Organic veggie farming

Hiring: Farm crew members
Farm: Glorious Organics Coop

Location: Aldergrove, Lower Mainland / Fraser Valley BC
Housing: Self-contained cabins available to rent for full-season position. Rental spaces include basic amenities and access to shared outdoor kitchen, composting toilets, sauna and showers and access to 20 acres of outdoor/wild areas. Rent is $500 per month, everything included (i.e utilities, wifi, laundry). We are located approximately 50 minutes away from Vancouver and Bellingham (USA) — rural living close to the city. Please ask for more details if interested.

Desired start dates: April 15th to October 31st with the possibility for extension to mid November.

About Glorious Organics Coop:

Glorious Organics Coop is one of the first certified organic farms in the Fraser Valley and has been in operation since 1986 (as a cooperative since 2006). We celebrate that many of our prior staff have gone on to continue their own successful organic farming journeys with many coming back to us for multiple seasons!

We are cooperatively owned 3.5-acre, certified organic and salmon-safe farm in Aldergrove, BC (Fraser Valley). We grow a wide range of seasonal greens, vegetables, and fruits and we also produce seeds for sale through the BC Eco Seed Coop.

We grow beautiful and delicious food and we do so with respect for the land, water, and communities that surround us - this means that we practice sustainable agriculture techniques that foster healthy soil, water, and ecosystem health and we foster a team culture that values inclusivity, cooperation, fun, communication, and learning. 

Glorious Organics is committed to a zero tolerance policy on any discrimination, harassment or bullying regarding race, sex, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, beliefs, and socio-economic background. We actively uphold the right of every individual within our community to be treated with dignity and respect.

Job description:

In this position you will work outside, grow food, and deepen your knowledge and skills in small-scale organic vegetable farming.

Work Days/Hours:

• Tuesday-Saturday
• 40hr/week
• Start times vary from 7:00-9:00AM depending on daylight and anticipated temperatures/weather

All positions will work as part of a team, with leadership and guidance from experienced farmers, to accomplish daily/weekly tasks for field vegetable production, crop maintenance, harvesting, and packaging.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Bed preparation 
• Transplanting (by hand)
• Pruning and trellising poly-tunnel crops
• Weeding (by hand or with hand tools)
• Harvesting produce
• Cleaning, sorting, and packing produce with an eye for quality and consistency
• Arriving punctual and prepared to work
• Displaying good self-care 

Desired qualifications/skill set:

We love being farmers and our farm crew is an important and valued part of our team. We work hard to support a culture that includes learning, cooperation, respect and fun! Prior farming/gardening experience is great, but not necessary. We are looking for folks who:

• Have some experience with fast-paced work (e.g. kitchens, landscaping, tree planting)
• Have good attention to detail and/or systems to ensure consistency and quality in work tasks
• Are committed to a cultivating a healthy team culture 
• Have physical endurance (able to work standing, kneeling, bending, lifting repeatedly, some heavy lifting up to 20kg)
• Love for the outdoors with a willingness to work in all weather
• Have the ability to practice self-care (e.g. hydration, sun-smart, rest, stretching)
• Are committed to working for the entire farming season
• Love the idea of growing and eating organic food for yourself and others!
• Are legally able to work in Canada at the time of application.

Compensation and Perks:

We offer a wage at $20 - 23 (depending on experience) - plus 4% vacation pay with up to 5 paid sick days. We also provide (subsidized) extended health care coverage for all employees.

On-site perks: Access to free fruit and vegetables for your own consumption, learning library, fire-burning sauna, 20 acres of wild spaces, and rural community living! 

Considerations:

Applicants should consider the limited availability of public transit in Aldergrove/Langley. Access to a reliable car will make your life more enjoyable on the farm.

We highly recommend reviewing this guide to working on farms when considering farm work (with us or elsewhere!).

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should send a resume (including references) and cover letter (or a paragraph or two about why you’re interested in the position) to: work@gloriousorganics.com

Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.

You can also visit our website, gloriousorganics.com .

Qualified applicants will be contacted.