BC jobs, Organic vegetable farming

Hiring: Organic Farm Field Crew (2-3 openings)
Farm: Rootdown Organic Farm
Location: near Pemberton/ Pemberton Meadows & Whistler, BC

HOUSING

We have limited off-farm staff accommodation available at very reasonable rates, which is available on a first come, first serve basis to staff who commit to a position with Rootdown.

ABOUT ROOTDOWN FARM

Rootdown Organic Farm is located on the traditional territory of the Lil'wat people, in the Pemberton Valley, and has been in operation since 2009. We are a small scale, diverse, mixed vegetable operation, which is woman owned and operated. Using a mix of small tractors/cultivating equipment, and hand tools, we grow, harvest, and sell 30+ different crops on about 5 acres each season. We sell all our produce in the communities of Pemberton and Whistler through sales to local restaurants, grocery stores, and direct to families through a CSA Harvest Box Program. We love doing the work of growing healthy food for folks, and aim to contribute to a better, more resilient world through the work of farming.

The farm is located in a rural farming valley outside of the village of Pemberton, with one farm site being 12 km from town (and any ammenities and most housing). Please consider this when applying. A reliable vehicle or bike (and healthy appetite for biking in all weather) is necessary.

SOME OF OUR CORE VALUES (In no particular order)

• We value feeding the community. We really care about feeding local folks healthy, delicious, local food. This includes ourselves and our team! We eat well at Rootdown.
• We value teamwork and fun. We think working hard as part of a team to accomplish common goals is fun (even when working independently on a project). We enjoy sharing good conversation, camaraderie, and laughter along the way.
• We value taking good care of each other. We aim to create a positive, respectful and kind workplace and business, and look for team members who demonstrate respect and understanding for themselves, their coworkers, and the farm as a whole.
• We value taking good care of the land. We are always striving to be better and better stewards of the land we grow on and the ecosystems we are a part of.
• We value being a production focused farm. We fill a need in our local food system! As such, we are serious about producing serious amounts of food efficiently (and having fun while doing it!).
• We value small scale, organic farming! We think this type of farming is part of the solution to some complex, global problems, both environmental and social. We are so honoured to be part of the organic farming community.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for 2-3 more full time folks to join us for 2025. We will be a team of about 8-9 folks, including farm management this season.

We have fun working hard at Rootdown! Mixed vegetable farming requires physical work in diverse environmental conditions, including rain, heat, bugs, cold, and mud. We do our best to work around the conditions when possible, but our daily and weekly tasks need to be completed no matter the weather. You should bring a sense of humour, appropriate gear for the conditions (i.e. sunhat, rain gear, sunscreen, etc.), and a committment to the work at hand to the job!

At this scale, the work of farming is both varied and repetitive. There is a lot of variety over the course of the season, but repetitive tasks can also be expected at times. At peak season (July, August, September) our work falls into a cyclical weekly rhythm.

Working at Rootdown you will be a part of many tasks involved in the work of growing mixed vegetables, both in the field and in the greenhouse. All staff will complete some combination of seeding, weeding, pruning or trellising plants, harvesting, washing, packing of vegetables, and other varied farm tasks. Some staff (if appropriate experience and interest) may also partake in mechanical cultivation/tractor work and farm produce deliveries.

There is room for folks to step into more leadership and responsibility with demonstrated skill development, maturity, and intitiative, or for staff who come back for subsequent seasons. This is especially relevent if you have farm experience and/or tractor experience.

HOURS/COMPENSATION

• Start dates range from April/beginning of May and positions go until either end of August or mid-late October
• Full time hours are approximately 40 hrs/week through the growing season
• Wage is $20-$23/hour for first year staff at Rootdown, depending on experience
• Staff get near unlimited access to veggies for their own consumption - excess and b-grades are readily available, and staff are usually welcome to harvest their own produce (for personal use) from the fields on their own time as well
• An end-of-season bonus is paid out to staff who complete their agreed upon work contract. This is calculated at $0.25 per hour worked and is paid out in a lump sum at the end of the contract.
• For staff who want to learn about farming, we are happy to share the how's and why's of what we do - many former staff have gone on to run their own farms.

DESIRED SKILLS/QUALITIES

We are looking for folks who:

• Are hard working, respecful, kind, and engaged in the world around them
• Are physically fit - able to work in the elements and bend/squat/kneel, and repeatedly lift 30-40 lbs
• Have reliable transportation (car or bike) to get to/from work, and/or into town for supplies
• Are committed to good care of self and others
• Are committed to working through any difficulties that may arise through communication and dialogue
• Have mixed vegetable farming experience (a strong asset but not necessary)
• Have experience in other fast paced industries - such as the restaurant industry (kitchen or front of house), tree planting, landscaping, or house cleaning
• Want to do the work of small scale farming and all it entails
• Want to enjoy being at their job, and who will bring their best selves to the fields!
• Are legally able to work in Canada (or will be by the start of the work term)

TO APPLY

We encourage all interested applicants to apply! To apply send your application to the farm's manager, Ariella, at admin@rootdownfarm.net . Please include the following:

• A resume highlighting your relevant work/life experience
• A cover letter/email detailing the following:
  • Why you want to farm/work at Rootdown
  • Your availability for work - preferred start and end dates and any restrictions on days of the week
  • If you are looking for full or part time work (please note, full time is preferred)
  • What your transportation plan for getting to/from work is
  • If you are interested in staff housing
  • If you are okay to look for your own housing in the area if staff housing is taken or not suitable for your needs
• 2-3 references

Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.

Applications will be considered as they are received until all positions are filled with suitable folks.

We look forward to hearing from you!
- Simone and Ariella