Company description

Avena Botanicals is a small, woman-owned herbal products company in Rockport, Maine. For four decades, we have crafted high-quality herbal products from seed to bottle using fresh, organic and Biodynamic® herbs. We believe these vital plants, and a sacred connection to place, nurture wellness of body, mind, and spirit while inspiring us to be mindful, loving stewards of the Earth. Our herbs are hand-harvested in a spirit of joy and immediately hand-crafted in our on-site production facility, where we hold a careful balance between that joyful practice and our commitment to quality and to current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Our mission is to create the highest quality herbal products while nurturing plants, people, and pollinators. We are a collaborative team of fewer than 10 people. Some of us were born and raised in Maine; others were drawn here by the beauty and quiet of the surrounding landscape. We are herbalists, gardeners, and healers, and also artists, writers, teachers, parents, hikers, meditators, beekeepers, and local-food enthusiasts. Because nearly everything we make is produced on-site, mostly from herbs grown in our own Biodynamic, organic gardens, every team member experiences the full seed-to-bottle process firsthand.

That connection extends beyond the workday. Staff often rest in the tranquility of the gardens during breaks, visit nearby trails and beaches after work, share music and tea, and co-create personal enrichment workshops together. Everything we do is done by hand, from planting seeds to pouring liquids and salves to shipping packages. We prioritize connection over large-scale manufacturing, because our hands keep us directly connected to the plants, the people we serve, and the planet.

We care deeply about environmental and social justice, and we work as a community to drive positive change. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities, and we especially encourage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals to apply.

Our team enjoys benefits that include paid time off, paid holidays, a generous product stipend, and a beautiful, one-of-a-kind work environment. Staff have access to our peaceful gardens, personal enrichment workshops, and free herbal classes when they are offered through our sister nonprofit, the Herbal Hummingbird Hub. Whenever feasible, we offer each team member the option of a four-day work week to support a harmonious work-life balance.

Since our founding in 1985, we have used no chemicals, additives, or solvents of any kind, in our products or in our farming practices. Our production facility is free of toxic paints, finishes, and synthetic scents, and we clean with 100% biodegradable supplies. A chemical-free workplace protects both the purity of our products and the health of the people who make them. Integrity remains constant in our thoughts, words, and actions. We care for the health and well-being of the plants and people we serve, and of one another, taking extra care with every herb we gather and every product we craft.

Job description

About the Role

The gardens at Avena Botanicals and their creator Deb Soule joyfully put out a call for the 2027 summer season Lead Production Gardener. For 30 years, these 3-acre gardens, situated on 32 acres of field and forest, have served as a sanctuary for medicine plants, pollinators, and people, as a living classroom, and as the source for most of the herbal preparations that are made in our apothecary. We now seek the next special person who is called to care for these gardens in a leadership role. You will work and learn in close collaboration with Deb to gain intimacy with the rich ecosystem of beings who live here, and with the organic and Biodynamic gardening practices that help this place thrive.

The right person for this role is an experienced, sturdy farmer who has deep respect for the sacred work of gathering and making medicine with plants.

Essential Skills Are:

• An ability to see the "big picture" on a farm: the arc of a season, recognizing priorities in the gardens, delegating tasks, managing a greenhouse, herb drying rooms, harvest rhythms, safety, and interpersonal dynamics. A minimum of 3-4 years of full-time farming experience is a must.
• The ability to lead a garden crew.
• A strong interest in medicinal herbs.
• Being well-organized and maintaining good systems.
• Confidence in record keeping and garden mapping, particularly in terms of sustaining compliance to the requirements set by MOFGA, Demeter, and the FDA.
• Taking good care of tools, supplies, and work spaces.
• An eye for garden aesthetics along with "production."

Desired qualities for this role are someone:

• Who is grounded in Earth's wisdom and extremely observant of the natural world. You recognize that gardening is a spiritual practice, one that embodies reciprocity, gratitude, and humility.
• Who enjoys physical labor, and is able to do vigorous work with their body in an ongoing way. Your vigor and pace set an example for the rest of the crew. You see what needs to be done, and you make sure it happens.
• Who humbly recognizes that they are part of an ecosystem, and respects all beings, human and more than human. Particular love and respect for pollinators, especially hummingbirds, makes you a resonant candidate.
• Who is eager to be part of a community centered around contemplative and sacred relationship with plants. We seek people with an established personal spiritual practice, and commitment to inner well-being, however that is for you.
• With a deep commitment to racial justice and participation in indigenous sovereignty movements— someone who seeks to recognize and embody their (and Avena's) role in the cultural healing that is needed at this time.
• Who is eager for intergenerational learning, ready to work closely with Deb to receive her insights and knowledge about the plants and pollinators and rhythms of the gardens.
• Who is a problem-solver, who sees what needs to be done and does it.
• With good leadership skills, who prioritizes clear, easeful, kind communication.
• With a background or interest in Biodynamic agriculture, and a readiness to deepen that study and practice.
• With a background in organic farming practices.
• Who is a good listener and collaborator, who takes and gives feedback with grace, and moves with compassion, empathy, and care.
• Who may be ready to explore the possibility of putting down deep roots as a long-term steward of this Sanctuary.

Schedule, Wage & Benefits
This role is 4 days per week (around 32 hours) plus a rotation of weekend chores in the height of the season, May through the end of October. In April and November, the commitment is for approximately half-time hours to tend to garden records as well as pre- and post-season activities. Pay range is $24-25 per hour depending on experience.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline