2024 Farm Crew Member Position
Full Time, 7:30am-4pm M-F, March 1 through Nov 1 ($15-$20/hr)
No experience necessary, although experienced farmer positions available too!
Wild Hill Farm CSA, Bloomfield, NY
Job Description:
Full-time seasonal worker sought to participate in all aspects of growing high-quality vegetables using ecological practices for a 250-member CSA farm. Candidates must seriously be considering a career in farming. You will not just be a “worker” on this farm, but will learn a variety of different farm skills as the summer progresses, and be a part of a fun, dynamic, female-led team. Tasks include greenhouse production of transplants, planting, irrigation, row cover management for pest control, weeding, mulching, harvesting, washing, and possible operation and maintenance of tractors and equipment (tillage, cultivation, loader work). Many of these tasks involve opportunities to learn a variety of farm skills, and thorough training will be provided. Advanced equipment training and management positions possible in future years.
We work as a tight farm crew all summer, and good communication and social skills are vital! It is important to remember that no matter how simple, tedious, or insignificant a task may seem, everything we do is critical to the overall success of the farm. Focus and concentration on tasks is crucial. Farming is production work, quite a bit different from home vegetable gardening. With hundreds of families depending on us for their weekly groceries, speed and efficiency matter a lot. Of course, while you are learning it will take a while to get up to pace, but by the end of the season you will be a pro! We expect you to have a true dedication to improving your skills on a personally competitive level, and being attentive to quality as well as speed.
Every morning we get together and prioritize tasks, so it is crucial that you are on time. We use custom computer spreadsheets for crop planning that determine our planting schedule. Farm crew members will be exposed to and expected to completely perform all farm operations needed. Ultimately, if you would like to manage your own farm someday, we can provide you with enough experience and what you need to know to get started, especially if you stay with us for 2+ seasons.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for someone who has a passion for agriculture. You don’t necessarily need to have tons of farm experience, but you need to be seriously considering a career in farming. Love of physical labor is essential, as is a love of being outdoors in all kinds of weather. You should be the type of person who is always looking for a better way to get a job done. You must be kind, respectful, and empathetic of others. Finally, you should love to laugh and have fun! Farm work can be physically demanding, so only those who enjoy hard work need apply. However, many hands make light work and on most difficult tasks we will all be working together. The more initiative you take and interest you show the more responsibility you will be entrusted with.
Qualifications:
- Positive attitude and good communication skills
- Enjoy being part of a team
- Enjoy working outdoors in all weather
- Ability to lift 50lbs, bend, lift, squat, and use your body, having experience with a physically demanding job in the past is helpful
- Serious interest in farming, this is not just a job but a delve into a career possibility
Second-Year Opportunities - Leadership experience
We encourage you to stay for a second summer on the farm, to gain more experience, with a wage increase. Advanced skills include tractor work, management of greenhouse, planting, cultivation, harvest, supervision of volunteers and workers, etc. Many employees from the past report that it takes a full season to get exposure to the entire “big picture” of farming, and the second year you can really dive into becoming proficient and start to take a leadership role.
How do I apply?
PLEASE NOTE: Our usual hiring takes place in the fall for the following year. We like to plan ahead! You are encouraged to volunteer with us during the summer/fall to get to know us and the farm a little bit, and we’d be happy to do a formal interview with you in the fall! Please email if you have any questions. Thanks!
(If it’s in the winter/spring we may still have positions open up from time to time so it’s worth checking/interviewing with us, so you can be on our “first call” list if a position opens up.)
If you think Wild Hill Farm might be a good fit for you we invite you to apply. Please supply us with the following information as soon as possible. We just want to get a sense of where you are coming from and why you want to farm with us. If, after reviewing your information we think you might be a good fit we will contact you to set up a visit.
- Please email [email protected] with the following information:
- Tell us about yourself, your interests, your long-range plans, why you want to work on THIS farm.
- What position(s) are you interested in?
- What sort of physical shape are you in?
- Any special considerations we should know about (diet, health)?
- Do you have any previous related work experience?
- Tell us what you think of our program, our policies, and how you would fit into our farm.
- What are 3 of your strengths? What are 3 of your weaknesses?
- When would you be available? Any flexibility? Any vacations or limitations?
- Please include a resume.
- Please provide 3 references we can contact regarding your learning and work style.
Thanks for your interest in Wild Hill Farm. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Erin Bullock, Wild Hill Farm
Contact:
Wild Hill Farm
Owner: Erin Bullock
Farm Location: 2176 Elton Rd. Bloomfield, NY
Farm Mailing Address: PO Box 103, Ionia, NY 14475
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wildhillfarm.com