Labour on Certified Organic Farm
Type: paid full-time positions, 6 months
Organization: Wicklow Way Farm http://www.WicklowWay.ca
Location: Grafton/Colborne (east of Port Hope/Cobourg), Ontario
Wicklow Way is a certified organic farm situated on the Waterfront
Trail by the shores of Lake Ontario, just east of Grafton in
Northumberland County. We are a 40-acre property, most of which is
early stage forest with gro
omed trails meandering among seasonal
streams with benches to meditate, read and write. Currently our farm
business is a 5-acre market garden of mostly heirloom vegetables. We
have a small apiary where we care for our honeybees using horizontal
hives and top bars. We raise a small herd of Berkshire/Tamworth pigs
as well as Muscovy ducks for meat and eggs, heritage breed laying
hens, and meat chickens. We also care for LaMancha dairy goats who
supply us with our own milk and cheese and the bucks born each spring
are raised for meat.
We are looking for farm labour, apprentices, and co-op students who
are serious about small-scale farming and who are interested about the
food they eat and the future of our environment. This position starts
at the beginning of May and continues until the end of October for a
total of six months. All employees are paid minimum wage for a total
of up to 8 hours of farm work five days a week and will report
directly to our Field Manager.
You will continue to learn about:
• seed starting,
• transplanting,
• soil structure,
• green manures,
• greenhouse and hoophouse options,
• dry bean production,
• planning your crop rotation,
• rototilling and all forms of hand cultivation, and
• tool sharpening and tool maintenance.
We attend farmers markets in Port Hope, Cobourg and Toronto. We have a
farm gate stand affectionately known as “The Mall”, and we wholesale
to produce markets and restaurants. We also have a 100-member CSA
program with pickups twice a week at various locations.
We do not offer a room and board program. All staff will have to be
mobile and/or local and arrange for their own accommodations nearby
though we may be able to help in that regard.
Apprentices, co-op students and all farm labour is encouraged to
become more involved in the farm life here at Wicklow Way by staying
after paid hours and/or weekends to learn about other activities that
may interest them. The more you participate the more you will learn.
Most extra-curricular activities such as cheese making, animal
husbandry, building and wood-crafting, ferments, and canning take
place on the staff’s days off so that they can participate if they
wish.
If you are interested in our farm and would like some more
information, please forward your résumé and a cover letter explaining
which position you are applying for and why you wish to be involved
with Wicklow Way farm, what skills and experiences you bring with you,
and explain your future farming plans and ideals to:
Elaina.Asselin@WicklowWay.ca
Priority will be given to those with previous experience however if
the applicant is serious in his/her intention to farm for a living we
will give every consideration.