Swayne Creek Ciderhouse in Errington, BC is seeking two new cider crew members -an orchard worker and an assistant cidermaker.
ABOUT Swayne Creek Ciderhouse
Swayne Creek Ciderhouse is a vibrant farm-based cidery located on a mixed-use farm, proudly owned and operated by four local friends. Our orchard, with over 2,500 apple and pear trees, is the heart of our operation but we also raise sheep and cattle. Now in our fifth year of raising livestock and our third year of cider production, we are excited to be growing our own apples and crafting exceptional cider. This year, we’ll be offering our cider for sale in our on-premise picnic area, as well as in local farmers markets and restaurants.
While not certified organic, we take pride in our environmentally-friendly and low-impact farming practices. From the way we tend our orchard to how we craft our cider, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our Ciderhouse was thoughtfully constructed using timbers harvested from our own farm, and we’ve implemented a rainwater-collection system to store rainwater for irrigating our orchard and pastures. We practice rotational grazing with our livestock and maximise use of the silviopasture that surrounds our land, ensuring our farming practices are both productive and sustainable.
DESIRED QUALITIES
We are an inclusive, creative, and passionate team and if you’re excited about farming and cider-making, we’d love you to join us. Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Team Player with Independence: You thrive in a team but are also confident working independently when needed.
- Eagerness to Learn: You’re open to developing new skills and growing with us.
- Hardworking and Resilient: You’re ready to work hard and learn in all weathers.
- Physically Ready: The jobs can involve physically demanding tasks, including lifting up to 40lbs. You’re dedicated to working safely and effectively.
- Farm machinery experience for the orchard worker role (preferred but not required): Familiarity with small-scale farm machinery is a plus, but don’t worry, we can teach you!
- Food Safe work experience for the assistant cider-maker role (preferred but not required): Familiarity with operating in a food production or Food Safe environment is helpful, but we can provide training!
Even if you don’t check all the boxes but have a positive attitude and are willing to learn, we’d love to hear from you. We hope funding for these roles will be provided by the Canadian government under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and we give priority to applicants who:
- are between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
- are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or hold refugee protection status. Must have a valid Social Insurance Number and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
We encourage applications from those underrepresented in farming or facing barriers to employment, including applicants who have not completed high school or previously been employed, Indigenous youth, members of racialized communities, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth.
POSITION TASKS
Orchard worker:
- General orchard field work (pruning, digging, planting, weeding etc).
- General orchard maintenance (fence repair, maintaining trellises, brush management, constructing and labouring).
- Assist with monitoring tree health for 2500 apple and pear trees.
- Assist with managing irrigation system.
- General farm tasks as required including moving livestock and related equipment.
Assistant Cider Maker:
- Assist chief cider maker with all stages of the cider making process including taking readings and logging data.
- Assist with racking, bottling, carbonating, and pasteurising cider.
- Maintain cleanliness of equipment and adhere to good cidermaking practices.
BOTH ROLES:
- Assist with maintenance of Ciderhouse sales and picnic area premises.
- Work with Sales Director to prepare product for market.
- Assist with sales at local markets as required.
- Both roles are expected to be prepared to help in all areas of the Ciderhouse as and when required.
POSITION DETAILS
Term:
Start date: Flexible, preferably by early May 2025.
End date: September 2025 but there’s potential for the right candidates to continue with us at the end of the season or return next year.
Hours per week: 35 hours per week for up to 16 weeks, spread over 5 days. Ideally this will include one weekend day. Some flexibility available for the right fit.
Wage: Starting from $18/hr depending on experience plus 4% vacation pay.
TO APPLY
Please send resume and brief cover letter to jobs@swaynecreek.ca
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 Swayne Creek Ciderhouse
Website: www.swaynecreek.ca
Facebook: https://facebook.com/people/Swayne-Creek-Ciderhouse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swayne_creek_ciderhouse/
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