Diverse Organic Vegetable Farming 

Hiring: Organic farm team (3 positions)
Farm: Laughing Apple Farm
Start date: February 1, 2025

Location: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Housing: On-farm housing (see below)

Do you have one or more seasons' experience growing organically? Would you like to learn and grow 40 different crops? Learn how to live self-sufficiently — grow what you eat, cook and preserve food? Be part of our local community for a season or more?

This is a full-time position with salary, on-site housing, produce from the farm — and the chance to grow your own food, if you like! Preferably you would have 1-2 seasons experience growing vegetables according to organic practices. For the right person this could become a long-term position.

Laughing Apple Farm is located in a scenic and quiet spot on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. We have been farming here for 26 years and have developed efficient organic methods for producing a diversity of food year-around on a small scale. We have 3 acres under cultivation for vegetables, six greenhouses for year-around production, two 200 square ft heated spaces for year-around production of lettuce and microgreens, 500+ apple trees, ~ 30 plums/pears/peach trees, 70 cherry trees, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. We have a thriving community-supported farm stand, a year-around farm membership program (like a flexible CSA), and we sell locally to chefs and other CSAs. Our goal is to make delicious, beautiful, and nutritious produce and we are continually working to improve our knowledge and methods so that we grow better food and be better stewards of our land. We think providing food for people who live nearby generates community connection and is a worthy and fulfilling occupation for a lifetime. We try to encourage young people to learn to farm. Laughingapple.com

Our Team: We have a team of 6 people including one of the farm owners, a farm manager, two long-term employees, and three full-time field crew.

Why would you want to apply for this position:

• We grow a large diversity of crops! You can learn about and participate in growing almost 40 different crops organically (we are not certified) for local consumption using low till methods.
• You can learn about the whole cycle — from seed to plate — of growing edible plants: seeding, transplanting, soil care and maintenance, methods of soil preparation, mulching, irrigation systems, harvesting, cleaning and preparation for sale, and marketing the produce.
• You will be able to eat healthy food and practice eating seasonally and gain some experience with a more self-sufficient lifestyle. We encourage you to cook!
• You can interact with enthusiastic customers – Salt Spring Island has a tradition of supporting small local farms and has a creative and interesting community.
• You can learn about apple pressing on a commercial scale as we press both our own apples and many other people’s apples on the island in the fall.
• There are lots of things to learn on our farm besides producing vegetables: bee keeping, haying, shop tools, chicken care, growing fruit trees and cane fruit.
• Salt Spring Island has a beautiful natural environment with places to hike and explore.
• You can have opportunities to visit other farms on the island – Salt Spring Island has a vibrant farm community.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Pay is $18 to $21 per hour, based on experience. 
• Affordable on-site housing — either in a shared furnished two-bedroom house, or a clean, modern RV (not shared), see below. Rates to be discussed.
• Learn to grow what you eat, cook and preserve food
• For the right person, a great opportunity to be mentored and launch your career in farming 
• Garden space is available to grow your own food if you like
• Some organic food provided (flour, rice, oats, beans), plus fruit and veggies from the farm as available
• A great chance to live sustainability and save most or all of what you earn.
• Work outdoors, close to the land, be part of a great team
• WorkSafe(BC) coverage is provided.

Preferred qualifications...

• 1-2 years’ experience with organically producing and marketing crops
• Be able to work quickly in a fast-paced environment with humor, compassion and efficiency
• Attention to details
• Physical and mental endurance – be able to work standing, kneeling, bending, lifting repeatedly
• Be flexible and adaptable when situations change
• Know how to take care of yourself – get enough rest, food and water – and be able to communicate your limits
• Be able to lift 50 pounds
• Have experience working outdoors – both on nice days and in heat/rain/cold
• Have the ability to work together with others as a team member
• Be able to work efficiently on your own

Hours: Work week is usually M-F 9 am – 5:30 pm, with a ½ hour unpaid lunch break. During the hottest part of the summer, hours may be different to allow you to work in a cooler part of the day.

Housing: This position comes with affordable on-site housing in a shared furnished two-bedroom house, or non-shared housing in a clean, modern RV at a subsidized rate. The house has two bedrooms, a shared bathroom, fully-equipped kitchen and common space. The RV is clean and modern with electric and propane heat, fully equipped kitchen and private bathroom. For both accommodations, Internet, electricity, water, sewer, local land-line calls are included. No smoking or pets and no recreational drugs on the property. 

Apply: 

Please send a resume and cover letter to Mary, mlaucks@telus.net . Please describe why you want to work here, and what you feel you bring to this position. Please mention that you saw this on GoodWork.ca.

Questions?

Email Mary at mlaucks@telus.net

This posting will remain open until filled. If the posting is still here, the position is still open. Must be eligible to work in Canada.