Farm Assistant
- Date Posted January 28, 2025
- Location Clark, CO
- Category Agriculture
- Job type Full-Time
Company description
The Home Ranch Farm is a visionary horticultural program with a mission to sustainably feed the Yampa Valley community in Northwest Colorado with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program, a local farm stand, local markets, and restaurants in Steamboat Springs and the surrounding area. The Home Ranch is located in Clark at the altitude of 7,200 feet with a beautiful complex of stunning gardens, alpine greenhouses, and orchards. We also have chicken and ducks that produce organic eggs for our customers. We have a dynamic four-season greenhouse powered by a climate battery, and In 2024 we expanded our operations to include a new "hot house" high tunnel, and 50 raised garden beds, along with additional field areas to produce more bounty and beauty. We're also offering workshops and creating botanical value added products to enhance our offerings. Come join us for a magical summer in the mountains.
Job description
Come join an adventurous and inspired farm team in the high country of Colorado. We are seeking two experienced and qualified farm staff to join the team for the 2025 farm season to assist with all aspects of farm operations including:
1. Prepping, planting, soil amending, pest mitigation and other farm tasks as directed by farm manager
2. Product harvesting, cleaning, packaging, and delivery
3. Setting up, running, and breaking down farm stands
4. Maintenance and care of chickens and ducks including coop maintenance and cleaning, and egg collection, cleaning, and packing
5. Seed starting and seedling watering and maintenance
6. Routine cleaning of the processing kitchen, bathroom, and propagation room
7. Assistance with compost management
8. Helping organize and execute farm workshops and events
9. Help with the production of herbal and botanical products
10. Additional farm chores and tasks as needed and determined by the farm manager
Experience with farming is essential, including knowledge and skills with the following:
Harvesting protocols to ensure high quality and consistent products
Wash and pack protocols to maximize efficiency, and organization while processing vegetables (eg. sanitize sinks, change water as needed, dry salad mix thoroughly, inspect and remove bruised or tip burned leaves, bugs, weeds, etc.)
Utilizing pack lists and SOPs to weigh, bag, and label, consistently and efficiently
Comfort with farm apps, Google Sheets, etc. to view daily tasks, track progress, make requested notes, and sign off on completed projects
Attention to field and crop health, identify symptoms, and report spread of diseases, pests, and potential soil health issues to farm manager
Bed Preparation: tarp, shovel compost, broad fork, operate BCS, and hand tools
Irrigation: maintain and operate drip and sprinkler systems
Seeding and Transplanting: operate Earthway seeder, and Paper Pot seeding and transplanting, and other seeding equipment and practices
Cultivation and Weeding: prevent germinating weed seeds and remove weeds using hand tools, mowing, and tarping
Maintenance: maintain and repair machinery, and equipment
Additional Requirements:
· Minimum of one season of experience working in a small-scale organic farm setting; 2 or more seasons of experience preferred
· Interest in regenerative, sustainable agriculture and small-scale farming, and passionate about local food
· Ability to take initiative, work quickly, independently, and efficiently with attention to detail and quality
· Ability and comfort in checking with manager when unsure of best action
· A positive attitude and curious nature
· Considerate and hardworking team player with the capacity to be both self-motivated and collaborative with the farm team, and with the other ranch employees
· Comfort in using and operating farm tools, equipment, and machinery
· Comfort with basic mathematical skills to calculate weights, prices, and farm inventory
· Working knowledge of plant life cycles, and wild plant, pest, and weed identification
· Experience with greenhouse tomatoes, poultry, landscaping and/or carpentry helpful
· Ability to address questions, concerns, and maintenance issues
· Ability to roll with the quick changes that are inherent in small-scale farming and regenerative agriculture, with an understanding that priorities can shift quickly
· Ability to perform tasks safely and effectively
· Ability to work in a remote location; a car is helpful for personal needs
· Current driver’s license, clean driving record
· Ability to perform manual labor: walk or stand for 8 hours/day in all weather; sit, stand, reach, lift, bend, kneel, stoop, push, pull, and lift items weighing 50 pounds.
Additional Information:
Home Ranch Farm, LLC is a business at the Home Ranch, which also has cattle and performance horse operations. Home Ranch Farm has been expanding over the past 2 seasons from its origins as a kitchen garden for the guest ranch to the current role in commercial farming. Commercial development included the installment of 50 garden boxes, a four-season greenhouse that utilizes a climate battery for temperature control, and a new “hot house” high tunnel, along with field crop space which is still expanding. The Farm Team will work in the greenhouse and the high tunnels, as well as plant and maintain the garden boxes and field beds, and maintain the orchard.
Job Type: Full time; 40 hours/week including weekend work for chicken and duck details.
Seasonal: Start date in early May, end date negotiable between late August and October
Compensation and Benefits:
· $20-$22 per hour, depending on experience
· Reduced rate housing (rustic cabin) available
· Staff beef, eggs, and vegetables as available
Compensation
this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $20.00 - $22.00Application instructions
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no deadline