OUR Ecovillage Farm Manager and Education Facilitator Job Vacancy in Canada

As farmers at OUR, our first task is to grow highly nutritious organic
food for the community throughout the summer and to put away for the
winter. We have a small holding of no-till raised beds for intensive
annual vegetable production, including two 75-ft greenhouses. We are
in the process of establishing about nine acres of integrated
perennial food systems, including fruit and nut trees, bushes, herbs,
and berries. We raise sheep and pigs for meat, and chickens and ducks
for both meat and eggs. We have a dairy cow for milk and make our own
yogurt, butter, and cheese. OUR long-term goal is nothing short of
food self-sufficiency!

Our second task is education. We run a farm-based internship that
introduces students to permaculture design, organic gardening, basic
livestock management, and of course, community living. We offer
courses in these topics that are also open to the public, and host
school groups and learning volunteers of all ages in hands-on
experiential programs.

Time Commitments

40 Hours per week (will shift and change depending upon garden needs
and the rhythm of the growing season).

Responsibilities would include:
• Managing annual vegetable production in our raised-bed gardens and
greenhouses
• Managing perennial food production in our developing orchards, food
forests, and perennial systems
• Expanding food production by designing and developing new garden and
food forest areas as well as improving upon the designs of existing
areas and systems
• Managing farm animals, which currently include sheep, pigs, a
milking cow, chickens, turkeys, and ducks
• Facilitating and leading visiting students and volunteers in
hands-on garden activities
• Facilitating and leading the annual farm internship
• Facilitating on-site gardening courses (There is potential to teach
in them as well)
• Maintaining and repairing existing farm infrastructure as well as
building new infrastructure
• Liaising with the kitchen to coordinate crop plans and harvest schedules
• Processing and storing excess yields, in co-operation with the kitchen team
• Creating income-generating products such as nursery plants, preserves, etc

Community involvement/expectations:
• Working as a team within our governance structure (weekly meetings)
• Contributing an average of approx. 10 hours/week in community service
• Participating in OUR Care Schedule (general housekeeping chores)
• Attending weekly community meetings
• Attending a weekly council circle

The ideal candidate(s) would have:
• A strong commitment and desire to live in community
• Permaculture training or a willingness to be trained
• Experience or interest in ecological landscape design
• Dedication to sustainable farming practices
• 5 years experience growing annual vegetables organically on a
medium-to-large scale
• Working experience with fruit trees and other perennial food plants
• Working experience with larger farm animals, such as sheep and cows
• Working experience in and an excitement for education: facilitating,
teaching, leading groups, etc
• Strong self-initiative
• A handiness with tools and general repairs

Additionally, this position would work well for someone who might want
to have their own business (nursery, etc) on site. It is also possible
for this role to be shared between two people and divided according to
interests and experience. There is also the opportunity for the right
person to become a permanent land partner.

Timing

The new farm manager(s) would need to start as soon as possible to
have overlap with the current farm managers, who will be here to help
facilitate a smooth transition.

Compensation

Will be dependent on the experience and needs of the candidate(s).

Application Process

Please email us at:
grow-food@ourecovillage.org
with a resume and cover letter.

Candidates would ideally be available for an in-person interview at
OUR Ecovillage on Vancouver Island, BC.