This job expired on February 10, 2017
Farm Production Manager Red Earth Gardens
- Date Posted December 12, 2016
- Location Tama, IA
- Category Agriculture
- Job type Full-Time
Company description
REG is a commercial farm and is the for-profit component of the Tribe's Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative. The mission of Red Earth Gardens is to provide quality organic produce, employment, and community-based education that celebrates Meskwaki culture and lifeways. You can learn more about Red Earth Gardens, the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative and the Meskwaki Tribe at http://www.meskwaki.org/Local Foods.html
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Farm Management
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the job. I can be reached by email at lfp.econdev@meskwaki-nsn.gov
Thanks and best,
Jennifer Vazquez-Koster
Local Foods Planner
and Red Earth Gardens Farm Manager
Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa Compensation this position is : salaried, varies DOE, $32,000.00 - $39,500.00 Application instructions
Joining our team means working in a dynamic environment in a great community focused on redeveloping our local food system in a way that is meaningful, sustainable and increases our food sovereignty.
Red Earth Gardens is located on the Meskwaki Settlement near Tama, IA and is an organic produce farm that is funded and controlled by the Meskwaki Tribe. The unique Meskwaki Settlement consists of appoximately 8,000 acres of Tribally-owned land along the Iowa River and is home to the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, aka the Meskwaki Nation. The Tribe is located in the middle of farm country and is choosing to do agriculture differently while still working with our neighbors to preserve our natural heritage, especially the forests and marshes along the Iowa River that have supported the Meskwaki people for over 300 years. Red Earth Gardens is a commercial farm and is the for-profit component of the Tribe's Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative.
The mission of Red Earth Gardens is to provide quality organic produce, employment and community-based education that celebrates Meskwaki culture and lifeways. Red Earth Gardens and the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative together create a holistic approach to food system redevelopment in the community and the region.
Red Earth Gardens markets produce through a 60-member Tribally-Supported Agriculture (TSA) share, at a Mobile Farm Stand located on the Meskwaki Settlement, at area Farmers' Markets, and wholesale to area grocery stores, restaurants and the Tribe's large casino. We will be increasing our TSA Shares over the next few years, with a target of 150 members by the 2019 season.
The Tribe was recently awarded a 5-year grant from the Administration for Native Americans - Sustainable Economic and Employment Development Strategies. The goals of the grant focus on ensuring the sustainability of Red Earth Gardens by (1) increasing current sales and developing new enterprises, including on-farm education and a large permaculture orchard/food forest; and (2) continuing to develop our Tribal workforce with on-the-job training opportunities at Red Earth Gardens.
For more information please visit the Meskwaki Nation website, or the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative and Red Earth Gardens Facebook pages.
Job description
We are looking for a Farm Production Manager to join our team at Red Earth Gardens! Red Earth Gardens (REG) is located on the Meskwaki Settlement in east-central Iowa, near the towns of Tama and Toledo. We are a Tribally-funded and controlled organic produce farm. In the last year, we have started expanding to include perennial fruit and nut production and on-farm education services. At this exciting time of growth, we are looking for the right person to manage our current 6 acres of annual production and be a leader and part of our team. Red Earth Gardens is located on the Meskwaki Settlement near Tama, IA and is an organic produce farm that is funded and controlled by the Meskwaki Tribe. The unique Meskwaki Settlement consists of appoximately 8,000 acres of Tribally-owned land along the Iowa River and is home to the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, aka the Meskwaki Nation. The Tribe is located in the middle of farm country and is choosing to do agriculture differently while still working with our neighbors to preserve our natural heritage, especially the forests and marshes along the Iowa River that have supported the Meskwaki people for over 300 years. Red Earth Gardens is a commercial farm and is the for-profit component of the Tribe's Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative.
The mission of Red Earth Gardens is to provide quality organic produce, employment and community-based education that celebrates Meskwaki culture and lifeways. Red Earth Gardens and the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative together create a holistic approach to food system redevelopment in the community and the region.
Red Earth Gardens markets produce through a 60-member Tribally-Supported Agriculture (TSA) share, at a Mobile Farm Stand located on the Meskwaki Settlement, at area Farmers' Markets, and wholesale to area grocery stores, restaurants and the Tribe's large casino. We will be increasing our TSA Shares over the next few years, with a target of 150 members by the 2019 season.
The Tribe was recently awarded a 5-year grant from the Administration for Native Americans - Sustainable Economic and Employment Development Strategies. The goals of the grant focus on ensuring the sustainability of Red Earth Gardens by (1) increasing current sales and developing new enterprises, including on-farm education and a large permaculture orchard/food forest; and (2) continuing to develop our Tribal workforce with on-the-job training opportunities at Red Earth Gardens.
For more information please visit the Meskwaki Nation website, or the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative and Red Earth Gardens Facebook pages.
REG is a commercial farm and is the for-profit component of the Tribe's Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative. The mission of Red Earth Gardens is to provide quality organic produce, employment, and community-based education that celebrates Meskwaki culture and lifeways. You can learn more about Red Earth Gardens, the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative and the Meskwaki Tribe at http://www.meskwaki.org/Local Foods.html
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Farm Management
- Full-time, year-round position involving all aspects of annual fruit, vegetable and heirloom bean production in our 5+ acres of annual fields
- Following Certified Organic practices, develop and implement crop plan, greenhouse schedule, soil fertility plan, and the planting and harvesting schedule for each growing season
- Provide training and supervision of Red Earth Gardens staff and volunteers in all aspects of the farm greenhouse work, seeding, transplanting, weeding, fertilizing, mowing, washing and packing produce, produce deliveries, and some light carpentry and irrigation work
- Operate and care for farm equipment: irrigation system, tractors, implements, etc.
- Keep records for organic certification and daily farm activities
- With Farm Manager, implement permaculture Master Plan including tree planting and on-going tree care
- Research and coordinate installation of moveable hoop houses for season-extension
- With Farm Manager and Business Development Coordinator, assist marketing efforts by communicating produce availability, maintaining inventory, and coordinting distribution/delivery of produce
- Create weekly newsletter with farm updates and vegetable recipes as regular communication with TSA (Tribally-Supported Agriculutre) members
- May assist with staffing farm stand or going to farmers' markets as needed
- With Farm Manager, create annual budget for farm operation and research, purchase and maintain farming supplies, tools and equipment
- With Farm Manager and Farm Team Members, contribute to the development of a long-term integrated plan for farm operation including use of permaculture practices, a 10-acre food forest, an on-farm training program, educational services, and the development of value-added products
- With Workforce Development Coordinator and Crew Leader, develop schedule and daily activities for on-farm trainees in the Promoting Tribal Economies Course job-skills program
- Work with staff to submit information for grant reports as needed
- Work in collaboration with community partners to increase understanding and appreciation for Meskwaki customs and traditional tribal economies, including traditional and local foods
- Other duties as assigned
- Degree or certificate in Horticulture, Sustainable Agriculture, or related field; or completion of on-farm internship or other training program
- Three to five years of experience in vegetable farm production
- Minimum of one year of supervisory and management experience
- Working knowledge of greenhouse production, field production, and organic certification requirements
- Ability to manage time and resources – labor, equipment, prioritizing tasks, etc
- Adaptability, reliability, good communication skills and a positive attitude are a must
- Valid Driver’s License and qualifies to become an acceptable driver under the Tribe’s insurance policy
- Must be able to frequently lift 50 pounds and work outdoors for long periods of time
- Experience working in positions that require effective communication and teamwork
- Good computer skills, including use of all Microsoft programs
- Ability to speak in public during farm tours and provide guidance on food and farming topics during farm tours, adminstrative planning, and community meetings and events
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the job. I can be reached by email at lfp.econdev@meskwaki-nsn.gov
Thanks and best,
Jennifer Vazquez-Koster
Local Foods Planner
and Red Earth Gardens Farm Manager
Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa Compensation this position is : salaried, varies DOE, $32,000.00 - $39,500.00 Application instructions
This job expired on February 10, 2017
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