Skinny Dip Farm is hiring an Assistant Manager. This is a year round, salaried position on our certified organic vegetable farm In Little Compton RI and Westport MA.
About the Farm:
Skinny Dip Farm is owned and operated by Hannah and Ben Wolbach. We started it in 2011 and are just wrapping up our 11th season in operation. We farm both at our home, on about 1.5 acres in Little Compton, and on another 4 or so acres of leased land in Westport. We grow a wide variety of crops which are sold at farmers markets, through a small CSA, to restaurants and caterers and through an online store. We primarily grow vegetables, with an emphasis on salad greens, but also grow flowers (+/- .25 acre), herbs and some other oddball crops like dry beans and flour corn. We also run chickens on cover crop as part of our fertility plan and sent about 250 to slaughter in 2021. We grow and sell year round, with winter production in 4 unheated high tunnels, 3 cat tunnels and right outside for as long as we can, which is pretty deep into December most years in our ocean influenced South Coast locations. We manage our two properties differently, leaning towards minimal till, intensive methods on the home property and tractor based extensive methods on the leased land, though that is and has been evolving. We run the farm with a small crew, 6 people in 2021, who are very involved in most aspects of running the farm. We take great pride in the quality of our produce and our commitment to caring for the land we farm. All in all, the farm is very successful and we are able to significantly invest profits into our operation.
We are looking to add our first ever assistant manager to help us continue to grow top notch veggies, flowers and herbs, but in a more sane manner. The farm has grown, demand has grown and our family has grown—we have two daughters, ages 4 and 6—so we could use a highly skilled, up and coming farmer to share the managerial work load. We like working hard, and have no intention to ease up, but want help getting back to being more on top of the weeds and proud of how our farm operates.
About the job:
We are looking, first and foremost, for a really great person—we’re going to spend a lot of time together—with a strong commitment to growing quality produce and caring for the land. Applicants should have significant vegetable farming experience and be ready to step into a wide variety of roles including, at times, crew leader, washstand manager and harvest coordinator among other responsibilities. We really value good communication skills and the job will require working closely with Ben and Hannah to implement their farm plan.
We assume that those applying:
- Love working outside
- Know how to work hard, desire to work smart
- Are physically capable—can lift 50 lbs repeatedly, are ready for hands and knees work
- Have a driving record clean enough to make it onto our insurance
- Have several years of experience working on farms and are considering farming as a vocation
- Is interested in working multiple seasons at Skinny Dip Farm
The workload will ebb and flow with the season—a 50 plus hour workweek during peak season will be balanced with a lighter winter schedule. Some weekend work and a share of greenhouse tending is expected. We love going on vacations and fully expect that the assistant manager will take some time off during the slower season—2 weeks of which will be paid. This is a year round, salaried position that includes housing or a housing stipend if you already live locally. Exact compensation will depend on experience, and if you live onsite, but our goal is to create a situation for the assistant manager to be able to save money towards one day launching their own venture. We are also open to hiring a farming couple.
To Apply: Please send resume cover letter to [email protected]. Feel free to reach out with questions, or to request more information.