Roots and Shoots Farm ,Organic Farm Interns Jobs Vacancies in Canada

Roots and Shoots farm is a certified organic vegetable farm 25 km from
downtown Ottawa, in Manotick Station. We are looking for three interns
to join us (five farmers) for the 2015 season. We are looking for one
intern to work with us from May 1 until August 30, and two interns to
work from May 1 until October 31.

We are currently farming on 25 acres of rented land. 10 acres are in
vegetables and the rest are under covercrop. We also have four
greenhouse.We have a 280 member/week CSA share, go to two markets and
sell to grocery stores in the city. We also grow flowers. Our farm
offers a unique perspective on how to start a farm with little
capital, close to the city.

We offer a comprehensive farmer training program through our
season-long internship. We offer a stipend, lunches, and lots of
vegetables. You will learn the ins-and-outs of insect pressure, plant
diseases, weed control, irrigation, season extension, and growing
techniques. The internship offers intensive experience in hand tool
and machinery operation, direct marketing, weeding, harvesting, and
packing of a large variety of vegetable crops. In return, the interns
work a 40 hour work week from May 1 until October 31 or from May 1 to
Aug 30

Specifically, this is what a Roots and Shoots Farm Internship offers:

a) an introduction into the world of organic farming

b) a safe work environment

c) opportunity for learning, in the form of:
• access to learning materials to backup practical learning
• thorough explanations of all tasks
• immersion in a functioning organic farming business

d) a weekly stipend of $250 to help compensate for all the hard work
contributed

e) free vegetables, including veggies for preservation (after all the
orders have been filled)

In return, we ask that you:
• have a good attitude and a commitment to support your fellow interns
and employees, including:
• completing tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible
• challenging oneself to always improve in your tasks
• encouraging your fellow interns should challenges arise.
• are at the farm and ready to work at 8am on regular days and 7am on
harvest days
• practice good communication with the managers on the farm, including:
• communicating if you’ve completed a task or need something else to do
• communicating with the managers if you feel something is going too
slowly or if you feel you’re not doing something properly
• communicating if you feel something you are meant to do is unsafe
• communicating if you feel you need more information or instruction
to do something well

Tasks

Seeding, weeding, harvesting, cooking, packing boxes, driving tractors
(upon assessment), feeding & watering chickens, watering plants,
selling at market

Conditions of employment:

Short-season interns are paid $250/week (plus WSIB) and are paid
monthly. Interns are responsible for tracking their attendance on the
staff calendar

Interns are required to contribute to an employee/intern-managed
grocery fund for groceries used in staff kitchen. Typical
contributions are $20/week. We have a staff member who makes lunches,
but if you are a good cook excited to work with fresh veggies, you can
take your turn in the kitchen.

Accomodations

There are no on-farm options. Carpooling with our long-term employees
is possible. The OC transpo bus can also get you within a 15min bike
ride of our farm.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for hardworking, adaptable and amicable people.
Initiative and problem solving skills are an asset. We work very hard
from June until October and expect our interns to try and keep up. We
understand there is a steep learning curve and it takes some weeks to
get used to the physical strain of farming. We will give you tips on
how to work safely and efficiently, but we do expect all our interns
to have a positive attitude while tackling these difficult tasks.

Valid Licence and clean driving record is an asset.

Apply:

Send your resume and letter of intent to Robin at:
robin@rootsandshootsfarm.com