Company description
Pu'u O Hōkū Ranch is a family-owned working ranch on the remote east end of Moloka'i, caring for forest, agricultural and conservation lands since 1933. At its heart is our lodging and retreat center, where guests come to slow down and connect with the 'āina. Our organic and biodynamic gardens feed that work directly: most of what we grow goes to our kitchen and guests, and the rest supports our community through a local CSA and the ranch store. We're a small, dedicated, diverse team committed to caring for this land and helping it thrive for generations to come.
Job description
THE ROLE
The Head Gardener leads the planning, planting and harvest of the ranch gardens, growing vegetables, root crops and fruit in accordance with organic and biodynamic practices. Most of what we grow is served on site at our lodging and retreat center; the rest goes to a local CSA, weekly employee veggie bags and the ranch store. You will work closely with our Chef and Horticulture Manager so that what comes out of the ground matches what the kitchen and our guests need, week to week and season to season.
SCOPE OF WORK
Garden planning & production
– Build and maintain seasonal crop plans and planting calendars for vegetables, root crops and fruit.
– Oversee soil preparation, propagation, planting, cultivation, irrigation and harvest.
– Manage soil fertility, pests and disease with organic and biodynamic methods: compost, crop rotation, cover cropping and biodynamic preparations.
– Care for orchard and perennial fruit plantings.
– Keep records of plantings, yields and inputs, and keep tools, irrigation and garden infrastructure in good working order.
Coordination with kitchen & hospitality
– Plan what is planted, when and in what quantity together with the Chef and Horticulture Manager.
– Review the lodging and retreat calendar with our hospitality and food service teams, and plan plantings weeks and months ahead for upcoming retreats and guest groups.
– Communicate availability, shortfalls and surpluses clearly so the kitchen can plan menus with confidence.
Harvest & distribution
– Schedule and lead weekly harvests; wash, pack and deliver produce to the Chef.
– Prepare and deliver produce for the local CSA.
– Assemble weekly employee veggie bags and stock produce in the ranch store.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
– Three or more years of organic growing experience on a production farm or market garden.
– Strong planning skills: able to think ahead and grow for hospitality needs and future retreats, not just the current week.
– Clear, reliable communication with the kitchen, managers and a diverse team.
– Physically capable of full days of outdoor farm work and able to lift 50+ lbs.
– Able and willing to live and work in a very remote location.
PREFERRED
– Hands-on experience with biodynamic practices.
– Experience growing for a restaurant, kitchen or CSA.
– Familiarity with subtropical growing conditions in Hawai‘i, and respect for local customs and traditions.
– Thoughtful, detailed eye for beauty and tidiness in the garden.
LIFE AT THE RANCH
Pu‘u O Hōkū sits at the very remote, subtropical east end of Moloka‘i. If you are looking for a party atmosphere, a place to chill out or somewhere to live while surfing in Hawai‘i, we are not the right place for you. Our team works with untiring commitment to care for the ‘āina we hold in trust.
Compensation
this position is: hourly, $20/hr +
Application instructions
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Deadline
October 31, 2026