OTTAWA-GATINEAU-WAKEFIELD JOBS

Hiring: Field Crew on Organic Vegetable Farm
Farm: Juniper Farm

Location: near Wakefield, Quebec (30 mins north of Ottawa-Gatineau)
Housing: If you require living accommodations for the season please include this information in your application. On-site accommodations are available.

About the Farm:

Started in 2005, Juniper Farm is nestled into the Gatineau hills on a 200-acre property in beautiful Wakefield, Quebec, growing a diversity of vegetables on a 5-acre rotation using organic and biodynamic methods; the farm also produces fermented foods and some prepared foods from our commercial kitchen. Production is accomplished through manual labor with support from two tractors. The farm sells its produce to many local restaurants in the Ottawa/Gatineau region, numerous retailers, private orders, as well as through both on-site and online farm stores. As an active member of the thriving local community the farm occasionally hosts events such as dinners, workshops, and festivals.

Role & Responsibilities:

We are seeking individuals to be part of our field crew and perform supporting roles in all of our field operations. This position would be working directly with and taking direction from the Field Manager(s). Some of the positions would start earlier and support the greenhouse needs of the farm, then the position would transition from full-time in the greenhouse to more time in the field as the season progresses. Some positions would start primariliy as field crew. Tasks for the position include but are not limited to:

• Preparing greenhouse trays for planting
• Sowing seeds in the greenhouse
• Seedling maintenance (watering, pest management)
• Maintaining the cleanliness and function of the work environment
• Reporting any issues to the manager responsible
• Weeding
• Transplanting
• Harvesting
• Crop maintenance
• Closing and cleaning fields at the end of the season

This is a full-time position (40 hrs a week) from April to October with working hours changing through the course of the season based on weather conditions, daylight levels, and work loads. The typical day starts at 7h00 and ends at 16h00 but depending on the time of season we will shift the workday slightly earlier or later.

This position is paid an hourly wage based on the candidate’s prior farm experience in addition to the benefits afforded to all farm staff including a 25% employee discount at the farm store, access to fresh harvest from the fields as well as non-marketable produce, and inclusion in weekly communal lunches.

Sick days and time off are unpaid. Holidays are worked but paid out in accordance with the normes du travail.

About You

Ideal candidates identify with having the following qualities and traits:

• Possessing a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and diligence
• A minimum of one year’s prior experience in agriculture (asset)
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team,
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Attentive to details and can follow written or verbal instruction,
• Punctual
• Understand the basic economics of production-based work,
• Able and willing to perform physical work in all weather conditions,
• Comfortable lifting heavy loads (eg: 50 pounds),
• Flexible and willing to learn new things
• Interested in or moving towards a career in agriculture
• Must be able to commit to completing the farm season

A valid driver's license and some form of first aid training are assets as well but not required.

If interested in this position, please send your resume and a cover letter explaining why you would make a good fit for the role to info@juniperfarm.ca

Please indicate you saw this posting at FoodWork.

We will be reviewing applications starting in December 2022 and will be contacting interested candidates starting in January 2023.