Organic Market Gardening

Hiring: Organic Market Garden Field Hand/Intern
Farm: Edwin County Farms
Also hiring: Team Lead

Location: Prince Edward County, Ontario
Accommodation: On-farm accommodation can be available at discounted rate.  We can accommodate individual applicants or couples.

• Type: $18.00/hour plus all the veggies you can eat
• Hours: 40-50 hours per week.
• Start date: As soon as possible. Season is April - November. Flexible / summer students are also welcome to apply. 
• Deadline: This posting will remain open until filled.

Are you passionate about organic farming, want to spend your summer in an idyllic farm setting in one of the country's premier food and wine destinations? Edwin County farms is hiring Field Hands/Interns to join our organic vegetable production operation. Edwin County Farms is an organically managed, regenerative farm located in beautiful Prince Edward County, Ontario. Our 700-acre farm includes a 2.5-acre market garden and seasonal greenhouse facility. Using primarily no-till and low-till methods we produce organically grown vegetables and cut flowers for local restaurants and our community. For the past 20 years, we have been raising certified organic beef, and practicing rotational grazing to help grow and improve our soils. Our large hardwood forest preserve also allows us to continue the age-old tradition of producing wood-fired maple syrup. Our small-batch syrup is sustainably produced and certified organic.

Edwin County Farms is affiliated with the newly restored Royal Hotel in Picton, Ontario, providing an array of organic produce, meat, etc. for the hotel's farm to table program. We also supply more than a dozen other local chefs and restaurants in one of Canada's premier wine regions. In addition we feed our community through local farmers’ markets, growing a diverse array of produce from April through to November.

Our mission is to produce the highest quality, naturally grown vegetables and flowers using organic and regenerative methods, to care for the land, nourish our community and provide a friendly and supportive environment and lifestyle for those who work and life on the farm. We have a work culture that strives to be inclusive, productive, efficient, organized, and fun! We work with other organic producers in the area to promote and foster sustainable and regenerative methods of growing. We continually strive to learn and improve our efforts to work with nature to grow healthy and delicious food.

Tasks:

Market Garden Field Hands will participate in all activities relating to the organic vegetable and potentially our cut flower production. Throughout the season daily tasks are diverse and may include a combination of but are not limited to:

• Seedling production work (making potting mix, seeding trays)
• Establishment & upkeep of crops (direct seeding, planting and weeding)
• Greenhouse pruning and maintenance
• Installation of field materials including caterpillar tunnels, geotextiles, row covers, irrigation
• Vegetable harvest (possibly some flower harvest as well)
• Post-harvest operations: washing, sorting, weighing, bagging
• Bed prep using the broadfork and BCS in the fields and greenhouses and tractor in the fields
• Field and Wash House clean up
• Participating in staffing of Farmer’s Market stand

The successful applicant will have:

• A strong work ethic and positive attitude
• Strong problem solving, organization and communication skills
• Strong observation skills and be detail oriented
• Ability to adapt to changing job priorities and conditions
• Valid drivers' license
• Legally allowed to work in Canada

Key Assets:

• Previous labour experience, i.e. market gardening, landscaping, tree planting
• Ability to absorb, integrate and execute detailed instructions and feedback
• Some familiarity with market garden tools and systems

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to repeatedly lift 50lbs
• Ability to kneel, bend and squat repeatedly for long periods
• Ability to withstand and enjoy working in all weather conditions, including extreme heat, rain and mud

Prince Edward County is nestled into the Eastern end of Lake Ontario, along the shores of the Bay of Quinte. With over 30 wineries and cideries and its many restaurants, the County has become a top food and wine destination for culinary enthusiasts. Access the water through the beaches and parks including Sandbanks Provincial Park and many other hidden away destinations. The summer and fall play host to Classical, jazz, and country music festivals as well as theatre.

To apply

Please e-mail your resume and a brief cover letter to:
info@edwincountyfarms.ca
subject: Market Garden Field Hand

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