2022 market gardener position.pdf (461.9 KB)
Freedom Food Farm in Raynham, MA (30 miles south of Boston) is hiring for a no-till Market Gardener. This position is managing and performing the bulk of the labor for a 3/4 acre market garden. Details in attached PDF, also posted below. Please email [email protected] to apply.
Responsibilities
The Market Gardener will be responsible for managing all aspects of the no-till market garden as well as providing the bulk of the labor. They will work with the Farm Manager to complete a crop plan and be responsible for implementing the plan throughout the season. The Market Gardener will have the option of hiring one additional employee for June-August who would report directly to them. Oversight from the Farm Manager would ideally be limited to weekly walk-throughs to identify problems and solutions. The ideal candidate has several years of farming experience and is looking for more management experience and independence in their farm job. This is a good opportunity to gain experience running a no-till market garden, but have the safety net of having a farmer with 18 years’ experience on-site to consult with and learn from. The Market Gardener will also have the option of managing a farmers’ market during the summer season.
Qualifications
-Basic knowledge and understanding of plants, soils, and biology
-3+ years of experience commercial vegetable production
-Ability to lift 50lbs
-Ability and willingness to work in adverse weather conditions – heat, rain, etc.
-Dedication to organic, regenerative, low-input and closed loop farming systems
-Positive attitude, ability to work efficiently, and prioritize tasks with minimal supervision
Market Garden Description
For 2022 the market garden will encompass about 3/4 acre, totaling 60 beds (100 ft. length). About half of these beds will be double cropped, for a total of around 9,000 bed feet planted. Most work is done with hand tools such as compost spreading, bed prep, and seeding. Transplanting is done with a tractor and water wheel transplanter, and an AC – G is used for some cultivation. Ideal candidate is experienced and efficient using market garden hand tools including broad-fork, Jang seeder, wheel hoe, etc. as well as basic vegetable tractor experience. The main crops in the market garden are greens (baby lettuce, arugula, spinach, chard, head lettuce, boc choi etc.), carrots, beets, radish, and salad turnip. At the farm, most warm season crops are grown in greenhouses and storage crops such as potatoes and squash are grown on a larger scale using tractor powered mechanization. The Market Gardener will have the option to occasionally work with these different farming techniques.
Time Commitment
This position is full time (40 hrs/week) during the mains season from March – November, with the option for full or part time non-market garden work December - April. Additional hours during the main season are also available. Schedule is generally Tuesday – Saturday 7-4 with a 1hr lunch.
Compensation
Base hourly compensation starts at $15-18/hr depending on experience and efficiency. Additional compensation includes a yearly production bonus worth up to $2/hr, sales commission if managing a farmers’ market worth up to $2/hr, and free vegetables, meat, eggs, grains, and value added products from the farm worth up to $4/hr.
About the Farm
Freedom Food Farm is a 90 acre regenerative, certified organic farm in Raynham, MA (30 miles south of Boston). We grow vegetables, grains, and hay and raise beef, lamb, pork, and chickens. We sell our products through an on-site CSA/farm store and Somerville area farmers’ markets. Our mission is to help create an equitable, resilient food system that prioritizes land and people over profit. We strongly believe in diversity and inclusion and encourage people of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations to apply.