Oregon CSA Hiring Farm Manager or Intern

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High Wire Farm is an Oregon CSA hiring a farm manager or intern for the 2016 season.

Duration: Full season (April-November) or Year round (optional)

Beginning: No later than April 1st, 2016

Prefered Qualifications:
Farm Manager: Minimum 2 years experience interning or working on small-scale organic operation. Knowledge of drip irrigation application, hand weeding techniques, greenhouse management, seeding, transplanting, harvest and postharvest handling of produce, farmers market booth operation, and basic knowledge of tools and small machinery. Farm hands/interns are not expected to have experience in all of the above areas, and will be learning these in exchange for labor with possible weekly stipend, depending on experience.

Responsibilities:
Working in conjunction with farm owner and other paid farm workers/interns on projects such as building and maintaining infrastructure, fences, outbuildings, and irrigation lines, as well as all field related work. Farm managers responsible for overseeing interns, WOOFers, and work traders in farm tasks when necessary. Assist in keeping organized farm records. Attend and vend at farmers markets, deliver products to direct sale accounts such as restaurants and institutions, as well as CSA member drop sites.

Other Requirements:
Must live on site in provided housing. Available to work 5 days per week, 40-50 hours total per week. Must have valid driver’s license and ability to drive a manual transmission vehicle. Must have own transportation.

Compensation:
Farm manager or farm hands will receive lodging on the farm, food from farm, as well as a weekly stipend during growing season (amount depending on experience.) First-year interns will receive all but the stipend, assuming that the educational experience and lodging will compensate for labor.

Time off:
Any additional days off must be cleared at least one week in advance. Vacation is limited to times during the season that will permit absence, depend upon other available help, and be limited to 7 days in duration.

A little about High Wire Farm:
We are a 3 acre family vegetable and fruit farm located in the southern Willamette Valley of Oregon, 10 miles outside of Cottage Grove. We grow organically but are not currently certified. We serve a 30 member CSA, 2 farmers markets, a local farmstand, online sales, and direct sales to individuals and businesses. We are in the planning process of expanding our operations, planting perennials berries and fruit trees, installing new infrastructure, and constructing new housing for interns and farmhands. This is a particularly exciting time to be involved here at the farm, as we will be working with a few nationally renown natural building/permaculture institutions to create naturally constructed buildings and an overall farm plan, utilizing permaculture techniques and practices to ensure long-term sustainability and diversity. We are also beginning a shift to raised, semi-permanent beds for all annual row crops, with the goal of maximizing soil health by limiting soil disturbance/compaction associated with standard tillage practices, as well as minimizing outside inputs such as fertilizers. We are working with the NRCS’s EQIP cost share program to begin the process of assessing overall soil health, plant perennials, as well as developing pasture to begin utilizing animals as part of creating a closed-loop farm fertility system. There are many opportunities for learning and expanding knowledge of overall farm management, even for those with previous experience. Special projects that augment the overall productivity and diversity of the farm economics are encouraged.

Application Process:
Please include resume when applicable, and a short description of who you are and why you’re interested in a position here. Positions will be filled by early Spring, so prompt response is necessary. We look forward to hearing back from all interested applicants!