Farm Manager Apprentice Position in Alaska

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Farm Manager Apprentice Position at Talkeetna Grown & Birch Creek Ranch in Alaska – 2020

Birch Creek Ranch is a diversified produce, flower, and berry farm located in Talkeetna, Alaska.  Its mission is to provide area residents and restaurants with flower and vegetable starts in spring continuing into the season with fresh, sustainably grown produce, while maintaining the agricultural and rural value of the farm property. 

ABOUT THE FARM: The farm currently consists of 2 ½ acres of fully-irrigated fields used for vegetables, three 20’ x 96’ heated greenhouses, three 30 x 96’ hoop-houses, a small barn, a shop, house, and several storage structures.  Equipment includes a Kubota L5100 utility & tillage tractor and others including hay equipment.  There are an additional 100 acres of cleared land on the farm, currently fallow hay fields for future expansion potential.  Since 2010 we have farmed using only organic practices for vegetable production.  Production of flower starts remains non-organic, however best practices are used including separated greenhouses and organic pesticide use. As a semi-remote off-grid farm, we employ a variety of northern latitude growing methods to create an extended season.

FARM MANAGER APPRENTICE POSITION OPENING: We are seeking an energetic, organized Apprentice Farm Manager/Vegetable Production Lead to oversee and run vegetable production operations.  Wage is based on previous experience and includes on-farm housing rental.  End of season performance-based bonus offered. The apprentice participates in all aspects of growing and marketing vegetables at Birch Creek Ranch.  He/she will work directly with owners as well as work independently and may sometimes manage a small crew of workers or volunteers including training, supervision, oversight and discipline.

FARM MANAGER APPRENTICE DUTIES –  including but are not limited to: 

• Maintaining the crop plan with input from the Owner/Manager.
• Soliciting, training, and managing farm volunteers and laborers.
• Starting and caring for seedlings and transplanting for retail sales or field planting.
• Field planting and weeding with various means including tractor driven water wheel planter and rototiller.
• Overseeing watering and irrigation of field, greenhouse, and tunnel crops.
• Equipment maintenance and mechanics.
• Managing weeds, pests and disease with sustainable and organic methods.
• Managing harvests for CSA, restaurant deliveries, and retail sales at Farm Stands.
• Supervising produce quality control from harvest through storage and packing for market.
• Able to plan ahead– Are you good at seeing the bigger picture, can you look ahead during a task, anticipate the next step so time isn’t lost in getting more supplies or changing jobs?
• Consistent communication with owners, CSA members, local chefs and other customers.
• Possible participation in value added product production.
• Participate in community events, including farm to table dinners, farm tours, youth education, and other farm events.

REQUIREMENTS: Minimum 1 year of farm work with increasing responsibility and diversity of duties with CSA and Market experience is desired.  Future advancement to permanent seasonal Farm Manager possible. Must be able to make a minimum commitment of April 15 – October 1. Specific skills and character will be considered.

DESIRED SKILLS including but not limited to:

• Demonstrates passion for sustainable/organic agriculture.
• Ability to maintain a professional and positive attitude
• Self motivated and able to maintain a fast pace of work for a whole day, many days in a row.
• Ability to follow directions, ask questions and pursue follow up with owners.
• Strong attention to detail and organization.
• Enjoy working outside with plants, produce and people.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Must be able to work independently as well as in a team setting.
• Ability to work under challenging ergonomic conditions, including frequent crouching, bending and kneeling.
• Ability to regularly lift loads of 50 pounds or more.
• Must be able to work outside in all weather conditions.
• Communicate — You cannot be afraid to ask questions if you do not understand what needs to be done. It is important to tell us if a job doesn’t get finished, if something went wrong, or if you are not sure if something is correct. It is also important to communicate if you are unhappy. We cannot try to fix what we don’t know about.
• POSITIVE ATTITUDE — perhaps the most important quality. We recognize that employees will not necessarily arrive with all the skills that they need to be superheros, but a good attitude sure can help. When you try your best and are willing to listen and learn, it makes all the difference. Believe it or not, we like to have fun while we work.
• A sense of humor and appreciation of the absurd. Farming here is often an absurd attempt of the insane.
• We encourage you to be an advocate for your learning while understanding the overall balance of life on a working farm. We are happy to work with you to identify and build specific skills and areas of knowledge while you are here, but you need to realize we are a business and can’t just loose our asses in this endevour.
• If you come with experience from other farms we ask that you recognize that every farm is different, and that you learn how tasks are done here before attempting to change them. That being said, we always welcome questions and suggestions for improvements … if only for our amusement.
• Must have current drivers license and good driving record.
• Must not have substance or alcohol abuse or dependency issues. Tobacco use is prohibited.
• Must provide personal and professional references.

TO APPLY: To get a feel for our northern farm operation please visit www.talkeetnafarm.com and facebook.com/birchcreektalkeetnagrown. Serious applicants should send cover letter, resume and references to brian@talkeetnafarm.com.

 

• Learn more about farming and food jobs, internships, and apprenticeships, and learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org by going to https://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/