Working on Tracie’s Community Farm, LLC:

About the Farm
and what we're looking for:
We are in our 14th year of diversified organic (not certified) vegetable production with a 300+ family summer CSA, 90 member fall CSA, and 20 member spring CSA, onsite farm-stand, farm store, and restaurant sales. Looking for hardworking, enthusiastic, self-motivated team players, serious about farming, with a positive attitude, stamina to work 10+ hour days, move 50# bags, while having a good time for our Assistant Farm Manager and Field Crew positions. Knowledge of equipment repair, chainsaw, and carpentry skills as well as a desire for long-term employment on the farm a plus. We provide long term employment opportunities, hourly pay, potential housing, and healthy, hearty lunches Monday through Friday.

Location:
Tracie’s Community Farm is located in the Monadnock region of NH, on 33 acres most of which is prime agriculture soil, classified as Becket fine sandy loam. We are 20 minutes from Keene, 40 minutes from Brattleboro VT and Northfield MA. We are 5 minutes from a beautiful lake where we go for swimming breaks on hot days, 10 minutes from Mt. Monadnock and many other great hikes in the area. We have a great community, with 3-4 seasonal potlucks with live music and bonfires, many great contra dances in the area and other fun gatherings like pizza night at Orchard Hill where we get our sourdough bread.

Hours:
April through September-we start at 7 a.m. and work till 5:30 p.m. (sometimes later when we are in a pinch but it is your option whether you want to or not). October we start at 8 a.m. and work till 5 p.m. November we need 2 employees to work on Fridays starting at 9 a.m. and work till 5 p.m, and 1-2 employees to work 2 other days during the week.

We provide lunch Mon-Friday, with the crew taking turns making lunch. We aim for lunch to be 11:30 a.m.-12 noon.

Educational Opportunities:
You’ll be learning all aspects of farming from greenhouse work, planting, cultivation, harvesting, washing, packing, to managing crews. You’ll receive our seeding, planting and maintenance schedules at the beginning of the season so you can be a part of the bigger picture. You will have access to the crop log where everyone records what they’ve done for the day and how long it took under each crop they work on. We have lots of farm related books that we are happy to lend out while you are here, as well as opportunities to visit other farms in the area through on farm tour visits.

2012 Growing Season

Field Crew: We have 1-2 open positions for the 2012 season.-(1-2 can start in early May and go back to school in September) You’ll learn all aspects of growing vegetables on 5 acres using intense methods for our 300+ family CSA. Those considering a commitment of 2 or more seasons and/or can stay through late October/November are preferred though we realize this is not always possible. Dedication, self-motivation, work ethic and a good attitude are necessary. Compensation includes food, hourly pay, farm produce, healthy hearty lunches Mon-Friday, and a great opportunity to get hands-on experience farming. Housing is available if needed.

In the past many students have used their farm experience to get field study/practicum school credits to create farm based educational programs for children, performed research projects, and helped the farm to find and write grants. This experience has enabled past employees to go on to work on farm based education programs, manage at other farms, run their own farms or given them the knowledge and confidence to garden on their own.

Assistant Farm Manager Position: Filled for the 2012 Season

This position recquires staying on full-time through at least mid October. Preference is given to those who've worked on the farm in previous seasons and shown potential for management. We also prefer those who are interested in a long-term position with opportunity for advancement. The position requires experience in vegetable production, organic preferred, fieldwork, communication, and crew supervision/management (or ability to do so). Dedication, self-motivation, work ethic and a good attitude are also necessary. Compensation includes hourly pay, farm produce, healthy hearty lunches Mon-Friday, and a great opportunity to increase your knowledge and experience. Housing is available if needed.

Include the following information in your resume/cover letter:

• Relevant past work experience, detailing duties and responsibilities
  
• Applicable past leadership responsibilities
• Farming and/or gardening goals
• Physical ability to do the work
• Mechanical, equipment repair, carpentry, chainsaw ability
• Availability and interest in future years
• 2-3 work references, including previous employer, and any farm-related work references
• If you are interested in a position with housing options, please specify and include 2 living references
• Personal references welcome as well

Volunteers are always welcome to come out to lend a hand. The work could not get done without many hands being involved. There is always so much to do and not enough time, so your time and efforts are always much appreciated and you will leave feeling like you got a lot accomplished. We’re always sure to send you away with vegetables to bring home. Be sure to set up a time beforehand so we can be in the right field to meet you when you come out. You can get directions from the directions link.

After we receive your application, we’ll give interviews to qualified candidates. As part of the interview process, we'd like for you to visit the farm and work with us for a little while. After the interview or visit, if we'd like you to work, we’ll offer you the position and figure out the starting date.

Send your application to:

farmertracie@hotmail.com

(or)

Tracie Smith
72 Jaffrey Rd.
Fitwilliam NH 03447