Wild Flight Farm in Mara, BC is seeking an Organic Production Field Lead!
ABOUT Wild Flight Farm
Wild Flight Farm is a 24-acre certified organic mixed vegetable farm in Mara, BC that has grown into a successful business over the past 30 years. This firmly-established family farm has a strong following at year-round farmer’s markets in the communities of Salmon Arm and Revelstoke. Produce is also shipped weekly to organic home delivery services in Kelowna and Vernon.
Over the years the farm has developed to include 13 high tunnels and a large heated house for seedling production. We grow all our own transplants and the tunnels allow for significant season extension, allowing us to reach early spring markets with fresh greens and root crops. Later in spring, the high tunnels are home to heat-loving crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. We have also developed a large packing/storage facility which allows our employees to work comfortably and efficiently while enabling appropriate storage conditions for a wide diversity of crops.
The rural location in the North Okanagan/Shuswap is within a 30-minute drive of the communities of Salmon Arm, Enderby and Sicamous. The farm borders the Shuswap River in a region known for diverse outdoor recreation opportunities from paddling, mtn. biking, hiking, climbing, and much more.
There are two main seasons at Wild Flight, with some overlap. We generally employ a crew of 12 full-time employees through the growing season (May to October) and 5 full-time employees to carry the farm through the winter market season. Our mission is to efficiently produce high-quality, organic vegetables and culinary herbs for local markets while providing living wages and career advancement opportunities for 12 employees.
DESIRED QUALITIES
We are seeking a Field Lead who will be responsible for organizing and carrying out day-to-day vegetable field work in consultation with the Farm Manager. The work includes bed preparation for seeding/planting, mechanical cultivation, and directing up to 10 employees to plant, weed, irrigate, and harvest all field-grown vegetable crops. Other tasks include collaboration with farm co-leads overseeing other sectors to create a daily work plan to allot help and resources to prioritize urgent tasks. Familiarity with operating a range of equipment from 80 hp tractors and tillage implements to smaller cultivating tractors is a necessary skill.
This is a full-time, year-round position with winter work shifting to washing and packing vegetables for markets. This position is suited to someone with relevant experience and education in market vegetable production who wants to settle into the role for 2+ years. We are seeking a candidate who is dedicated to organic methods and looking for an opportunity to hone their knowledge, leadership, and teamwork skills in a collaborative and production-oriented environment.
JOB TASKS
Field Staff Management
- Organize and direct field staff on a daily basis to ensure seeding, planting, cultivation, irrigation, harvest and timelines are met.
- Work alongside less experienced staff as needed to provide instruction and assist in completing tasks.
- Create, by example, a positive, co-operative and energetic work environment in which productivity and quality are emphasized.
- Offer both positive and constructive feedback to fellow staff regarding tasks and performance.
Field Operations
- Assist in developing daily & weekly work plans for successive seedings/plantings of field crops.
- Conduct primary tillage operations and final vegetable bed preparation.
- Monitor and manage weeding, irrigation and pest/disease control in a timely, pro-active manner.
- Carry out weekly mechanical weed control activities.
- Apply compost and other materials to maintain soil fertility.
- Maintain careful records of all seeding, planting, harvesting and soil inputs.
- Participate in vegetable planting, weeding, harvesting as required.
JOB DETAILS
Term: April 1st, 2024. Full-time year-round.
Hours per week: Position is full-time, year-round with more flexible hours in winter months
Wage: Wage range is $22.50 – $27/hour depending on experience with yearly compensation reviews.
Other perks:
- Extended health benefits package, including medical, dental and visual coverage.
- Access to farm produce, as seasonally available, for personal/family use.
- Access to rental housing if needed.
TO APPLY
Please send resume & cover letter to produce@wildflightfarm.ca
Deadline to apply: March 31st, 2024
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
LEARN MORE ABOUT Wild Flight Farm
Website: http://www.wildflightfarm.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildFlightFarm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildflightfarm/
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