We are currently hiring for the 2023 growing season:
1) We are looking for a full time employee and a part time employee for our 2023 growing season: Details below!
2) We are also looking for an individual who would like to apprentice with us (housing and educational hours included). Visit the MOFGA apprentice page to see full details on what we are looking for and can offer an apprentice: click here.
Job Description for Full-time and Part-time hourly employee:
Brief description of farming operation:
- We are a MOFGA certified organic mixed veggie and flower farm located in Richmond, Maine.
- We have 3.5 acres in rotation of mixed vegetables, flowers and cover crop, along with a small apple orchard and newly planted high bush blueberries.
- We use a mix of hand tools, a small tractor and a team of draft horses. We have recently moved to a no-till system on most of our fields.
- We have owned our farm for 8 years. We have 1 heated greenhouse for seedling propagation and two unheated tunnels we use for crop season extension -mainly for spring/winter greens and then tomatoes, peppers, flowers in the summer.
- We have a farm stand, attend 3 farmers’ markets each week during the summer, have a box CSA and do a small amount of wholesale.
- We also make fermented value-added products which we sell at our farm stand, markets and wholesale.
Daily/Weekly/Seasonal Activities as part of this job:
- We are looking for both 1 full-time and 1 part-time employee for the months of March-November.
- We are a small farm and our employees get to experience many diverse jobs throughout the season, from seeding and potting up crops in our seedling tunnel, to transplanting and weeding in the field. They will also spend several days a week harvesting and washing/packing produce for our farm stand, farmers’ markets and CSA.
- We also have many small construction jobs we need help with throughout the season.
- We have two draft horses which we rotationally graze throughout the summer so we will need help setting up and taking down fencing throughout the week.
- We have 3 farmers’ markets throughout the week and ideally would like our employees to be able to attend a market per week along with us.
- We work outside for 8 hours a day in all kinds of weather and expect our employees to be able to do this while maintaining positive outlooks both mentally and physically.
- Ideal candidates will have at least 1 season of farming experience.
Hours (Part-time/full-time) and Work Season (Seasonal/ year-round)
- Part time Position: 16-24 hours per week March-November
- Full Time Position: 40 hours per week March-November
Benefits
- Starting pay: $15-$17/hour - based on experience
- Free excess vegetables from our fields
- 15% discount on items in our farm stand
- Bulk orders of items from other local suppliers that we work with at cost.
- We provide workers compensation insurance for all employees.
- We do not offer housing.
- Paid 15 minute morning break. ½ hour unpaid lunch.
- Lots of exercise and fresh air!
What to Expect from Us (the farmers)
- We put thought and time into our hiring process to make sure everyone is on the same page with job expectations, the culture of our farm, and communication styles.
- The culture of our farm is one of inclusivity, that values good communication, respect for all people, animals and the farmland itself.
- We hold weekly meetings to go over activities and assignments for the week and to open up dialog for feedback.
- We are a small team and expect people to be able to work independently once they have a handle on a task, and to feel confident enough to work alone, as well as to ask questions for clarification when needed.
- We are good at sticking to daily start and end times for our employees and expect our employees to show up ready to work on time and to keep their commitments to the amount of hours they can work each week throughout the season.
Application Details and Deadline
Please submit a cover letter, resume and 3 references (if you don’t have farming experience your references can be from any previous job).
- Email: tendersolesfarm@gmail.com
- Mail to: Tender Soles Farm, 453 Main st. Richmond, ME 04357
- Check out our website and social media: www.tendersolesfarm.com