Urban Farm Hiring Farm Manager in California

Tweet

Soil Born Farms Urban Agriculture & Education Project is hiring a Farm Manager

Job Title: Farm Manager

Program: Food Production and Farming Education – American River Ranch

Reports To: Co-Director

Farm & Organization Background

Soil Born Farms Urban Agriculture & Education Project is a non-profit educational farm in Sacramento, California. Our programs focus on promoting health and providing experiential learning opportunities for youth and adults, producing healthy food, improving access to healthy food for all and modeling land and environmental stewardship. Beyond producing healthy, certified organic produce for our CSA members and local stores, restaurants, a weekly farm stand and farmer’s markets, Soil Born Farms has also developed several innovative education and food access programs in partnership with area schools and non-profit agencies.

The American River Ranch, a 55-acre historic ranch located within the American River Parkway, is the permanent home of Soil Born Farms. It provides a wonderfully diverse landscape to engage both youth and adults in hands-on activities that educate and connect them with the natural world, healthy food, healthy eating, job and life skills, hard work, and service opportunities. The American River Ranch also provides the opportunity to expand the production of vegetables and fruit to meet the needs of more Sacramento residents, particularly those in underserved neighborhoods with little or no access to fresh, nutritious food. Current acreage of the American River Ranch includes 5 acres of perennial fruit plantings, 5 acres of annual vegetable crops, and 3 acres of irrigated pasture. This acreage will double in the next two years including an additional 10 acres currently being converted to restored creek habitat.

Job Summary

The Farm Manager has a passion for our organic farming, farming education and environmental stewardship goals. He/she works closely with the Field Manager, farm staff, other educators and Co-Directors to oversee development and management of the American River Ranch into a dynamic educational farm for beginning farmers and the visiting public.

The Farm Manager has strong experience in all the primary aspects of a diversified farm operation including irrigation system management, orchard management, vegetable production, animal management, organic system plans management (OSP), tractor operation and bed preparation and staff management. Main duties include providing oversight and supervision of other farm staff, assisting in planning and on-going hands-on instruction for beginning farmers, managing site fertility, managing irrigation systems, managing site infrastructure development including addition of new production fields and overseeing all animal management (Currently includes 100 chickens, 8 ruminants, and two breeding pairs of heritage pigs). The farm manager is also expected to manage regular office related tasks necessary for overall farm education, operations, budgeting, scheduling and other farm logistics. These combined duties require that the farm manager must be technically experienced and a team player who thrives on sharing their knowledge with other beginning farmers and visitors.

Hours and Compensation

• Between 40-50 hours a week including weekends and some evenings.
• Salary Range: Depends on experience.
• 90% medical, dental and vision benefits. Includes agreed upon annual PTO accrual.

Key Responsibilities

• Soil Management (primary tillage, cultivation, weed control, fertility, etc.)
• Orchard Management (pruning, fertility, IPM, harvest and quality control)
• Pasture Management (utilizing rotation of grazing animals)
• Irrigation System Management (pump, filters, valves, etc.)
• Ranch Expansion (expanding orchard, pasture, and annual ground acreage)
• Assist Field Manager in vegetable production operations as needed.
• Farm Administration: staff management, scheduling, budgeting, annual organic inspection, crop planning assistance.
• Beginning Farmer education/supervision and public instruction
• Assisting on events as needed (all staff)

Experience & Skills Required

• A minimum of five years of organic farming experience
• Knowledge of sustainable agricultural systems
• Ability to operate a tractor and a variety of implements
• Ability to maintain organized records and files
• Ability to work quickly, multi-task and be flexible on a daily basis
• CSA program coordination and farm stand/farmers market experience a plus
• Ability to manage time and people
• Good communication skills and a positive attitude
• Ability to lift 50#
• Ability to work in all weather conditions and especially heat
• Strong leadership skills.

Note: Possible rental housing bordering farm currently available (3 bedroom and 2 bath).

Please email cover letter, resume, and two references to project Co-Director Shawn Harrison at sharrison@soilborn.org