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Rose Hill Orchard in Lake Country, British Columbia is seeking Market Staff, an Orchard Crew, and an Orchard Lead!
ABOUT Rose Hill Orchard
Rose Hill Orchard is a 10-acre mixed fruit orchard in Lake Country, BC. We grow cherries, apples, peaches, plums, grapes, walnuts, haskaps, strawberries and asparagus! We sell our fruit through our popular u-pick program, as well as in our on-farm market, through our value added products and fresh orchard pressed juice!
We open our gate to the public from May to November and welcome guests from all over the world providing a look into farming and growing fruit. In the summer months, it’s a great, colorful, fun, and exciting community space with events, workshops, and social interaction in the beautiful Okanagan.
Our production process is guided by regenerative principles, for example by free-ranging our animals through the orchard for mowing and fertilization (we currently have sheep, mini horses, chickens, ducks, and guinea fowl), mulching our prunings and composting our various waste streams to build the soil, cover cropping, and extreme diversity in our crop mix (we have 6 varieties of cherries, 15 varieties of apples, 3 varieties of plums, 5 varieties of peaches).
Our business model is guided by a participatory approach to agriculture. We think it’s important for people to be invited into the “black box” of how their food is grown, to be able to see how we do things, learn about food production, and be involved in strengthening our local food ecosystem.
For the 2024 season we are looking for individuals to fill in several positions: Market Staff, Orchard Crew, and Orchard Lead.
DESIRED QUALITIES
For all positions:
- Hardworking and self-motivated
- Reliable and willing to take on responsibilities
- Efficient and always willing to learn more
- Quality-oriented in all tasks
- Communicative and enthusiastic
- Open-minded, respectful, and friendly
- Able to work outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions
- Experience in work in agriculture and/or working in a store or cafe is an asset
All positions require creativity and a learning mindset. We are in a high growth phase so we are looking for individuals who are excited to grow with us and comfortable with wearing many hats, learning on the fly, and a reasonable amount of chaos!
We also welcome those who are looking for a diverse position working in the market and outside.
ABOUT THE ROLES
ORCHARD LEAD
As the orchard lead you will assist the general manager with running the orchard through the season. While working as part of your orchard crew, you will have independent responsibilities managing the various tasks outdoors and some supervisory duties of other crew members.
Your job tasks will include:
- Pruning and thinning
- Mulch spreading
- Weed whacking
- Operating / checking irrigation
- Harvesting and sorting fruit through our u-pick and retail programs
- Lifting and loading heavy boxes
- Maintain the property for the u-pick season
- Pressing apples and pasteurizing juice in the fall season
- Moving bins with the fork lift tractor
- Planting trees
- General farm work
Term: This position is full time. Start date May 1st until the end of November, 2023.
Potential future opportunities for permanent positions.
Staying on the farm in van/tent is possible.
Hours per week: 35-40 hours/week.
Wage: $19-21/hr, depending on experience, plus performance-based bonus.
Fruit share to take home, market discount.
Work in our market and facilitate a safe and fun u-pick experience for guests. We also have pop-up markets, music events, and workshops during the summer and every day is different, so the ability to wear many hats is important. Having fun and being enthusiastic while working in a bustling environment is a must.
As a member of the orchard crew, you will be mostly outside assisting our orchard lead with farm work tasks. Pruning, thinning, picking, sorting, weed whacking and sometimes taking care of the animals are only a few things of what’s to do. Be a part of cherry-sorting fun and enjoy an early finish when we start to work at 5am in the heat. Ideally, you are interested in tools, fixing things and gathered some farm work experience already.
Term: May until November. Minimum work periods 3 weeks.
Hours per week: 16 – 40 hrs/week (flexible)
Wage: $17.50-$19/hr, fruit share to take home, discount in market.
Staying on the farm in van/tent is possible.
TO APPLY
Please send resume and cover letter to magda@rosehillorchard.com
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
LEARN MORE ABOUT Rose Hill Orchard
Website: https://rosehillorchard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseHillOrchard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosehillorchard/
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