Company description

The Farm School Inc. is a 30 year plus non-profit organization with a mission of connecting people to the land.  The 4 major areas of our organization are the Program for Visiting Schools, which brings over 1500 youth and young adults per year to the farm for overnight trips and to engage with all aspects of the farm (small animal livestock, diary, gardens, forestry and the kitchen) alongside our Farmer Teachers.  The Chicken Coop School is our year round Middle School open to local 7th and 8th graders that includes farm life as part of its curriculum.  Our Food Donation program brings over a thousand of pounds of meat, eggs, milk and veggies to our local community, seniors, co-op market, partner school community in the Boston area and to the Nipmuc tribe. Our Nipmuc Land Project is dedicated to providing the space for Nipmucs to direct a process of connecting back to their ancestral lands where the Farm School resides.  We welcome your spirit and vision as we carry forward in our mission of connecting people to the land and centering our commitment towards the intersections of race and equity with our communities.   

Job description

Vegetable Farmer/Teacher 

Position Begins- Full Time Year Round Position 

The Vegetable Farmer Teacher is part of a team that grows the crops and stewards the production of veggies for our communities!   This role involves hosting kids in each aspects of the days operations from farm work to meal time and dishes, youth are at the center of all our work.

Core responsibilities:

 -- Support all aspects of the growing operation, including regular participation in (and potential management of) harvest/wash up and greenhouse tending

-- Support the delivery of food to partner schools/organizations locally and in the Boston area

-- With growing team, participate in all aspects of PVS programming including chores, washing dishes, scheduled options, class, evening activities, bunkhouse/bathroom cleaning, pre and post program setup   

Things we’re looking for:

• 1 or more seasons of commercial vegetable growing experience 
• Experience with soil fertility weed management, greenhouse management, harvest and post-harvest handling. 
• Comfort with repetitive, physical work that includes heavy lifting.
• Comfort with farm machinery operation a plus
• A passion for working with youth in all aspects of program
• Reliable showing up as committed on time, prepared and ready to engage in the plans of the day.
• Collaboration with co-workers in caring for the farm 
• Comfort driving trucks or vans in both urban and rural settings
• Knowledge & experience with drip & overhead irrigation set up & operation is a plus. 
• An understanding and openness to multiple foodways and knowledge of food systems/history
• Basic carpentry and building/equipment maintenance skills are a plus.
• Must be able to bend, lift and carry 50 lbs and work in various weather conditions.
• Ability to work within a schedule that has multiple transitions and independently keep track of your daily shifting responsibilities- including being punctual for all scheduled meetings and responsibilities.
•  Communicating your work with others.
• An ability to prioritize, work efficiently and independently  asking for help when needed.
• Following procedures such as sick and vacation time approval, completion of Paid Time Off forms, finding coverage when required, and communicating clearly with co-workers, coordinators and directors.
• Strong organizational and follow up skills

Compensation/benefits: 

• Starting Salary $38,500 - $41,000
• Employer Paid Health Insurance coverage (no dental)
• Relocation Benefits
• Professional development funds
• 6 days sick time
• 6 weeks of paid vacation annually  
• On-site housing provided (as available)
• Access to Farm School produced food 

Timing of job:

Application period is open. Invitations to interview will be sent to qualified candidates the 2nd week of January and desired aim to fill the position by early to mid February. This is a year round full time position that includes  a 3 month provisionary period to ensure fit with an opportunity for long term continuation in the role. Between February and November (10 months of the year) your schedule can begin as early as 6:15 and end as late as 7:30 pm. This position includes a 7 week summer youth program between June and August. December and January schedules are reduced and farmer teachers take vacations during the months of December, January, February, June and August.  

In addition to the particular aspects of this position, the unpredictable nature of farming/working with youth along with our shared responsibility for farm requires that all employees engage in meeting the needs of the farm/program- gardens, fields, forest, barns, bunkhouses, kitchens etc. This includes participation in weekday chores as scheduled, as well as a rotation of weekend greenhouse watering and animal chores across the farm. This also includes seasonal participation in early evening hay pick-up/unloading.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While the above is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

We serve diverse communities of students and we are striving to develop a staff that reflects that. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply to our open positions. The Farm School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in any of its school administered policies or programs.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 35,568* - 50k

Work visa

This employer is willing to sponsor a work visa for international applicants

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline