The Sharing Farm in Richmond, BC is seeking a Farm Manager!
ABOUT The Sharing Farm
For over 18 years The Sharing Farm (TSF), a not-for-profit community farm, has been growing food to donate to the Richmond Food Bank an community meal programs. We occupy a 4-acre site in Terra Nova Park. We have a state of the art barn built in 2016, including a walk-in cooler and wash station. There is also a good inventory of equipment and machinery including a Grillo G131 walk behind tractor, a Kubota LA525 tractor, a paper pot transplanter, and a farm truck. At The Sharing Farm, high functioning systems are in place, the soil is well conditioned, the clientele is established and the community is supportive.
Although not certified organic, we adhere to organic practises. Our farm is based on Jean Martin Fortier’s model for a market garden. We grow 30 different crops and specialize in salad mix and greenhouse tomatoes. We grow almost year-round in non-heated greenhouses as well as in our fields.
We donate approximately 20,000 lbs of produce to the Food Bank every year, and we also grow food for sale to raise funds for sustaining our operation. This includes a 60 person CSA, weekly Farmer’s Markets and restaurant sales from Jun-Nov.
The Sharing Farm has four season-long staff members (Executive Director, Farm Manager, Assistant Director/ Beekeeper and Volunteer Coordinator), as well as a team of 3-5 farm labourers/ interns for 12 weeks during the peak of the season. The Sharing Farm also has around 600 volunteers a year working in the fields, including 3 weekly drop-in sessions and weekly corporate group sessions.
ROLE OVERVIEW
TSF is seeking a Farm Manager to be responsible for managing all aspects of planning and production in the field and to manage the Field Team (Volunteer Coordinator season-long, and farm labourers in the summer). The Farm Manager will be responsible for the planning, execution and delivery of approximately 20,000 lbs of produce for donation and around $95,000 worth of produce for sale. This position requires an experienced farmer who can grow quality, organic produce to meet these targets using sustainable methods. The ideal candidate will be ready to make a multi-year commitment to our organization.
Position runs from 1 Mar- 1 Dec 2020 and will start again in Mar 2021
Working days Tuesday-Saturday, increasing to 6 days a week in peak season
COMPENSATION
- $40,000 annually
- Organic vegetables for personal use
PRODUCTION TARGETS
- 60 person CSA for 17 weeks. Value of CSA is $595 per person ($35 per
week)
- Produce for 22 Farmers Markets per year (Totalling approximately $37,000)
- Produce for TSF’s annual Garlic Festival sales ($10,000)
- Restaurant sales of $10,000 per year (predominately in salad mix)
- Donation of approximately 20,000 lbs of produce for the Richmond Food Bank
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Overall strategic leadership and day-to-day operational management of vegetable production including planning, seeding, weeding, irrigation, pest control, maintaining soil health, harvesting, post harvest processing etc.
- Ensuring our production targets are met
- Leading the Field Team and planning work for volunteers
- Maintaining high-quality produce standards and food safety standards
- Ensuring the site is tidy and safe: we are in a public park, with responsibility to the City of Richmond to maintain the site to a high standard.
- Work according to the 2020 crop plan including rotations, planting map, greenhouse seeding, seed inventory, and plant and seed orders created by the outgoing Farm Manager. In future years be responsible for the creation of the crop plan
- Maintenance of all farm equipment and facilities, supervision of repair and maintenance work
- Maintain accurate records of all farm activities
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
Reports to: Executive Director
Direct Reports: Volunteer coordinator and 3-5 Summer Field Interns/ Labourers
CANDIDATE PROFILE
EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of 3+ years of agricultural production experience, with at least one year in a leadership role
- Demonstrated understanding of sustainable and organic production
- Experience of managing staff and volunteers
- Experience of growing for CSA, Farmers Markets and Restaurants
COMPETENCIES
- Ability to meet our production targets
- Valid driver’s license and ability to drive larger vehicles
- Ability to operate, or learn to operate, our farm machinery (Kubota LA525, Grillo G 131, flame weeder, etc)
- Be in excellent physical condition and able to lift 50 lbs
- Strong organizational skills including: multi-tasking, prioritizing, planning, and effective time management
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Willing to work long hours as necessary. In the Spring and late Fall the work hours are less than full time and in peak season they are 50+ hours/week
- Willing to take vacation in the shoulder seasons and to work throughout the peak growing season. It may be possible to take a couple of long weekends throughout summer, but any longer leave must be taken in the shoulder seasons.
- Passionate about sustainable agriculture and food security
- Socially engaged and excited about working at a not-for-profit community farm, with diverse groups of people in an urban environment
- Strong initiative and entrepreneurial drive
HOW TO APPLY:
Send Resume and Cover Letter to sarah@sharingfarm.ca.
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL SUITABLE CANDIDATE HAS BEEN FOUND.
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at Youngagrarians.org
Learn more about The Sharing Farm
Website: http://www.sharingfarm.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharingfarm/