Job description

Farmstead Ferments is a small farm and value-added operation located near Charlottesville, VA. We create raw, naturally-fermented foods and beverages made by hand in small batches featuring sustainably-grown, fresh ingredients procured from our own gardens as well as from local farmers.

We are seeking an energetic team member to join our rapidly expanding fermented foods business. Our perfect collaborator will have an interest in growing, harvesting and processing garden produce into delicious and nutritious fermented foods like sauerkrauts, kimchi and water kefir sodas. A passion for creating herbal teas and body products is a plus. In addition to contributing to the daily needs of the farm, the gardens and the processing kitchen, the ideal person will staff the booth at farmers markets and events. We are looking for a lively, enthusiastic, articulate, dependable, creative and resourceful person to join the team.

Responsibilities:
Tending the Garden – seeding, planting, watering, weeding, harvesting
Tending the Farm – care of poultry flock (chickens, ducks, guineas), compost, plus the various farm-related projects that inevitably arise
Processing Fresh Produce and Herbs – making fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, water kefir sodas; making herbal teas and herbal body products; maintaining a clean and sanitary working environment (everybody cleans), jarring and labeling products
Filling Orders – pulling orders, packing coolers and vans, and putting everything back in its place afterwards
Staffing Farmers Markets and Events – managing the Farmstead Ferments booth at various events

Requirements:
Available for 30 hours per week, including 3 Saturdays per month for farmers markets
Available at various days and times, depending on the needs of the season and/or business, including most Saturdays (one full weekend off per month)
Able to lift 35 lbs
Able to interact with people in a friendly and positive manner in a busy environment
Knowledge of fermented foods and/or herbs preferred but most definitely a willingness to learn
Able to work independently and as a team
Able to set up market/event booths in an appealing and efficient manner and able to follow processes for putting everything back in designated locations
Clean driving record and at least 18 years of age
Interest in local food, agriculture/gardening, cooking, nutrition, sustainable living, animal husbandry
Able to go with the flow, rise to the occasion and embrace unexpected changes that occur as a result of seasonality, weather, resource availability, anthropological abnormalities and other potential happenstances that may arise
Willing to respect shared spaces in terms of communal living and able to contribute equitable energy exchanges

Available to commit from now through September/October

Compensation: Team member will live on-site and receive free room and board (that includes fresh and local, food, an abundance of fermented foods, farm-fresh eggs, pastured meats, raw milk) and will receive a monthly stipend of $400/month. Well-motivated and strong candidates have the opportunity to advance into more permanent future employment.

Compensation

this position is: stipend / non-monetary compensation

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline