FARM JOB: Vancouver, BC - Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society, Schoolyard Farm Crew

Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society in Vancouver, BC is seeking a Schoolyard Farm Crew!

ABOUT Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society

The Fresh Roots (FR) Farm Team operates our educational farms towards our production, sales and educational goals. Our farms are situated on schoolyards across Metro Vancouver, although for the scope of this position, the focus will be on our two East Vancouver sites (David Thompson and Vancouver Technical Secondaries), which cover just over an acre of production space. We have a small, heated prop house, a coolbot-powered cooler, and great irrigation systems on site.

Our Vancouver production consists mostly of mixed veggies with a small flower program. Our sales streams are diverse but rely heavily on CSA (about 60%) as well as an on-site market, community partnerships (ie. school programs like LunchLab), pop-up markets, and restaurants. Yearly, we produce about 9,000lb of food.

By partnering with schools and school districts, we take under-utilized land in heavily developed cities and transform it into thriving biodiverse agroecosystems using low-tech, organic practices (not certified). In doing so, we increase the availability of fresh local produce available to our neighbours. Our farms also serve as dynamic and inclusive learning spaces for people of all ages, but especially children and youth, to learn about food and the ecological and human systems that support the food we all depend on.

DESIRED QUALITIES

Qualifications

FR recognizes that applicants from oppressed groups, including folks who are Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) may be hesitant to apply for positions where they don’t perfectly meet the listed qualifications. If you are excited about the job description, believe you could learn to perform the responsibilities and can meet the essential qualifications, we encourage you to apply.

Essential Qualifications:

Pass a criminal record check to be able to work with children and vulnerable populations
Meet Federal Wage Subsidy Requirements for Young Workers: ie. be between ages 15-30 and have Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Refugee Status. If you are unsure of your eligibility, review these guidelines (https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs/who-can-apply.html#h2.1-3) or contact us.
Able to lift and carry 50+ pounds (ie. a tote of carrots)
Equipped, willing, and able to work outdoors in all weather conditions
Access to reliable transportation for travel to and between FR sites

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working on a farm, market garden, or in landscaping
Experience working with youth or in diverse community settings (ie. a soup kitchen / day camp / student council)
Motivated to learn new skills, ask questions, and take initiative
Attention to detail and able to follow quality standards
Able to work independently and as part of a small, diverse team
Able to meet goals within a limited time frame (ie. harvest quotas)
Effective communication in English across various mediums
Comfortable giving, soliciting and receiving feedback

POSITION TASKS

Field work: harvest, field & crop maintenance, often with youth
Grow crops using organic & low-impact farming techniques
Monitor and seek out solutions for crop failures or other farm challenges
Safely use and maintain farming tools and infrastructure, including hand tools, gas-powered tools, seeders, flame weeders, etc.
Connect with FR education teams to ensure the farms are both productive growing space and safe, engaging learning environments
Help maintain perennial herbs, flowers, berries, etc.
Admin: Keep field records & communicate with the farm team on slack

POSITION DETAILS

Term: Seasonal Position, May 11 to Sept 4. *Some flexibility on start date and possibility of extension into October

Hours per week: Average 37.5 hrs/week. Expect more hours during peak season (July – Aug) and less in the shoulders.

Wage: Compensation: $18.50-$20, DOE; 4% vacation pay; 5 sick days; additional mid-season paid vacation on August long weekend. Unlimited access to farm culls and 30% staff discount at our market.

Note: Position availability is dependent on funding. Start and end dates may change.

Schedule: Hours generally fall between 730am and 5pm on weekdays. Help may be required at market shifts which operate 12-8pm on Wednesday & Friday evenings

Location: FR Metro Vancouver Schoolyard Farm sites. Ideal applicants will have their own transportation.

TO APPLY

Please only apply through our hiring platform here.

You will need to submit a resume and your choice of: a short cover letter (500 words max) uploaded as a document, OR an introduction video (3 minutes max) linked in the “website, blog, or portfolio” line.

Deadline to apply: January 26, 2026

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

Please note that Young Agrarians does not have the capacity to pre-screen job opportunities. Please screen your potential employer to ensure that you are entering into a fair exchange that meets your needs and expectations. Try asking the farm for references of past workers, or ask people in the community if you are unsure.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society

Website: www.freshroots.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/freshrootsfarms
Instagram: @freshrootsfarms

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