FARM JOB: Pemberton, BC - Four Beat Farm, Field Crew

Four Beat Farm in Pemberton, BC is seeking a Horse-powered Vegetable Farm Field Crew!

ABOUT Four Beat Farm

Four Beat Farm is a certified organic vegetable farm in the Pemberton Meadows in Lil’wat Territory. We are all about “Quality food for everyday eating” for our region, and to provide a fulfilling life and livelihood for people growing it. We are actively looking for a motivated, hardworking individual to join our farm team for the fall of 2023 and beyond.

The farm currently has around 3.5 acres in vegetable production with 30+ varieties, with a focus on summer and fall storage crops. Roughly ¾ of the farm is set-up in row crop style for horse-drawn mechanical cultivation, with a quarter in more intensive production for salads and fresh herbs as well as an unheated 25’x100′ high tunnel. We have a small tractor for lifting and moving pallets/compost/veg as well as mowing, and make efficient use of hand tools and our team of draft horses for much of our fieldwork. We are first and foremost a vegetable CSA farm, with about 200 households who get weekly veggies from us.

Pemberton has a short and intense growing season with hot summer days and lots of mud, rain, bugs, and cold in the spring and fall. Farming here requires a real appreciation for good food, being outdoors in all kinds of weather, moving quickly to making the most of the summer months, and celebrating the seasonal nature of farming.

For 2023, we are a core team of 3-4 full-time employees working alongside the farm owner, with extra hands during peak season. We invest heavily in training employees to learn our systems, to safely learn new skills and operating machinery, and to provide stable, consistent employment to keep our team happy and healthy and motivated to work on our farm year after year. Every person on the team is critical to the farm’s success, and you will be expected to hustle, to work independently, and to self-motivate to keep a healthy pace on the task at hand while looking out for yourself, your co-workers, and the farm’s operations as a whole.

We are a tight and hardworking team that values clear communication, kindness, and commitment to an efficient, inclusive and drama-free workplace.

DESIRED QUALITIES

Must be comfortable being outdoors in all weather, learning new tasks, and working alongside fellow crew members, volunteers, and independently as needed. You will be expected to learn tasks, get faster (and faster), and provide honest self-reflection as well as feedback on how we can do better as a team. Farming can be repetitive and it can be hard. A can-do attitude and sense of humour is crucial.

We are also looking for someone who:

Is smart, strong, kind, and takes pride in hard work
Will take direction and pay attention to detail
Enjoys working independently and in a team
Is physically fit; able to bend over for long periods of time; able to lift up to 50lb
Will balance speed and quality to meet (and exceed) our production standards
Is reliable
Has reliable transportation (a Class 5 driver’s license is required for this current job opening)
Is comfortable around and respectful of large animals
Is excited about local food and farming

JOB TASKS

All members of the farm team will be part of planting, seeding, weeding, irrigating, harvesting, washing, and packing many types of vegetables. At the moment, the role we are looking to fill also involves helping with deliveries using our farm pickup truck. Additional duties may also include helping with CSA coordination and communications, livestock care, and equipment/facility maintenance.

Farming experience is an asset but not required. Horse experience is not necessary, but a level of comfort and respect for large animals as well as dogs is important as they are part of the day-to-day operations of the farm.

If you have professional experience (2+ years) in the following fields and are interested in putting your skills to use alongside field crew responsibilities, please let us know in your application:

Market garden/vegetable farming
Horse care/handling
Horticulture/nursery
Greenhouse production
Landscaping
Sales/marketing/advertising
Communications/business administration
Carpentry/machinery/building maintenance
Driving truck/trailer/deliveries

JOB DETAILS

Term: We are currently looking to fill one Field Crew position to start immediately.

Term: A commitment for the rest of the main season is required at a minimum (starting by September 1st until November 15th). Applicants who are interested in staying in Pemberton and working with our farm into future seasons will be given priority.

Each of these roles have the potential to advance into consistent seasonal contracts, a long-term salaried position, and/or year-round employment with the farm depending on your goals, needs, skills, and performance.

Hours per week: Full-time hours on our team are consistently around 40 hours/week.

In the main season, the majority of our team works 7-4pm Monday-Thursday, with a flexible half-day on Fridays. There is a break for lunch (30 minutes, unpaid) and a mid-morning break for tea (paid). We may start later in the spring/fall and earlier in the heat of summer, and we take care to adjust hours and scheduling based on the needs of the whole team.

At the moment (August 2023), we are specifically looking to fill an immediate, full-time role (35-40 hours/week) that will start by September 1st and runs until at least November 15th. For this role specifically, we are looking to have someone help with delivery driving 1-2 days/week and ideally with availability to help at a Sunday farmers market for the fall months (with a Friday/Saturday weekend)

There is the potential for work through late November and December for the right candidate, and we would love to find someone who appreciates all that Pemberton has to offer in both summer and winter, and is interested in growing with our team long-term.

We are always open to full-time and part-time applicants, and are open to adjusting start/end workday times for local candidates if you have existing dependents/ childcare/ professional responsibilities and can commit to a consistent schedule.

We will work with your other work/play/life commitments and, in turn, we expect you to give 110% in the field.

Wage: $20-$22/hour DOE for field crew, $21-$24/hour DOE for field crew with added responsibilities.

As an employer, we are committed to the ongoing learning and skill development of our employees that is on par with their commitment to efficiency, workplace performance, and desire for growth within the company.

Every employee has the potential to advance into consistent seasonal contracts, a long-term salaried management position, and/or year-round employment with the farm. In your application, feel free to highlight your long-term career goals if applicable.

Along with an hourly wage and consistent work hours ($20-$24/hr, see above), employees have access to fresh farm-grow produce throughout the season (plenty of veggies to take home!).

Full-time/full-season employees are also eligible for regular performance reviews, an annual health spending allowance, paid sick days, and a full week’s paid vacation mid-summer.

Employees generally live in the town of Pemberton; or we do have affordable year-round housing (private, clean fifth wheel unit) available for rent long-term on the farm for the right fit. Please specify if you are interested in living on the farm and/or if you already have local housing secured.

The farm is 12km from town so reliable transportation in the form of a personal vehicle or a healthy appetite for bicycling is a must.

We work hard not only to grow quality food, but also to create a positive work environment that values clear communication and empowers folks to thrive both individually and as a team.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in applying, please read through the farm website at http://www.fourbeatfarm.ca and on social media. Then, send your resume with a genuine letter of interest to Naomi at fourbeatfarm@gmail.com.

In your application, be sure to let us know the following:

Experience with horses
Experience vegetable farming
Experience in physically-demanding jobs or recreation pursuits
Valid BC Class 5 and clean driving record
Availability (start/end dates and days/week)
Eligible to work in Canada (required)

Deadline to apply: ASAP, by August 31st 2023 (applications will be reviewed as they are received)

When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org

LEARN MORE ABOUT Four Beat Farm

Website: http://www.fourbeatfarm.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fourbeatfarm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fourbeatfarm/

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