Job description

Hiring skilled farmhand. One position now available.

Who We Are: Sweet Stem Farm is a small sustainable farm near Ephrata, Pennsylvania specializing in humanely raised pork. We are a “high-touch” farm committed to giving extra care and attention to our animals. We have developed numerous innovative techniques for keeping our animals comfortable and productive on a small land base.

We direct market everything we raise, mostly in Lancaster and Philadelphia. We have made appearances in Bon Appetit magazine and in the 2011 documentary “American Meat”, as well as being included in an episode of the PBS series e2, which features Michael Pollan, author of “The Omnivore's Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food”.

Summary: We are looking for a reliable person to work Tuesdays through Saturdays doing carpentry and building maintenance, operating and maintaining machinery, and working with livestock. This will be a part-time position, but if you are a good fit for the job, additional hours may become available. We are a “high-touch” farm, so you will work hands-on with the pigs, and occasionally with the sheep. If you are familiar with farm life, you know that livestock duties will vary, but jobs include observing livestock, scraping manure and mucking out pens, moving feed and checking water, bedding pens with straw and responding to animal health issues.

The person who fills this position will work closely with the farm owners, the production manager, and and other senior farmhands to keep operations running smoothly. You need to be self-motivated, since there may not always be someone to direct everything you do.

This position is perfect for someone who likes to work hard, has mechanical, carpentry, and machinery skills, and is interested in sustainable agriculture and passionate about animal welfare. Livestock experience is not required.

Starting wage: Compensation based on experience, with potential increase based on your personal characteristics and capabilities.

Time commitment: We are looking for someone that will be available every Tuesday through Saturday. The animals don't stop needing care on weekends/holidays, so we need a high level of commitment. Farm life can mean highly variable hours on your workdays (approximately 4-12 hrs. depending on the day) and working in all kinds of weather. For most of the year, the work schedule will be 5 days a week, but we will sometimes need an extra day during the busiest weeks, such as when we bring in new pigs. You'll need to be very flexible. During the busy times, the long hours require a dedication to the job and a commitment to be here as long as needed. Outside interests must take a back seat to the farm's requirements.

Requirements/Responsibilities: We're looking for someone who has the following:

1. Solid carpentry skills
2. Concrete skills
3. Experience operating and maintaining equipment
4. Basic welding skills and fabrication skills

This position also requires a person that is dedicated to the daily rhythms, chores, and care of our animals. This means, in part, that we don't have a set schedule but work each day according to weather conditions and many other factors. Great attention is given to stockmanship, identifying potential problems before they happen, and working together as a team to creatively solve issues.

A valid driver's license is required. You must also be able to lift at least 100 lbs and be on your feet for long hours.

Ideally the right person will:

• Be willing to travel out-of-state for several months to help owners establish a new enterprise in Oregon.
• Have a general understanding and concern for animal care and welfare.
• Be attentive to detail.
• Be naturally observant and pick up on the finer points of animal care and feeding, and machinery operation.
• Be self-motivated, staying productive and willing to work until the days' tasks are completed.
• Be organized, orderly, and help improve organizational systems, such as keeping tools and buildings neat and ready for use at any time.
• Be capable of remembering or writing down detailed instructions.
• Seek direction and ask for clarification on non-routine tasks.
• Be able to communicate honestly and respectfully about concerns.
• Excel at taking initiative and getting routine things done without needing to be reminded of responsibilities.
• Be task oriented, willing to do any job and do it well.
• Be situationally aware.
• Be accustomed to farming and be willing to work through busy days and shorter days.
• Have a flexible schedule outside of work to accommodate variable hours as they change by week.
• Have interpersonal skills allowing you to work well with a variety of other people.
• Be interested in why we do things the way we do and help us refine our production practices while keeping in mind that we have tried a number of approaches and have in place a basic framework that we intend to stick with.
• Be adaptable, willing to learn the particular way we want things done.

Compensation

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Deadline

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