ORGANIC MARKET GARDEN 

Hiring: Mixed vegetable farm help 2023
Type: Skilled Farm Help & Apprentice Intern  
Farm: Foragers Farms

Location: near Cobourg ON
Housing: on-farm accommodation is available, see below

Our farm is a 3 acre mixed vegetable market garden on  40 acres of open hay/ pasture fields. Located in the rolling hills of Northumberland County, 10 minutes north of Port Hope and Cobourg and 1:15 East of Toronto. Over 50 acres of neighbouring forest allows for direct access to trails, rivers (cold water dips), a beaver pond and beautiful mixed conifer/ deciduous forest for leisure and recreation.  We are uncertificed organic but certified naturally grown.

We grow a diversity of vegetables, sprouts, flowers and herbs organically on our small scale farm using a variety of market gardening techniques, ideal for anyone who is interested in starting their own farm in the future or becoming knowledgable about how to grow successionally for consistency, quality and variety. Animals on the farm include 100 laying hens and our dog Yarrow as well as a diversity of wild life and soil life. This year we will be planning and laying out a fruit orchard for a fall/spring 2024 planting and will be planting 2300 trees native to Canada such as Spruce, White Pine, Maple and Oak. This will help our farm become more resilient by offering microclimates, shielding from harsh winds, habitat for other native plants/animal species, increasing bio diversity and trees help by preventing snow drifts allowing for more spring melt water capture. 

With many plans and an optimistic outlook on the future we present to you a new opportunity to join our team and community. In this moment we are offering 2 positions for our 2023 production. Both positions require dedicated and passionate individuals who: 

• Are motivated to and curious about regenerative and diversified farming
• Strong work ethic requiring grit and determination
• Good communication skills and a desire to become apart of a community
• Openness to learning and continuously improving farming practices and methods
• Committed to a personal practice that embodies health by way of nutrition, fitness and personal growth
• Is able to work outside in any weather condition
• Able to lift 40 lb bins, squat, walk and do repetitive tasks diligently 
• Is alert/ aware of their surroundings, knows the priorities of the day and is a trusted retainer of information focusing on details and patterns after a few weeks of training. 
• Experience working on a farm or at farmers markets is a plus

Over the span of the season we attend 3 farmers markets and have a CSA membership providing 100+ boxes of inseason vegetables. The variety of jobs on the farm changes with a seasonal focus on:

• Early Spring — plant propagation, garden bed preparation and planting 
• Late Spring — weeding, trellising, harvesting and irrigation, washing and packing 
• Summer — harvesting, curing, canning, successional planting 
• Fall — cover cropping, winter storage crops, building, landscaping, cleanup, recap 

Other responsibilities include: 

• Assist in the planning, planting, cultivation and harvesting of a diverse range of vegetables using regenerative and diversified farming practices
• Learn to operate and maintain farm equipment
• Available April to November and able to work some weekends during peak season 
• Participate in all aspects of farm maintenance and management
• Contribute to the overall success of the farm through hard work, determination and teamwork
• Moving chickens, feeding, collecting/ cleaning eggs, cleaning and maintaining the coop
• Attending (bi)weekly meetings 
• Going to farmers markets and setting up on farm market

The 2022 season was overall a success and without our amazing team it wouldn’t be possible. We enjoyed many communal meals together, sat around the fire and played music, hosted a variety of events and workshops and worked our asses off in hopes of a well feed community and time to hibernate in the winter.

We have 3 positions available for this 2023 season but only hiring for 2…

Position 1: Full Season Veggie Farmer 

• Late April to Early November
• Monday to Friday 
• 35-45 hours/ week
• $16-$20/ hr depending on experience  

Position 2: Part Season Veggie Farmer 

• Early June to Mid/Late October 
• Tuesday to Saturday
• 35-45 hours/ week 
• $16-$20/ hr depending on experience 

Position 3: Intern/apprentice

• 3-6 month stay
• Monday to Friday
• 35-40 hours/ week

Intern Description:

This position is open for people who have little to no experience and are looking for a broader scope of training and guidance. Our farm has hosted interns since we started 6 years ago and we strongly believe that if you’re someone interested in beginning their career as an organic market gardner at a high paced profitable farm, be it your own future farm or as a valued and productive team member of a farm in your community, this opportunity is key in developing your skills for a successful future. Working with our team of experienced farmers you will be joining us every step of the way, attending meetings, planning future projects, reviewing our standard operating procedures and planting plan, tending to livestock, doing accounting and payroll, marketing, set up and take down for farm markets, tours and events, buying a farm property and all things farm business related. You will be compensated with room+board+$200/wk stipend+training and mentorship+space for an experimental garden+ a CSA share/ community farm access and support the following year. Many more connections and opportunities can arise from this experience including access to farmland for your own agricultural enterprise. If this is something that interests you contact us through email below for more information. 

*Inquire about affordable on farm accommodations if needed! 

APPLY

If you’re feeling called to become part of our team we are exited to have you! But there are only 3 positions and usually more that 3 applicants. You’re all amazing and valuable humans and that will make it extra hard as it is each time we go through this process. Please connect with us by sending your resume and references to foragersfarms@gmail.com for us to review and consider you for the job! Please indicate you saw this posting at FoodWork. Good Luck! 

Life after Interning:

If intern expresses interest in coming back for year 2 we absolutely consider a second year intern with a pay raise based on demostrated ability. Future on farm projects by said intern are also possible if they see a gap in our offerings and want to start a business that is in line with our ethos. In the first year of being an intern you will be working alongside 1 full time employee, 2 part time employee, owner/farmer Tyler and farmers market staff.

Intern Testimonails:

All of our interns are like family. We had plans of doing biannual intern gatherings but COVID. Thankful to years of  amazing interns and knowing we can call on them in times of need and vice versa.