Vegetable Production Manager Job in Vermont

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Taylor in Employment, Farming, Management // 0 Comments

Vegetable Production Manager Job in Vermont at Sweetland Farm – 2021

Sweetland Farm

Sweetland Farm is a diversified family farm in Norwich, Vermont. Started in 2012 on conserved prime agricultural soils on the banks of the Ompompanoosuc River, Sweetland currently crops 8+ acres of sustainably grown vegetables, which supply a 350-member CSA and road-side farm stand. The rest of the 200 acres of farmland consists of actively managed hay fields, pastures for livestock, a young orchard, perennial fruit and vegetable crops, and managed woodland. Sweetland is run by head farmer & owner Norah Lake and is known for high-quality and bountiful vegetables, a welcoming and engaging CSA, healthy pasture-raised meats, thoughtful care of the land and environment, and commitment to creating meaningful agrarian experiences for customers and employees alike. We aim to create a stimulating, interesting, hard-working, and upbeat workplace for our farm team while feeding our local community.

Learn more at www.sweetlandfarmvt.com

Vegetable Production Manager Job in Vermont

Sweetland’s Vegetable Production Manager works closely with the Head Farmer, Equipment & Livestock Manager, and Crew Leader on planning and implementing the wide-ranging tasks typical of a mid-sized diversified farm. In other words, we all wear many hats and there’s never a dull moment! The VP-Manager takes a lead role in greenhouse work, direct field seeding, transplanting, hand cultivation, harvest, and post-harvest handling of vegetables. The VP-Manager is responsible for training and supervising a field crew of 4-6 farm crew in the aforementioned tasks. In addition to their primary work with crop production, the VP-Manager will assist with other aspects of our diversified farm as needed/available throughout the season, including animal care, chicken slaughter, orchard care, and hay production. The VP-Manager is an essential part of our core farm team and is expected to think and work like a professional farmer. Attention to detail, an efficient and strong work ethic, the ability to identify and carry out big-picture projects, an inquisitive nature about improved production methods, great communication skills, and the capacity to operate with autonomy or effectively lead a small crew are essential and expected attributes.

Vegetable Production Manager Job Responsibilities & Required Skills

In collaboration with Head Farmer and co-manager

Greenhouse care;
- Mixing potting soil
- Making soil blocks
- Seeding/potting on
- Watering
- Fertility monitoring & management
- Pest scouting & control
- Hardening off transplants
- Organization & record keeping

Field seeding & transplanting
- Planning bed-prep needs and communicating them to Equipment Manager
- Use of 1-row Jang or Earthway hand seeder
- Handling/planting fragile seedlings
- Use of waterwheel transplanter
- Watering in and planning irrigation schedule
- Labeling & record-keeping

Cultivation
- Monitor and prioritize weeding schedule
- Coordinate mechanical vs hand cultivation with Equipment Manager
- Implement hand cultivation with scuffle hoes, wheel hoe, hand-weeding

Harvest & wash and pack
- Collaborate with Head Farmer and Farm Stand Manager to calculate CSA & farm stand needs and plan weekly harvest
- Teach and practice proper harvest techniques and post-harvest handling/storage of a diverse array of vegetable crops
- Maintain standards of cleanliness for produce safety
- Teach and practice appropriate use of washing equipment (eg. greens spinner, root washer, spray table, dunk tanks)
- Attention to detail & quality control
- Coordinate packing vegetables for CSA & farm stand

Field fertility analysis and implementation of nutrient management plan
- Take soil samples for annual fertility tests
- Collaborate with Equipment Manager and Head Farmer to implement fertility management plan
- Research & recommend fertilizers, compost, and seasonal cover crops

Field pest management
- Scout and identify damage to crops
- Use floating row cover, fencing & other physical barriers to exclude pests
- Apply organic-approved pesticides when numbers exceed acceptable levels

Training, overseeing and motivating field crew
- Cultivate a culture of hard work, attention to detail, positive attitude and teamwork among field crew
- Train field crew in efficient, safe, industry standard practices for specific tasks
- Set a good example of excellent work ethic and attitude for crew
- Communicate expected/required roles of each individual on the farm, from the Head Farmer to the one-time-volunteer
- Communicate with Crew Leader to set work priorities and ensure follow-through
- Collaborate with co-managers on team-building activities (eg afterwork ice cream, swimming trips, morning meeting excercises, etc)
- Teach the wide-ranging skills of farming, from philosophy to nuts and bolts

Additional desired skills
- Trailer towing/backing
- Tractor experience
- Small engine operation (rototiller, weedwhacker, irrigation pump…)
- Mechanical trouble shooting & repair
- Carpentry
- Animal husbandry & processing
- Haying

Remuneration & Schedule; Vegetable Production Manager

Mid-April through Mid-November 2021

We are hiring for a single season, but for the right person this could be a year-round and multi-season position

Monday-Friday 8am-5:30pm
1 hour unpaid lunchbreak
Shared weekend chore coverage (1-2 weekends per month)
Flexibility: We try hard to respect your work-life balance and aim for a 40 hour work week. That said, farm work often has busy times (eg hay days, planting before a rain, harvest before a frost) offset by slower times (eg thunderstorms, shoulder seasons). We ask for your flexibility throughout the season and your understanding of this variability in work flow. We will try to give you reasonable advance notice when we need to deviate significantly from the regular work schedule, and to offset extra hours worked with extra hours off at a different time.
Personal days: Farming is fulfilling but also tiring work, and we don’t want you to burn out! We offer 3 unpaid personal days throughout the growing season, in addition to your regularly scheduled days off. You can use these for a holiday, a wedding, a trip, or just to sit in the grass and read a book! Please schedule your personal days with the Head Farmer at least 2 weeks in advance, and work with us to avoid particularly important farm work days.
Sick time: You will automatically accrue one hour of paid earned sick time for every 52 hours worked pursuant to Vermont’s Earned Sick Time Law. (21 VSA §§ 481-486)
Remuneration: $15.00/hour & Brimming Basket CSA Share
On-farm housing available as part of compensation.