Company description

Wander Creek Farm is a Certified Organic (NOFA-NY), no-till, diversified veggie CSA and market farm. We intensively grow mixed vegetables, flowers and herbs on one acre of permanent raised beds, mostly with human-power. The farm is located in rural, south-central NY (zone 5b), 30 minutes to Binghamton, and an hour to Ithaca and Syracuse. Our weekly on-farm free-choice CSA serves about 60 members. We also partner with local non-profit VINES in Binghamton to provide an additional ~75 shares weekly. We attend a much-loved, community-centric farmers market on Saturday mornings. We also have a small, pasture-raised Angus beef herd.

We farm owners, Mary and Jonathan, are passionate about how and why we farm, and as former apprentices at Frith Farm in Maine, we have a strong appreciation for farm education.

We farm on Mary's family's land, stewarded by her father who is slowing retiring from beef and hay farming.

Job description

Wander Creek grows beautiful, nutritious food that feeds our growing community using regenerative practices. The farm is nestled in a quiet and gorgeous little valley, surrounded by a swimmable creek, and forested hill sides. Our summer days are long and we ask a lot of our bodies but the work is meaningful, fulfilling, and delicious!

We aim to farm alongside nature in ways that build balance and vitality in our environment and make farm decisions that are informed by our values. In the day to day, we value soil health, biodiversity, beauty, eating well, and fostering a work space that we all want to return to everyday.

Farm owners are a married pair, Mary and Jonathan, and 2026 will be our fifth year operating the CSA. Two of our three farm crew are returning (the other moved to Nepal), which makes us a crew of 4 so far, not including our toddler, a young dog, three affectionate cats, our crew's children on occasion, and lots of wonderful friends of the farm/volunteers.

We're looking for 1-2 additional people to join us that can bring the HUSTLE on harvest mornings, is ready to push themselves for fun and because the farm thrives from it, is excited to connect with a wacky and big-hearted crew, and is motivated by meaningful work. Couples/pairs may apply. Modest housing may be available.

Position Details

• Seasonal from mid-April to mid-October with flexible start and end dates.
• The position is full to part-time (30-40 hours/week), and more work may be available to someone that is skilled, independent and self-motivated.
• Full-time crew typically works from 8:00-4:00pm in the shoulder seasons, and 7:00-3:00 in peak season, 4-5 days a week.
• There is a 4 week probation period, starting at the hiring date.
• Possible housing arrangements for the right person or couple. Think camper trailer.

Responsibilities

By June, there is a rhythm to the week, but the work can vary day to day and may include, but is not limited to:

• Bed preparation: cultivating/weeding, soil ammending, installing irrigation, mulching, setting up row cover/low tunnels, laying out tarps
• Planting: transplanting, direct seeding, possibly using paperpot transplanter
• Greenhouse work: seeding, making soil blocks, cleaning trays, watering, potting up
• Harvesting veggies and flowers (early mornings, fast-paced with deadlines, attention to detail, an eye for quality control)
• Washing and packing: packing CSA boxes, some washing/packing, cleaning totes
• General field operations: pruning and trellising, weed-wacking, mowing, fence building/repair, etc, managing row cover/insect netting
• CSA set up
• Possibly market vending on Saturday or Sunday morning if interested

Tools we use: many hand tools, soil blockers, paperpots and transplanter, drill-powered greens harvester, BCS walk-behind tractor, wheelbarrows, etc. We have a small tractor but it's not used in the beds.

Part-time farm crew can expect less variability and more routine harvest.

This position will NOT spend a significant amount of time in wash/pack, as that job is filled.

Possible opportunity to vend at a local Farmer's Market.

Requirements and Expectations

We are looking for someone that:

• Can perform physical labor comfortably outdoors, through long days, in all weather (rain, wind, cold, hot, humid, buggy, etc). Human-powered vegetable production is an athletic endeavor!
• Can lift 50 lbs and kneel/squat and bend over easily and repeatedly.
• Is content with repetitive, detailed work for hours at a time.
• Maintains a positive attitude and strong work ethic through all of the above--this is essential for a happy and healthy farm team.
• Is able to work efficiently and quickly in a fast-paced environment, and is willing to improve with constructive criticism.
• Has good communication and listening skills and can complete tasks from verbal instructions.
• Ideally has at least 3 months work experience with farming OR outdoor physical labor, though this is not required for the right applicant.
• Is self-motivated and productive working both independently and with others.
• Will arrive on-time ready to work and is highly reliable. Our crew is small, and an unexpected absence can make-or-break the success of the day.

Bringing relevant experience is useful. If you don't offer that, tell us what you can offer!

We also value thoughtful humans with big hearts who are driven, enthusiastic and excited to be part of something bigger than themselves, regardless of their "qualifications."

What We Offer

• On the job training and education as needed or wanted
• Crew is entitled to a small CSA share, plus more "b-grade" and extras as available
• 1 Hour paid lunch
• Hourly wage starts at $16.00/hr
• You-pick flowers!
• 2 paid sick days for full-season employees
• Open to unpaid leave within reason, up to 5 days, and with ample notice
• 10%+ discount on our pasture-raised Angus beef
• Private swimming hole
• Community meals on occasion
• Possible housing in a nice camper trailer for the right person/pair

Please note our farm is only accessible by car.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15.50 - 20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

March 16, 2026