JOB: Makaria Farm, Cowichan Valley, BC – Multiple Postions!

Wanted: hard-working, positive, creative thinkers

Harvest Crew Manager – Full Time
Vegetable Harvesters -Full Time
Weeders – Full Time

Numerous employment opportunities at Makaria Farm for our 2015 season (and beyond)! No farm experience is necessary.

We hire hard-working people who can dedicate themselves to maintaining our high standards and growing our farm business for a full season. We’re especially keen on “intrapreneurs”: those who can master how things are done in a business, and then innovate and improve on those processes.

If you have a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and past employers who will give you a glowing reference, we invite you to check out the different positions below.

All positions require a minimum commitment of early June to the end of September. If you aren’t able to commit to these months, please do not apply. We do not have any part-time positions or apprenticeship positions available in 2015.

Full-time Harvest Crew Manager

We need an experienced people manager to help keep our harvest crew members happy, healthy and working efficiently. No experience with harvesting or farm work is necessary for this position (we’ll train you), but people-management experience is a must.

This role will allow you to employ your fabulous people-management skills in a unique, outdoor environment while you learn & master the art of harvesting vegetables.

Role

80%: training, managing & working with our harvest crew members as they harvest, wash, sort and pack vegetables
5%: managing wholesale accounts
10%: overseeing “big picture” harvest planning and strategizing with Farmer Brock
5%: weeding, trellising, pruning and other farm tasks, as needed and as time permits

Terms 

• start in May (or earlier if you’d like); end in October to late November
• $13-15/hour to start, depending on experience
• full-time employment for 5 days/week (sometimes with the option to work more if you choose), likely including weekends
• work outdoors in all kinds of weather
• possibility of employment in future seasons at a higher wage

Essential qualifications

• experience working in a people management role
• exceptional verbal communication skills
• work quickly and efficiently to meet strict deadlines
• available to work overtime as needed, sometimes on the spur of the moment
• physically fit, especially knees and back (e.g. able to lift and carry 50lb tubs)
• maintain extremely high food safety and quality standards
• quick learner
• accountable and reliable

Bonus qualifications

• experience working in a fast-paced and/or physically demanding job
• strong customer service skills and an outgoing personality
• interested in business management
• able to innovate, problem solve and improve efficiencies
• driver’s license and a safe driving history

Full-time Vegetable Harvesters

We sell a wide selection of vegetables through our CSA, our 7 days/week farm stand, and multiple farmers markets, grocers and restaurants. We need superstar harvesters to ensure that our customers are wowed by the vegetables they receive this summer and fall.

If you like challenging yourself, this is the job for you. The work is physically demanding, day after day, and is necessary in all kinds of weather — including sweltering heat and the pouring rain. (Yet somehow our harvest crew members manage to smile and laugh together. Maybe it’s the potlucks.)

Role

90%: harvesting, washing, sorting, packing, delivering and selling vegetables
10%: weeding, trellising, pruning and other farm tasks, as needed and as time permits

Terms 

• start in May or June, end in October to late November
• $10.25/hour (with bonuses available for contract completion and performance)
• full-time employment for 5 days/week (sometimes with the option to work more if you choose), likely including weekends
• work outdoors in all kinds of weather
• possibility of employment in future seasons at a higher wage

Essential qualifications

• experience working in a fast-paced and/or physically demanding job, such as being a server, barista or tree planter
• work quickly and efficiently to meet strict deadlines (i.e. can “hustle”)
• available to work overtime as needed, sometimes on the spur of the moment
• physically fit, especially knees and back (e.g. able to lift and carry 50lb tubs)
• maintain extremely high food safety and quality standards
• quick learner
• accountable and reliable
• work as part of a team and independently

Bonus qualifications

• strong customer service skills and an outgoing personality
• interested in business management
• able to innovate, problem solve and improve efficiencies
• driver’s license and a safe driving history

Full-time Weeders

Defending our 20+ acres of growing area from the persistent onslaught of weeds is a crucial job on our organic farm. Our intrepid cultivation crew uses a variety of hand tools and machinery to remove unwanted weeds and help our crops thrive.

Role

90%: pulling weeds and cultivating the soil to prevent weed growth
10%: other farm tasks, as needed and as time permits

Terms 

• start in early May or June, end in September or late October
• $10.25/hour (with bonuses available for contract completion and performance)
• full-time employment for 5 days/week (sometimes with the option to work more if you choose)
• work outdoors in all kinds of weather
• possibility of employment in future seasons at a higher wage

Essential qualifications

• work quickly and efficiently
• available to work overtime as needed, sometimes on the spur of the moment
• physically fit, especially knees and back (e.g. able to work on your hands and knees at times)
• accountable and reliable
• work as part of a team and independently

Bonus qualifications

• experience using machinery, including a tractor, ride-on lawn mower, rototiller, etc.
• experience working in a physically demanding job
• driver’s license and a safe driving history
• interested in business management
• able to innovate, problem solve and improve efficiencies

How to apply

Please email your resume to Brock & Heather McLeod at makariafarm@gmail.com and include a couple of paragraphs:

• introduce yourself
• identify the position(s) for which you’re applying
• list any relevant experience
• explain why you are interested in the position(s)
• mention anything else you think we should know to help us determine whether you are the right fit for our farm
• let us know when you are available (e.g. “I’m available from early May to late December.”)

We will confirm receipt of your application by email.

About our farm 

Brock and Heather started Makaria Farm in 2007 and have expanded production every year. We value innovation, quality and sustainability (both environmental and financial). For more information, please visit our About Us webpage.