Farmers Market Assistant Job in SC

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Farmers Market Assistant Job at Wild Hope Farm in Chester, South Carolina – 2020

Wild Hope Farm is a sustainable farm in Chester, SC, using organic practices and permaculture design to grow fresh produce, flowers, and pasture raised laying hens. We are currently growing on 12 acres of certified organic production. The 220 acre property consists of greenhouses, walking trails, a 10-acre pond, and diversified natural areas. Our produce is sold through a 350 person farm share, to local chefs, wholesale to food distributors, at the Uptown Market in Charlotte, and at the Matthews Farmers Market. We host complementary on-farm events including retreats, weddings, farm-to-table dinners, and educational workshops to cultivate community and encourage people to learn about our farming practices.

We are seeking strong, efficiency-focused people with experience and passion who aspire to run their own farm some day or become managers at an existing farm. All employees are integral members of our small team at Wild Hope Farm. During the 8 month program you will get exposed to all aspects of organic farming and deepen your knowledge of our organic farming methods, produce and operations, beekeeping, season extension, cover cropping, no-till methods, compost heat extraction, pasture raised chickens, soil quality, harvesting and packing, customer delivery, and selling. You will become familiar with our modern equipment (see list on job description below) and be trained on usage.

FARMERS MARKET ASSISTANT JOB WORK SCHEDULE – early April through the end of November 2020

The work at Wild Hope Farm is seasonal and the length of the workday varies within the busy season. Employees work ~ 40-45 hrs over a 5 day work week. The pay for agricultural work at Wild Hope Farm is exempt from overtime pay.

Monday, Tuesday, Weds & Friday – 6:00 AM – 2:45 PM during summer and 7:00 AM – 3:45 in the early spring/fall (periodic break 15 minute breaks & 45 min lunch break). Saturdays 5:45 AM – 2:30 PM

MARKET RESPONSIBILITIES
With an expanding CSA program and busy market booth, the Matthews Farmers Market is a significant sales channel for the farm. The farmers market assistant is responsible for all aspects of running our booth at the farmers market and CSA drop-off from late April through November.

• Lead the planning, preparing and packing for the Farmers Market on Fridays
• Set-up and break-down of the market booth on Saturday
• Record keeping of market sales using the Square App
• Monday morning recap to team of market sales

DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to selling at the farmers market, we also do a CSA program. We are looking for someone who can deliver the CSA to the Charlotte Harris YMCA on Thursday afternoons. You will be responsible for driving the truck and trailer into Charlotte and interacting with our CSA members during the pick-up window from 4-6 pm on Thursdays.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, washing and storing of crops
• Tending our pasture raised chickens (moving fences, collecting eggs)
• Safe operation of tractors and other farm equipment
• Packing farm shares

QUALIFICATIONS

• People person – able to interact with farm share members and others who visit our booth
• Ability to stay calm in stressful situations like running the booth at peak hours (8-9:30 am) or dealing with a difficult customer
• Experience driving a truck and trailer (or willingness to learn)
• Experience in retail or food sales is a plus
• Experience with physical labor or intense outdoor activity – able to lift 50 lbs
• Ability to harvest efficiently and maintain the fast pace of a production farm with a positive attitude
• Ability to work in all types of weather (hot, rainy, and cold)
• Experience with tractor equipment and attachments
• Must have reliable transportation
• Curiosity, Sense of humor, Flexibility

EDUCATIONAL VALUE
Our program is a hands-on working/learning experience designed to move dedicated candidates towards farm management. We accept people from all backgrounds who want to explore agriculture as a career option.

Daily Meeting: The farm crew convenes every morning to clarify the day’s program and make alterations due to the weather and other events.

Orientation: During the first week we will conduct an orientation to go over safety policies, farm policies, and the location and names of buildings and equipment. We will review the farm calendar, begin to set vacation times, go over job responsibilities (household, animals, greenhouse, distribution, etc.) and start figuring out how to live in community together.

EQUIPMENT EXPOSURE
During your time at Wild Hope Farm, you will have an opportunity to learn how to drive the tractor and get experience using some of the following equipment/attachments:
John Deere 4720 and 2720 hydrostatic tractors, automated CSA delivery trailer, flail mower, disc harrow, bed shaper, drip tape applicator, roller crimper, PTO driven manure spreader, rotary mower, potato digger, chisel plow, and a three point hitch cultivation toolbar with sweeps, crescent hoes, spider wheels and S tines.

FARMERS MARKET ASSISTANT JOB BENEFITS

• Pay will vary based on experience
• Provided fresh produce from the farm
• Unparalleled learning opportunity of working under our experienced and innovative farm manager, Shawn Jadrnicek
• Opportunity to plan and host your own community event (e.g., workshop or farm-to-table event)

TIME OFF
The following guidelines on vacation and personal time assume an employment from early April through the end of November.

Vacations: Each employee is given one week paid vacation (5 days), which ideally will be taken at one time between July 1 and September 15. Vacation times will be scheduled at the beginning of the season, trying to take all needs into account.If you need to miss a market or two over the season, you will need to give Peanut a 2 week notice to coordinate another market lead.

Personal Time: It is expected that there will be some need during the season for every employee to take some personal time, whether for car repairs, doctor’s appointments, or other personal needs. Each employee may take up to 2 personal days each season. These personal days do not need to be taken as “full days.” It is expected that except for emergencies, a week’s notice will be given about the need for personal time.

Sick Time: When you’re sick, please don’t work. If health circumstances arise that cause you to miss more than 7 days of work during the season due to illness, there will need to be some discussion as to whether the position is the right situation for you at this time. Sick days that are not taken as the personal day will go unpaid.

PERSONNEL & GENERAL POLICIES
Safety Policies: We will review safety policies during the first week of orientation. All employees are required to follow safety policies at all times. Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal.

General Demeanor: It is expected that all employees be prompt, dressed appropriately for work, and professional in their attitude at work.

Tools and Work Clothes: The farm provides harvest knives and daily hand tools. They must be returned to the shed at the end of the day. Employees must provide any other desired tools or work clothes (pocket knives, rain boots, rain gear, hats, gloves).

Apply for the Farmers Market Assistant Job Today!
After you have read this description in its entirety, please send us one email only to katherine@wildhopefarm.com with:
1. Subject line: Farmers Market Assistant Application, (Your Name)
2. Cover letter detailing your interest in our program
3. Responses to the questionnaire below
4. Resume
5. Three references, work- or farm-related, with current phone numbers

If your qualifications meet our standards we will contact you to schedule an interview. Unfortunately we cannot reply to all applicants.

Questionnaire:
1. Why are you interested in Wild Hope Farm?
2. What previous experience are you bringing to this position and what do you feel you have to offer?
3. What practical skills do you hope to acquire?
4. What are your personal goals related to farming?
5. Do you have any prior injuries to back, knees, etc. that might limit your ability to do farm work?
6. Do you have any allergies or physical limitations that might affect your ability to live in a rural setting and do farm work?
7. Please tell us something interesting about yourself (hobbies, obsessions, talents, etc.)

If you are considered for the position, we require a 1-2 day working interview on the farm.

 

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