Thrangu Monastery in Richmond, BC is hiring an Orchard and Greenhouse Worker!
ABOUT Thrangu Monastery
Thrangu Monastery is a non-profit Tibetan Buddhist monastery situated on almost 2 acres of ALR land in Richmond, BC. On the land there are approximately 150 mixed variety fruit trees. There are also 6 polyhouses that have been used to grow a variety of crops including flowers, garlic and tomatoes. The farm/orchard is a semi-serious operation currently being run by one person with limited assistance from the Monastery’s monks and volunteers. All of the produce has been sold to or consumed on-site by Monastery monks, members, or visitors.
Our farm is not certified organic but tries to adhere to organic practices as much as possible. The person hired should have a strong commitment to such practices. Because the land belongs to a Buddhist monastery, we try to minimize harm to the environment and other living beings.
Desired Skills
Because almost all decisions about how to govern the farm (what to plant, when and what to spray etc) will be decided by the person hired, the person hired should have good self-management skills. The person hired need not necessarily have management or orchardist skills but it would undoubtedly be beneficial. Furthermore, the person should have good reading and/or research skills because they will often have to find out for themselves what diseases or other problems are affecting the plants. However, there may be some assistance, training and guidance provided by the person currently in-charge. Additional qualities: able to work alone; able to make day-to-day decisions about how best to run the farm/orchard; operates with honesty and integrity; environmentally conscious.
Job Tasks
- Pruning, spraying, and fertilizing fruit trees and crops
- determining and applying safety standards when doing any work
- maintaining the irrigation system; selling produce on-site
- choosing appropriate crops for polyhouse production
- starting seedlings, planting plugs etc
- cutting grass and weed-whacking
- maintaining the monastery tractor
- making some financial decisions on what to purchase for equipment and supplies.
Job Details
Term: Begin as soon as possible.
Hours: 25-40 hours per week (the choice is yours). From experience, a minimum of 25 hours/week is required to adequately maintain the orchard and polyhouses. In this position, a maximum of forty hours/week of work will be paid for.
Wage: $17.00/hr plus free (vegetarian) lunch and dinner on most days the week except for Mondays, with some exceptions.
Benefits: The times worked are flexible. The monastery is also open to splitting this position between multiple people. On days worked, vegetarian lunch and dinner are usually provided.
How to Apply
Please apply with a resume and cover letter to davie_scho@hotmail.com.
When applying, please indicate that you saw this posting at Youngagrarians.org.