As Assistant Garden Manager, you’ll help manage day-to-day operations of our 1.5-acre, intensively managed market garden. From planting to harvest to greenhouse work and wash/pack, you’ll gain experience in all aspects of diversified organic-regenerative vegetable farming. You’ll be working closely with the Farm Owner/Manager, Chuck Schembre, gaining mentorship and learning regenerative, organic systems firsthand, and contributing to advancing the production methods for the high desert.
At first, the position will play a big role in farm and site development. The farm currently has decent infrastructure, with two climate-controlled greenhouses for high value crops, one propagation greenhouse, small wash station, walk in cooler, and storage. However, there is a lot more to develop. The farm will strive to turn this site into a productive oasis, integrating permaculture techniques within a production scale. The goal is to expand the 1.5 acre, which may include larger vegetable production, orchard and vineyard, and small livestock. At first, this position will be focused on developing the vegetable garden production at both a tractor and hand-scale hybrid approach.
Responsibilities May Include:
Assist in all areas of small scale, intensive vegetable production. May include bed preparation, seeding, transplanting, cultivation, irrigation, harvest, wash and pack.
Greenhouse management
Execute harvest and post-harvest handling with care & cleanliness. Following food safety requirements.
Monitor crop health and help manage pests and fertility
Maintain tools, infrastructure, and farm systems
Operate farm equipment, including tractors, skid steer, walk behind tractors. If you have no experience, training will be no problem.
Basic record keeping
Delivery of products to chefs, restaurants, grocery stores, and potentially other markets.
Ability to work with no supervision and get the job done. Enjoys having lots of autonomy, while understanding how to execute the plan.
Strong communication, requiring prompt remote communication during work hours. The owner/manager may not be on site for days at a time during the start up phase, therefore this individual will hold an important level of responsibility.
Oversee interns and other farm workers. At first, this position will not have any personal management responsibilities other than helping to direct workers at times.