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Land of Dreams in Calgary, AB is seeking a Lead Market Garden Farmer!
ABOUT Land of Dreams
Land of Dreams is a multicultural, regenerative market garden in Calgary, AB, guided by Indigenous relationship-building and using the Market Gardener Institute (MGI) approach. We grow mixed vegetables, herbs, and culturally relevant crops on permanent beds (no/low till). Infrastructure includes a nursery area, wash/pack line, and walk-in cooler to protect the cold chain. Tools are mostly hand-scale: broadforks, wheel hoes, seeders (Jang/Earthway/paper pot), flame weeder, greens harvester, and small pumps for drip and overhead irrigation; we use a cargo van for deliveries. Sales channels: a city-supported weekly Culture Market, direct-to-community sales, and wholesale/contract orders with local partners, with new wholesale relationships under development. We also mentor newcomer farmers on-farm using MGI methods.
Guided by Indigenous wisdom and the Seven Sacred Teachings—Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, Truth—we grow food regeneratively. Not certified organic, but use no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. We nurture living soil (compost, diversity, low/no-till) in a hand-scale, people-centred garden that builds belonging and shared stewardship among newcomers, Elders, and neighbours.
DESIRED QUALITIES
All employees aim to embody as a target we are growing toward:
- Kind, respectful, team-first — practices Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, Truth.
- Cross-cultural & trauma-informed — works well with newcomers and Elders; listens first.
- Clear communicator — simple spoken/written English; asks questions; confirms understanding.
- Reliable & organized — shows up on time, follows checklists/SOPs, keeps spaces tidy.
- Safety-minded — uses tools correctly; cares for self, others, and the land.
- Learning mindset — open to coaching; gives/receives feedback well.
- Work ethic — steady pace, can do outdoor physical work in all weather.
- Integrity — keeps promises; honest about mistakes; protects food quality and cold chain.
Extra qualities for the Lead Farmer
- Calm leader — runs short stand-ups, assigns tasks clearly, and follows up kindly.
- Teacher/mentor — explains steps, demonstrates MGI methods, builds others’ confidence.
- Systems thinker — plans week/season; aligns people to priorities; anticipates bottlenecks.
- Quality focus — harvest standards, postharvest flow, labels/traceability on point.
- Market sense — friendly at booth, dependable with contracts, solves problems fast.
POSITION TASKS
Production
- Plan the season and each week (crops, bed rotations, seedling schedules).
- Manage soil fertility and irrigation.
- Prevent and control pests/weeds with ecological methods.
- Organize harvest schedules and lead harvests.
Postharvest (after harvest)
- Keep wash/pack flow running smoothly.
- Maintain simple Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Protect the cold chain (correct temperatures from field to cooler).
- Do basic Quality Assurance (QA) checks.
- Label correctly and maintain traceability (what/when/for whom).
Sales & Markets
- Prepare the weekly market plan and run the market booth.
- Fulfill produce commitments/contracts on time.
- Coordinate details with the Marketing and Finance teams.
Training & Mentorship
- Teach Market Gardener Institute (MGI) methods during real tasks.
- Lead quick bed flips (turn beds from one crop to the next).
- Set and uphold harvest and postharvest standards.
- Coach newcomer farmers in safe, step-by-step work practices.
People & Scheduling
- Align daily/weekly tasks with the season plan.
- Coordinate summer staff and volunteers with the Volunteer Coordinator.
- Run brief daily stand-ups and end-of-day check-ins.
- Keep task boards and priorities up to date.
Data & Continuous Improvement
- Track yields, labour hours, and produce loss (“shrink”).
- Share brief weekly results and make simple adjustments to improve.
Culture & Safety
- Model inclusive, trauma-informed teamwork.
- Uphold Indigenous relationship-building and land-care practices.
- Maintain a safe, respectful, clean worksite.
POSITION DETAILS
Term: We are looking to begin April 1 (This could be earlier if they are available for doing starts)
It will be seasonal to begin with – with potential to discuss permanent status based on fit and job completion.
Hours per week: ~35–40 hrs/week with some early mornings/weekends for market days. This will be full time from April 1st to November 1.
Wage: $24–$27 CAD/hour (depending on experience).
Bonuses (new wholesale growth): $500 when a new wholesale account (e.g., Fresh Routes, Veterans Food Bank) is signed and fulfilled for 8 consecutive weeks at or above agreed margin/quality targets, plus $250 at 16 weeks if the account remains active and on-spec. Up to 3 new-account bonuses/season.
Fresh food: Weekly farm produce for personal use.
Training: Access to the Market Gardener Institute (MGI) training program and community (provided at no cost).
TO APPLY
Please send resume to connect@landofdreams.earth
Deadline to apply: February 28, 2026
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
Please note that Young Agrarians does not have the capacity to pre-screen job opportunities. Please screen your potential employer to ensure that you are entering into a fair exchange that meets your needs and expectations. Try asking the farm for references of past workers, or ask people in the community if you are unsure.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Land of Dreams
Website: https://landofdreams.earth/
Instagram: @landofdreamscommunity
