing, and packing.
• Animal chores including mucking.
• Farm maintenance work including weed whacking.
• Work alongside other staff members, volunteers, interns, and students.
• Work with farm tools and vehicles (hoes, walk-behind tractors, flame weeder).
• Help other departments as needed.

Skills and Qualifications

• At least one full season of work on a production farm. Two seasons are preferred.
• Ability and desire to work in all weather conditions.
• Detail-oriented, flexibility, strong communication skills, and ability to work in a team.
• Commitment to sustainability and a career in organic farming.
• Comfortably able to lift 40lbs and perform repetitive tasks.
• Background Check required by the county parks department.
• Driver’s License required to fulfill job duties.

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay range is $18-$20/hr dependent on experience
• Access to free farm produce during the growing season
• 30% off all products sold in the Farm Stand
• Access to educational & professional development opportunities
• Participation in NY State Retirement System

WESTCHESTER COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Compensation

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

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline