months) — preferably a ‘senior’ and a ‘junior’ position. Couples are welcome.
For the senior position we are looking for someone with experience growing
vegetables (1-2 seasons). For the junior, no prior agricultural experience is
necessary.
We welcome individuals interested in pursuing farming as a career and
individuals pursuing an academic/policy path related to food/agriculture, who
would like to gain practical experience.
Persephone Market Garden
Persephone Market Garden is operated by Kristine Hammel and Thorsten Arnold. We
started our operation in 2009. 2012 will be our 3rd CSA season. Our season is
20 weeks long. We have gradually grown from 15 weekly vegetable orders in 2009,
to 45 season-long shares in 2011, and are aiming for 60 shares in 2012. The
market garden consists of about 1.5 acres of vegetables, including asparagus.
We practice intensive crop rotaion, relay cropping and intercropping. Our
fertility management is based on integration with livestock (sheep and laying
hens), as well as cover crops.
The farm consists of 100 acres between Owen Sound and Sauble Beach, Ontario.
About one half of the property is various types of bush and swamp, the rest is
hay fields/pasture/market garden. There is an extensive system of hiking trails
on the property.
What we offer:
* learning opportunity — from crop planning and marketing to starting seeds,
transplanting, weeding, pest management, harvest, and customer service
knowledge and experience in agriculture research/policy/activism
* great location — we’re on the Bruce Peninsula (outdoor recreation
possibilities galore) and accessible by bus to Toronto (2.5 — 4 hour trip,
depending on connection)
* accommodation and meals (including telephone, internet and laundry )
* monthly stipend dependent on qualifications, including coverage under EI and
WSIB
opportunity to develop and operate your own enterprise
Possibilities?
* Beekeeping (we have contact with expert beekeepers in the area)
* Pastured poultry (we have 1 chicken tractor and materials for 2 more)
* Sweet corn
* Heritage laying hens (Owen Sound is discussing legalizing urban hens —
perhaps you’d like to raise heritage chicks and build mobile coops for
sub/urban backyards)
* Flowers
* Lettuce production for a local camp
* ???
You can access our customers, land, equipment. We’ll support you in the
planning and doing stages with knowledge, contacts and materials. You keep all
profits.
What we expect:
5 days work/week (there will be some longer days and some shorter days) — if
you plan to pursue your own enterprise, we’ll adjust these expectations before
the season starts
manage 1 CSA delivery per week
We prepare meals and eat together during regular breaks. We expect that our
interns also play their part here, as members of our team
Qualities we are looking for:
* self-motivated
* can work by yourself and in a team
* ability to do physical work in a variety of weather conditions
* ability to identify problems and solve them
* good communication skills
* interested in engaging with our customers (at share delivery, via newsletter
and social media)
* appreciation for good food
* valid driver’s license (preferred)
Coming from another country?
You must ensure that you are legally allowed to work in Canada and arrange your
own health insurance — we can give you some tips on this
Interested?
Get in touch!
Kristine.hammel@gmail.com
519-935-3005
