Company description
Aldermere Farm is the oldest continually operated Belted Galloway farm in the country. The “Belties” as they are known are a heritage breed of beef cattle. Albert Chatfield brought them to Rockport Maine in the 1950s and helped establish the breed in the U.S. In the late 1990’s/early 2000’s Mr. and Mrs. Chatfield donated Aldermere to Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Since then MCHT has run it as a community farm preserve with 4H programs, educational programs for youth and training for farmers. The farm is 136 acres of fields and forests. THere is a walking trail to a rocky beach on Penobscot Bay. There are a number of structures – houses, barns and MCHT’s Midcoast Maine office at Aldermere. We also manage another 175 acres of for hay owned by various private landowners. We see agriculture as a key conservation strategy, a tool for connecting people to the land and feeding our community. Nearby Erickson Fields was acquired by MCHT in 2008, there we have a 4-acre vegetable garden, community gardens, youth programs, walking trails, hayfields, old pastures and 120+ acres of forest. These two preserves are beloved community resources and the seasonal farm hand position is key to maintaining them as such.
Job description
Job Description
The Seasonal Farm Steward assists primarily with operations of Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields Preserve including facility and property maintenance, hay production, woodlot management, landscaping, equipment maintenance, as well as related recordkeeping. Adheres closely to safety protocols, equipment maintenance schedules and works as part of a team. Will be expected to assist directly with the cattle as well as farm programming as needed. This position is a full-time seasonal role that will last 7 months (range of mid-April through October – exact dates to be determined).
ENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Able to safely operate equipment including tractors (over 100 H.P), trucks, trailers, mini
excavator, dump truck, PTO driven implements and small machinery and hand tools – don’t have to know how to do all this can receive some training on the job.
• Assists with implementation of preventative maintenance for farm trucks, tractors and equipment
• Assist with building projects and maintains all type of fencing for the property
• Assists with hay production including processing, handling and storing hay bales
• Performs property management, landscaping and lawncare.
• Able to safely operate chainsaws and pole saws in the pruning and processing of firewood and
forest management practices as well as invasive management.
• Assists with chores, pasture rotations and works as a team on the management of cattle.
• Performs general maintenance on house, barn, shed and other infrastructure.
• Assists with all recordkeeping for essential job functions.
Benefits
This is a seasonal, full-time position with a benefits package including insurance (for employees working more than 26 weeks and there is no cost for employee coverage), 5 days paid time off (PTO). The starting hourly wage range for the Seasonal Farm Preserve Steward is $17 to $19 dependent upon experience.
Housing available as well as some beef and veggies.
What to Expect from Us
Hardworking, kind, caring. As part of a Maine Coast Heritage Trust, we have other staff members from up and down the coast who occasionally visit on conservation related work. We have lots of youth programs, trails, and many people walk along Russell Ave which runs through the farm. Our Belties are very well photographed and lots of artist paint the cows.
Compensation
this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $17.00 - $19.00
Application instructions
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Deadline
April 01, 2025
