Earth Craft Farm in Ladysmith, BC is seeking a Market Garden Tech!
ABOUT Earth Craft Farm
Interested in market gardening? Join our team!
Located in the Yellow Point area between Nanaimo and Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, our farm is a compact market garden in our fourth year, producing a diversity of fruit and vegetables with less than an acre under cultivation. Our current focus is on fresh-cut salad greens, baby root veg, strawberries, and garlic. We sell at farmer’s markets in Duncan and Nanaimo as well as to local restaurants. Utilizing mobile high tunnels we grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and cucumber in summer and over-winter salad greens. We also have some longer-term food forest/orchard areas in development. We use bio-intensive techniques working on 30-inch beds with a deep compost mulch system mostly worked by hand tools (broadforks, bed rakes and wheelbarrows), mostly no-till, sometimes utilizing a bcs tiller or tilther to work in amendment or break up some soil layers when deemed necessary (less over time). Another tool used is the ‘Quick cut greens harvester’.
We do a compact market garden keeping intact forest ecosystems where possible. We incorporate permaculture principles to guide our decision-making while still utilizing some outside inputs like compost. We have remained uncertified but we use organic practices. When sourcing amendments we get organic listed products including purchased compost. Our vision is to create a lush mixed system utilizing perennial fruit, nut, berry and herb production in hedgerows and food forest sections around the annuals in blocks of permanent raised beds. We also sell direct-to-consumer and value our connections with our community.
DESIRED QUALITIES
This work can be physically demanding and requires a good attitude, attention to detail, and an ability to keep moving at a good pace and stay hydrated and energized through the day. A keen interest in learning how to do this work is a key asset! Those interested in learning new skills and taking on responsibilities will be mentored and provided with extra resources and opportunities. It is possible for someone to have the opportunity to represent the farm at markets, learn greenhouse crop management, irrigation, compost making, use of push seeders and other tools, etc.
JOB TASKS
Our work week is split between harvest, wash/pack for market and production-focused days turning beds over between crops and re-seeding or transplanting new crops, as well as other maintenance, weeding, projects, perennial work, etc. Tasks will be assigned based on skill and experience and training will be provided to expand the skill set of employees.
JOB DETAILS
Term: One position is available immediately with a second position Starting in May. One position will go until end of Aug or into Sept suitable for a student going back to school. One will continue until the end of Oct with the possibility of extension.
Hours per week: 32-40 hrs per week with some opportunity for more hours.
Wage: Compensation is dependent on experience in the range of $18-20/hr with the bonus of amazing fresh produce! Training will also be provided; an invaluable opportunity to learn. Basic housing on the farm may be available.
TO APPLY
Please get in touch with a resume and brief cover letter explaining any related experience & other work history (skill sets), your availability, why you are interested, and what makes you a good fit. Email: jake@earthcraftfarm.ca
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
LEARN MORE ABOUT Earth Craft Farm
Website: http://www.earthcraftfarm.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthcraftfarm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EarthCraftFarm/