Company description

Tucked away in the Seattle suburb of Maple Valley, WA, Elk Run Farm sits on the site of a former golf course and grows fresh produce for the fifteen member food banks of the South King County Food Coalition.

We believe that food access is a right – and that everyone deserve food that matters to them. Time and again, we hear that what people want is fresh fruits and vegetables, especially ones that are culturally familiar. That’s why we prioritize growing a diverse spectrum of crops – as diverse as the clients who need support accessing the food that is familiar to them. We emphasize using sustainable practices, harvest at peak ripeness and nutrition, and distribute locally – right here in our community.

Job description

To provide assistance in managing daily operations for Elk Run Farm, a program of the South King County Food Coalition that increases access to healthy food for low-income families by distributing fresh-grown produce through its network of local food banks.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: High School graduate or equivalent.

Experience:

• Sustainable or organic vegetable production
• Leading and supporting volunteers in group tasks
• Working in a team

Skills:

• Valid Washington State driver’s license with reliable personal transportation. Mileage reimbursement is offered at the federal rate for all work-related travel.
• Good verbal communication skills with ability to speak in front of groups
• Comfortable working with diverse populations of age, faith, ethnicity, racial and socio-economic backgrounds
• Strong organizational, detail oriented, and team coordination abilities

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Comfortably demonstrate and explain Elk Run Farm farming techniques such as soil preparation, harvesting, weeding, watering, pest control, set up irrigation lines, and transplanting to people of all skill levels. Be receptive to learning new methods of farming and production, and sharing existing knowledge of farming and production
• Lead groups of volunteers for regular volunteer events, including Sundays
• Work with Production Manager to ensure crop plan is carried out in timely manner
• Supervise, instruct and support Plant Science high school students as well as high school Summer Interns during the school year and summer alongside Production Manager
• Ensure the purpose of the organization and its actions are clearly communicated to volunteers and visitors of the farm
• Ensure work area and equipment are in safe and reliable working order
• Assist staff in light construction, plumbing, and miscellaneous repairs as needed
• Typical physical demands for farm labor, such as walking, standing, reaching, climbing, stooping, squatting, lifting up to 50 lbs and working indoors and outdoors in cold, hot or wet conditions on uneven surfaces

This position is part-time, non-exempt, and hourly. The schedule is flexible and hours will vary according to the event schedule and will include Sundays during the main growing season. Additionally, part of this job will be working with Tahoma high school students, and once hired you will be required to pass a background check to become an ‘approved’ volunteer with the school district.

This consists of 20 hours per week annually on average, with the understanding that farming is a seasonal job and summer hours will be more (30 hours/week) and winter hours will be less (10 hours/week). This is an employee position with compensation range between $18-$20/hour and a $175 health care stipend per month, as well as leave benefits.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $16.66 - 20/hr

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline