Farm Crew Leader Job in Maryland

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Farm Crew Leader Job at Flying Plow Farm in Maryland – 2019

The Farm

Flying Plow is a diverse, 56 acre, certified organic farm in Cecil County, MD just a mile outside of “downtown” Rising Sun. Our primary focus is vegetable production for our 200 member CSA and 4 farmers markets. We also do a small amount of wholesaling to a few local restaurants. Most of our working hours are spent around the vegetables, planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, packing, selling, etc.

We currently grow using a bio-extensive vegetable farming method. We have 13 acres in vegetable production with 6.5 acres in cash crops during the season and the remainder in cover crops and bare fallows. Cover crops play a large role on the farm as does our season extension into the late fall and winter with hardy vegetables, caterpillar tunnels, and high tunnels.

Although vegetables make up the bulk of our farming time and our income, we do have quite a large livestock presence. We keep 3 draft horses to help with vegetable tillage, cultivation, and farm chores. During the year we have 150 to 300 layers on the farm, and during the spring and fall we raise several batches of pastured broiler chickens. Finally, we have a small grass-based beef herd and a few pigs here and there throughout the season.

The Community

Our farm sits in the middle of a rural farming community. We rub elbows with grain and beef farmers, grass-based sheep and hay farmers, dairy and cheese producers, and Amish vegetable farmers. During the growing season the farmers in our community often times help each other to get work done, be it by lending equipment or a hand.

We donate produce to several community groups and members who then cook and distribute meals to those in need. Members of the local Catholic parish take produce and cook for homeless veterans weekly during the summer. A friend of the farm takes lots of left over greens and makes traditional Korean meals for elderly friends in her church. We donate food to the local Presbyterian church for their twice month free lunches.

The town of Rising Sun is less than a mile away. There is a locally-owned, independent coffee shop in town, a small diner, a grocery store, music shop, and small theatre. We are 25 minutes from Newark, Delaware, a college town that boasts several restaurants and a great food co-op.

Nearby is Fair Hill State Park, Elk Neck State Park, and Susquehanna State Park, all with great biking, hiking, horse riding, and paddling opportunities.

Farm Crew Leader Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Ensures all work meets farm’s quality standards, certified organic standards, and food safety standards
  • Keeps a big picture mentality; has the end in mind when doing the task at hand
  • Maintains an understanding of the ideals, vision, and tone of the farm
• Crew Leadership
  • Leads, communicates, and delegates tasks to the farm crew
  • Maintains monthly ‘time-trial’ records for crew members
  • Motivates crew members to work at an effective pace
  • Minimizes transition times between tasks and maintains work flow
  • Coaches the farm team to improve upon work technique, body position, and hand dexterity in order to work faster for the greater good of the farm and farm team
• Production Leadership
  • Maintains a knowledge of the farm’s Crop Plan, Sowing Schedule, and Harvest Manual
  • Leads the crew in all aspects of production work, including but not limited to
    • greenhouse seeding and maintenance
    • high tunnel weed control, bed renovation
    • application of row covers, stakes, mulches, and trellises
    • transplanting of vegetables
    • installation of drip lines and headers
    • hoeing and weeding
  • Harvest & Pack Leadership
    • Maintains accurate harvest/distribution lists and records for CSA, wholesale, and markets
    • Maintains a neatly organized and cleanly harvest, packing, and storage environment
    • Leads the daily harvest and packing tasks with the farm crew
  • Distribution, Sales, & Marketing Leadership
    • Maintains organized storage of vegetables, meats, and eggs
    • Works to continually improve CSA, market, and sales displays
    • Staffs CSA pickup, farmers market, and/or farm store
  • Livestock Responsibilities
    • Develops an understanding of the farm’s grass based livestock approach
    • Maintains and improves upon a humane, cleanly and organized livestock environment
    • Participates in livestock care as needed
      • Feeding, watering, and moving layer and broiler chickens
      • Collecting, washing, and packing eggs
      • Feeding and handling horses
      • Cleaning and maintaining horse stalls
      • Feeding and water pigs

Farm Crew Leader Job Minor Responsibilities

• Assist with farm maintenance tasks like mowing and weedwacking
• Assist with making hay and straw

Farm Crew Leader Job Requirements

• 3+ years of experience on for-profit vegetable farms
• 1+ years of experience in a leadership role on for-profit vegetable farms
• Passionate and motivated by the opportunity to work on a diversified production oriented farm
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Ability to make informed and accurate decisions and work productively under pressure
• Strong understanding of the ideals, vision, and tone of the farm
• Proven ability to lead and motivate farm crews
• Ability to repeatedly lift and carry 50 pounds; ability to crouch, squat, and bend for long periods of time in all types of weather
• Sense of humor and strong sense of perspective
• Valid driver’s license
• Make a 2 year commitment to the farm

Farm Crew Leader Job Timeframe

• This is a year-round position with total hours averaging out to about 40 hours per week over a 12 month period.

Farm Crew Leader Job Compensation

Hourly pay rate of $10.10 to $15.10 per hour based on prior experience and our assessment of your skill level.

We allow five personal days during the main growing season.

Housing is available for rent.

You are welcome to all the veggies you can eat, but we ask that you pay for meat and eggs if interested.

Hands-on education in the growing of four season produce, animal husbandry, business management, and sales management is available. Hands-on opportunities exist to become skilled in the use of tractors and/or horses for those who express and show a passionate interest. Continuing education opportunities exist with Tri-State CRAFT, Future Harvest – CASA, and PASA.

How to Apply for the Farm Crew Leader Job

Serious applicants should have a demonstrated interest and passion for small scale, diversified farming. When applying email a cover letter telling us how you became interested in farming and what steps you have taken to advance your interests. Ideal candidates should also supply a resume that shows their experience in farming. Send emails to flyingplowfarm@gmail.com with the job title in the subject.

Flying Plow Farm

Sarah Rider & Tom Paduano

96 Charles Johnson Farm Lane, Rising Sun, MD 21911

443-686-9786 || flyingplow.com

 

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