Company description

Growing to Give ("G2G") is a non-profit, MOFGA-certified organic farm in Brunswick, Maine, working with volunteers to grow nutritious produce for people facing food insecurity. We model, teach, and promote climate-friendly farming practices. Since our beginnings in 2017, we have grown and harvested nearly 106,000 lbs of organic vegetables (equivalent to more than 88,000 meals) that have been donated to over 30 food access sites in seven Maine counties.

We grow over 20 varieties of vegetables and herbs for our community and work in conjunction with our distribution partners to expand the culturally relevant crops that we grow. Our one-acre farm is divided into 37 plots and includes six high tunnels, a propagation greenhouse, and a temperature-controlled trailer for seed-starting in early spring and refrigeration of produce in the summer. The farm is also the location for various educational programs that teach and promote climate-friendly farming. 

Job description

Growing to Give ("G2G") seeks a hard-working and upbeat farmer to work alongside our Farm Director, other G2G staff, and community of dedicated volunteers and students of various ages, interests, and abilities. Our ideal candidates have experience with organic no-till farming and are excited to grow both food and community. They have a warm and inviting demeanor and are excited about regenerative farming and growing high-quality produce. 

Duties:

Seasonal Farm Staff supports many aspects of G2G’s farming operations. The duties include:

• General farm work (seeding, transplanting, weeding, irrigating, etc.)
• Assessing crop nutrient needs and managing amendments as needed
• Monitoring pest and disease issues and implementing treatment strategies
• Soil building and regular applications of amendments and cover crops
• Keeping the farm beautiful for our community - including regular mowings, detail-oriented farm upkeep, and maintenance of community spaces (e.g., bathroom)
• Regular weekly harvests and gleanings
• Daily management of volunteers in all aspects of farming
• Continued learning/research as we tackle whatever new challenges the season brings.

As G2G is a volunteer-based organization, it’s essential that our farmers love people and are comfortable and skilled at working with people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Our volunteers make up our daily farm support and participate in all aspects of farming alongside our farm crew. There is a certain amount of teaching and volunteer management that is asked of all our farmers. Our volunteers come to be part of our community, so we can’t emphasize enough how important it is for our farmers to welcome volunteers and make them feel like part of our team. We also host groups of students on the farm. While we have an Education Coordinator, there may be times when Seasonal Farm Staff will need to jump in to help manage student groups.

Further responsibilities of this position include volunteer training and supervision, food safety, workplace safety, and maintaining the farming standards set by Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and Real Organic Project (ROP) certification. 

Ideal experience and abilities:

• Minimum two seasons of organic farming, ideally no-till
• Solid foundational experience with the production of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit from seed through post-harvest
• Experience assisting with the management of soil health, pest and disease management, cover cropping/green manures, and irrigation systems
• Experience with volunteer management or similar interpersonal, public-facing roles
• Reliable (on time and responsive via text and email)
• Calm and flexible under pressure (things come up and being able to respond calmly is important)
• Being able to multitask - e.g., weeding while you chat, instructing volunteers while you harvest
• Situation awareness - e.g., while you’re working, noticing which volunteers might need help and shifting your attention to offer gentle support/instruction.

Hours:

March - November – 15-30 hrs/wk

Pay:

$16-$20/hr (depending on experience)

Benefits:

• Fresh, organic produce and flowers - we want our community to eat well!
• An amazing and vibrant community
• Working outdoors on a beautiful farm

Growing to Give is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

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Deadline

February 21, 2025