Position: Organic CSA Farm
Manager
Type: paid, full-time seasonal (April – November) / no on-farm
accommodation
Organization: Common Ground Teaching Farm
Location: near Hamilton, Ontario (near Mount
Hope, ON)
Manager
Type: paid, full-time seasonal (April – November) / no on-farm
accommodation
Organization: Common Ground Teaching Farm
Location: near Hamilton, Ontario (near Mount
Hope, ON)
Start
Date:
April 1st 2016
Hours of Work: 40 hrs
Date:
April 1st 2016
Hours of Work: 40 hrs
Wage: Commensurate with experience. Range: $20,000 for the season, or
$15-18/h
Common
Ground Teaching farm is a highly diversified, urban focused CSA dedicated to
building bridges between the city and the country. Located just outside of
Hamilton, our goal is to become the most sustainable, low impact farm in
Canada. We utilize cutting edge regenerative organic techniques and tools to
mimic and strengthen natural cycles without the use of synthetic chemicals,
pesticides or herbicides. Our veggies are delivered by bike from farm to door,
and we strive to provide a wide diversity of organic, heirloom produce to our
members. Our goal is to produce enough food to feed 50 families for 25 weeks on
½ acre and leave the soil and environment in a better state than we found it.
Ground Teaching farm is a highly diversified, urban focused CSA dedicated to
building bridges between the city and the country. Located just outside of
Hamilton, our goal is to become the most sustainable, low impact farm in
Canada. We utilize cutting edge regenerative organic techniques and tools to
mimic and strengthen natural cycles without the use of synthetic chemicals,
pesticides or herbicides. Our veggies are delivered by bike from farm to door,
and we strive to provide a wide diversity of organic, heirloom produce to our
members. Our goal is to produce enough food to feed 50 families for 25 weeks on
½ acre and leave the soil and environment in a better state than we found it.
Last
year we ran a 53 person CSA, built a solar powered, straw bale walk in cooler
and constructed a fully functional outdoor kitchen and processing area where we
held a series of workshops on canning, fermentation, and gardening skills. Like
a traditional CSA, we serve directly to our members and offer some added
benefits and offer a unique Urban Homestead curriculum, hold farm tours, host
interns from McMaster University, and engage schools through the Tastebud’s
Student Nutrition Program.
year we ran a 53 person CSA, built a solar powered, straw bale walk in cooler
and constructed a fully functional outdoor kitchen and processing area where we
held a series of workshops on canning, fermentation, and gardening skills. Like
a traditional CSA, we serve directly to our members and offer some added
benefits and offer a unique Urban Homestead curriculum, hold farm tours, host
interns from McMaster University, and engage schools through the Tastebud’s
Student Nutrition Program.
We
are looking for a passionate, experienced farm manager that is capable of
running all aspects of the farm. We already have an established customer base,
have a full farm plan developed in AgSquared that includes comprehensive crop
plans, seedling schedules, and have cold storage, high quality tools, a walking
tractor, and a beautiful outdoor kitchen for processing and eating meals
together. Most of the infrastructure, planning, and organization has already been
done, and you will have an opportunity to learn at the side of the owner, but
this position is best suited to someone who is willing to work hard, is very
independent, and can juggle multiple priorities at once. This is the perfect
position for an entrepreneurial minded individual who wants to be part of a
much larger project of building a strong local food community through community
engagement and outreach, and by striving in all ways to be a model of
sustainability. This is an excellent opportunity to hone your skills and help
build something truly wonderful. There are opportunities to expand opperations,
find grants for a greenhouse, build a shed for chickens and a goat, or
construct an aquaculture pond system that we have designed.
are looking for a passionate, experienced farm manager that is capable of
running all aspects of the farm. We already have an established customer base,
have a full farm plan developed in AgSquared that includes comprehensive crop
plans, seedling schedules, and have cold storage, high quality tools, a walking
tractor, and a beautiful outdoor kitchen for processing and eating meals
together. Most of the infrastructure, planning, and organization has already been
done, and you will have an opportunity to learn at the side of the owner, but
this position is best suited to someone who is willing to work hard, is very
independent, and can juggle multiple priorities at once. This is the perfect
position for an entrepreneurial minded individual who wants to be part of a
much larger project of building a strong local food community through community
engagement and outreach, and by striving in all ways to be a model of
sustainability. This is an excellent opportunity to hone your skills and help
build something truly wonderful. There are opportunities to expand opperations,
find grants for a greenhouse, build a shed for chickens and a goat, or
construct an aquaculture pond system that we have designed.
Tasks
and Responsibilities:
and Responsibilities:
The
successful candidate for this position will coordinate all aspects of the CSA
with help from the owner, who can commit on average 1 day a week to operations
during the season, and who currently works in sustainable food systems
community development and teaches at McMaster and University of Guelph:
successful candidate for this position will coordinate all aspects of the CSA
with help from the owner, who can commit on average 1 day a week to operations
during the season, and who currently works in sustainable food systems
community development and teaches at McMaster and University of Guelph:
Manage
all aspects of the farm including seedling planting, weeding, working soil,
harvesting, washing, bagging, creating weekly task lists, keeping detailed
records etc.
all aspects of the farm including seedling planting, weeding, working soil,
harvesting, washing, bagging, creating weekly task lists, keeping detailed
records etc.
- Establish
weekly box contents and publish a newsletter - Maintain
excellent customer service skills and lead or co-lead public events,
tours, and workshops - Provide
quality control on all produce going to the market and CSA - Manage
basic book keeping, expenses, and track invoices and spending - Maintain
equipment and take initiative in new projects such as the construction of
a pizza oven, increasing biodiversity on the farm, and developing new
workshop ideas - Manage
and coordinate volunteers, interns, and student labor when available.
Qualifications
- At
least 1 years experience in vegetable crop production on an organic farm.
Will consider experience such as WWOOFing, CRAFT network, or urban
agriculture, but preference will be given to candidates who have managed a
CSA before. - Experience
with a wide range of organic farm techniques - Experience
with or strong knowledge of CSA and Farmer’s Markets - Ability
to handle fast paced work environment and willing to work in inclement
weather - Strong
marketing and computer skills - Good
management skills. We have regular interns and volunteers, and will be
looking into getting a summer student through the Canada Jobs grant
program - Excellent
customer service skills and the ability to present to a wide range of
people. We hold workshops, tours, and do presentations in schools. A
police criminal record check will be required for the successful
candidate. - Strong
organization skills and time management - Great
sense of humor and positive attitude. - Ability
or willingness to learn how to operate a walking tractor considered an
asset - Drivers
license and access to a reliable vehicle. - Willingness
to accommodate a couple or workshare arrangement for exceptional
candidates.
Application
Deadline:
Jan 15st, but review of applicants will begin as they come in.
Renumeration based on experience, but it will be in the $15-18/h range, or
$20,000 for the season with a bonus paid for performance and meeting sales
targets.
Deadline:
Jan 15st, but review of applicants will begin as they come in.
Renumeration based on experience, but it will be in the $15-18/h range, or
$20,000 for the season with a bonus paid for performance and meeting sales
targets.
Contact
Michael Mikulak at:
commongroundteachingfarm @gmail.com*
Michael Mikulak at:
commongroundteachingfarm @gmail.com*
