Position: Organic Vegetable Farmer
Farm: BeetBox Co-operative Farm - (https://beetbox.ca/)
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Term: Start of April to end of October with possibility of extension until the end of November, 3-4 days/week
BeetBox is looking for a committed worker and potential future co-op member to join our small team of young, enthusiastic organic vegetable farmers this 2022 growing season! Come work hard doing something good in a beautiful setting close to home - we’re only 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa!
About Us:
Okay, so… we consider ourselves cool or at least we think so :), but we still wrote one of these fluffy Purpose, Mission, Vision statements. Here it is!
PURPOSE OF BEETBOX:
The purpose of BeetBox is to contribute to driving a cultural shift towards sustainable food production, consumption, and democratic ownership.
MISSION OF BEETBOX:
- Produce agricultural and food products organically
- Sell products locally
- Provide fair employment in farming
- Provide co-op ownership and housing opportunities to workers, and
- Provide opportunities for our community to engage with our activities and the land we steward.
VISION OF BEETBOX:
A world where humans participate harmoniously in our local ecosystems by enjoying the process of feeding ourselves sustainably.
CULTURE OF BEETBOX:
BeetBox looks to create a culture where workers and customers alike find themselves smiling more than frowning. We aim to support each other for mutual achievements. We strive for open, transparent communication among the team. We deeply respect each other, ourselves, and the land. We build community, we smash racist colonial patriarchy, and we have fun!
ABOUT THE JOB:
Tasks:
- All of the steps of organic vegetable production including but not limited to:
- Harvesting, washing, and packing vegetables.
- Planting, weeding, pruning, trellising and irrigating crops in the field and greenhouses.
- Set up of the farm store
- Volunteer management / supervision
- Friendly interaction with our customers during CSA pick-up and store hours
- Property and equipment maintenance, fixing stuff
- Other varied tasks around the farm as appropriate
Schedule and Remuneration:
- Start of April until the end of October
- 3-4 weekdays / week (24-32 hours), Thursdays and Fridays required
- Occasional weekend/evening work may be required
- 8:00 - 5:00 April-May, 7:00 - 4:00 June-October
- $15.50/h
Requirements:
- Good attitude, enthusiasm and sense of humour!
- Experience in farming or other outdoor physical work is an asset
- Happy working solo or in a team
- Good physical fitness and stamina - lots of bending, crouching, and lifting required
- Ability to do repetitive tasks quickly and precisely
- Resilience to working in all weather conditions
- Clear and concise communication skills
- Creative problem solving skills
- Willingness to adapt to change in a dynamic environment
- Keenness to improve efficiency in all our systems and processes
- Bilingualism is an asset
Preference given to:
- Interest in future co-op membership
- Experience marketing vegetables or other products
- Someone with social media skills
- Store and re-sale products management
Benefits:
- Our farm is surrounded by forest, right beside the Ottawa river, in Ottawa’s Greenbelt between Nepean and Kanata North
- Learn how to grow food with and for your community
- Stay in shape without going to the gym
- We’ll definitely have extra fresh produce to share with you, the equivalent of approx. one small weekly basket
- Opportunity for future employment beyond the 2021 season and increased involvement in the co-operative
- Eligibility to become a member of the co-op (farm co-owner) following one season of employment
- Housing opportunities available
How to apply:
If the above appeals to you and you’d like to be part of the amazing 2022 Beetbox team, please send your resume with a brief introduction/cover letter email to csa-asc@beetbox.ca by January 15th and we’ll get back to candidates of interest with the next steps!