Organic fruit & veggie farming

Hiring: Organic farming 2025
Farm: Fair Fields

Location: near Neustadt, Grey County, Ontario
Housing: we have some on-farm housing; please enquire in your application

We are looking for 3 main positions and also have space for some strawberry pickers for the 2025 season. Though no longer certified, we grow organically on a small scale and market directly to consumers, farms and stores in Grey County. We have some on farm housing and are open to exploring more flexible arrangements including incubating other small farm businesses.

Positions:

1. Full season Full-time Farm Worker – Mid-April through September, with possibility for extension through October. Unlike the other two positions, starts at $20/hr.
2. Full season Part-Time Farm Worker – Mid-April through September, start at $18.50/hr.
3. Peak season Full-Time Farm Worker – Mid-May though August, starts at $18.50/hr.

(Wage is negotiable if applicant has enough relevant experience)

Location: At our farm, Fair Fields, near Neustadt, Grey County, Ontario. We run a small-scale fruit and vegetable operation specializing in u-pick, retail and wholesale of asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries and sweet corn. We are also slowly planting out raspberries and haskaps, though production is still small.

Vacation and time-off: One week vacation (5 days) will be provided during this time (unpaid). It can be taken all at once or as individual days, anytime during the duration of the position, with the exception of the 3 weeks of peak strawberry production.

Eligibility: Applicants must:

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred;
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number and be legally entitled to work in Canada; and,
• Be physically fit and able to occasionally lift 50 lbs.

Job Responsibilities:

• Plant, weed, fertilize, mulch, irrigate and harvest asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries and sweet corn
• Seed and maintain corn transplants in greenhouse
• Help with construction projects, including ongoing barn renovations
• Maintain and mow under pasture fencing and sweet corn fencing
• Secure and move silage tarps and landscape fabric
• Supervise strawberry u-pick
• Make hay and straw
• Plant and maintain cover crops
• Contribute to content and post material to social media and our website (if applicable)
• Supervise volunteer labour and work independently and as part of a team
• Feed and move draft horses

This is an inclusive and welcoming workspace and we don’t tolerate harassment or discrimination at Fair Fields. To read about our hiring and management practices follow this link: https://fairfieldsorganics.ca/hiring-and-management-practices/

Health and safety are very important to us. We provide basic first aid supplies, personal protective equipment and equipment training, and encourage staff and volunteers to alert us to potential workplace hazards as well as specific personal health and safety needs.

To apply, send us an email to devanpenney@gmail.com with Subject "Employment 2025" and answer all of the following:

1) Your phone number and current address.
2) Are you between the ages of 18 and 30?

3) Which position are you applying for and do you have any other time commitments during the duration of the position?

4) Are you able to work weekends?

5) How do you like to stay fit? What kind of experience have you had with physical recreation?
6) List farming or any physical labour experience.
7) Are you available to come to the farm for an interview?
8) Do you have a current driver’s licence (what level if graduated licensing system)?

9) Do you have access to a vehicle for the season?
10) Are you a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person for whom refugee status has been confirmed (provide details)?

11) Do you require on-farm accommodation?
12) Why do you want to work at Fair Fields?

Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.

We will follow up with applicants for an interview and to discuss further details.