Job Description River Run Farm is a cooperatively managed farm on the Olympic Peninsula. We are multiple farms within one larger farm. Friends have joined together to make a livelihood off this beautiful piece of valley land- 60 acres of cropland, hay, pasture, and perennials are bordered by another 30 some acres of protected lowland forest and the Dungeness River. We raise garden vegetable for retail and wholesale markets using both draft horse and tractor power.  We are looking to hire 3-4 field hands for the 2016 season.

Two options exist for these positions. One is a traditional part-time job. The second is part job, part draft horse internship. 

• Option One is a part-time position, offering 24-32 hours/week. We would like applicants to have worked on vegetable production farms and be familiar with the demands of long hours spent weeding and harvesting. We also will be attracted to applicants who have found that they derive pleasure and satisfaction from this type of detailed and repetitive work. Often we will spend a whole day harvesting only one or two crops. It is so important to us that we are all in good spirits and working efficiently. You will need a strong back and be able to pay attention to detail while working quickly. May-October. Pay is $10/hour.

• Option Two is the same as number one but in addition offers a unique draft horse focused educational opportunity. In collaboration with WSU and Teamster John Erskine, we will be hosting an internship, part vegetable production and part draft horses. The opportunity includes the 24-32 hours/week of paid work, but also an additional 5-10 hours/week of educationally focused instruction, much of which will be focused on horses and horse farming. All horse focused instruction (roughly 5-8 hours/week) will be led by John Erskine who has spent over 45 years working, training, logging, and farming with horses. A weekly deduction will be taken from your pay to compensate him for his time. John is a craftsman- and over the course of 20 weeks will touch on everything from basic ground work and driving skills to harness repair and rope work. Because of John’s depth of experience, this opportunity will be valuable to a wide range of experience levels. Time will be spent both on our farm and at John’s farm. On our farm John will lead a small group to work with our horses and our equipment, doing field and farm work that’s relevant to our operation. At John’s you will work with his horses and his equipment, and spend time with him learning how he likes to do things.

As part of this program you will be participating in the WSU cultivating success program and we will offer WSU continuing education credits for your participation. In addition to your horse focused study, twice per month our interns, as well as interns on other farms from the surrounding area, will attend free classes on subjects varying from seed saving to beekeeping. 

Multiple housing options exist. There are rooms for rent in our community farmhouse and there is the more rustic, camping option. Both inside and outside dwellers will have access to our comfortable farmhouse for community space, kitchen and bath use. Everyone who has access to the farmhouse will do chores and pay rent. Rent will vary from $150-400/month depending whether folks have an individual room, a shared room, or live in a tent. Of course you are welcome to find housing off the farm.

On work days all farmers will take turns, not working and cooking a community lunch. In addition, basic food staples and garden veggies will be provided for all live on farm employees. $60/month will be deducted from pay checks for food expenses.   

We are looking for people that are easy to get along with, are both open and forgiving communicators, like to work hard and have fun. We will prioritize applicants who have worked on vegetable production farms and understand the nature of the work. If you are new to farming but are confident about how much you will like it, contact us and perhaps we can offer an experience that is more educational. The horse study is open to everyone regardless of their experience with horses, but given John's skill level those who have had some experience will find their time with him incredibly rich. Compensation this position is How to apply DeadlineJanuary 15, 2016