Organic market gardening / Market farming

Positions: Organic market farming (full-season)
Farm: Aldergrove Organic Farm

Location: Mount Forest, Ontario (north of Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph)
Housing: affordable on-farm accommodation (see below)

We are an organic market farm located in Grey County Ontario. We grow a wide variety of high quality vegetables, herbs and cut flowers for busy farmers markets in downtown Toronto.

This year we are seeking three new people to join our dynamic crew of six.

Working hard with your body out in the field as people have done for thousands of years. Getting a sense of fulfillment from seeing your hard work at the end of the day. Watching plants grow and literally reaping what you sow. Nourishing your body with good food that you grew from soil you cared for. Providing healthy food to hundreds of homes and making a positive impact in local communities. Responsibly stewarding land as an act of resistance to a corrupt, environmentally desstructive food system. Developing or deepening a spiritual connection to land. Obsessed with vegetables and can’t get enough. You’ve already got the “farm bug” and you’re looking to work somewhere new that’s going to up your game. You really want to work on a farm. Let’s figure out if we’re the right fit for each other.

Ideal applicant understands and enjoys working outdoors under all weather conditions; is physically fit and able to perform tasks for long periods of time (including lifting heavy bins, repetitive tasks, standing and squatting, walking); learns quickly; follows directions; pays close attention to detail; enjoys working with others and by themselves; is curious with an interest in plant-based food production.

Some physical work experience is absolutely necessary. The applicant should feel confident in their ability to work efficiently and to work alongside others in a team. Kitchen work seems to be fairly transferable.

There is a fairly broad spectrum of tasks here because we are so diversified. The systems are advanced and it’s not possible for everyone to learn them all in one season. Things like harvesting, weed managment and greenhouse crop management will be done as a group. Individuals will also be expected to take on smaller specialized tasks for the season, for example, plant propagation, inventory management, direct seeding, going out to market/deliveries, cutflower production, and tractor work. Who does what will depend on who is on the crew and where people's stegths and interests lie. Note: if the applicant is interested in flowers specifically, this should be indicated on the application.

Housing: affordable on-farm accommodation is available, though is becoming limited. There are some potential off farm options. See detailed description below

Our farm is located in beautiful Grey County close to lakes, rivers, hiking trails and a thriving organic farming community (2 hours from Toronto, 1 hour from Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo, Collingwood, Owen Sound, Orangeville). The farm is on 75 acres of hilly wild meadows, wetland, hardwood and cedar forests. We keep mixed livestock for personal use and a small apiary, though the vast majority of the land is kept as “permacultural zone 5” in an effort to nourish local wildlife habitat and promote biodiversity.

Farmers and our Systems

Our farming practice is a hybrid system of hand scale intensive market garden, moderately high tech, in soil, greenhouse crop systems, and tractor cultivated field crops. Soil biology and plant health are paramount. Our techniques are always changing. We do not abide by any one school of thought as to avoid the trappings of dogmatic farming practices.

Fraser and Glynis hooked up and started Aldergrove farm in 2016 after spending a few seasons farming on their own. Prior to that Glynis had interned on a number of local CSA farms in the area and Fraser had attended the Linnaea Farm Ecological Garden Program on Cortes Island, BC in 2010. Now in our tenth season of Aldergrove, Fraser oversees pretty well all aspects of the farm business as Glynis has gone back to school to do her PHD. Fraser lives and breathes the farm. The past year and a half he’s been busy developing new infrastructure while our long time crew took care of managing and day to day operations. In 2025 Fraser will be back in the field with the crew developing our management systems, training new staff and working alongside the crew. He’s looking forward to shaing his wisdom and love of farming with everyone.

Cameron and Kalia will be joining and helping to lead the farm team this year. Kalia managed our markets in the city last year and we were thrilled when she asked to come work on the farm for 2025. Cameron has been solo market gardening for the past five years and is shifting gears due to a change in land access. We are excited to have their passion, knowledge and experience with us this year.

Accommodation and Social Culture

Housing: affordable on-farm accommodation is available, though is becoming limited. There are also some potential off farm options. See detailed description below

Our farm is located in beautiful Grey County close to lakes, rivers, hiking trails and a thriving organic farming community (2 hours from Toronto, 1 hour from Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo, Collingwood, Owen Sound, Orangeville). The farm is on 75 acres of hilly wild meadows, wetland, hardwood and cedar forests. We keep mixed livestock for personal use and a small apiary, though the vast majority of the land is kept as “permacultural zone 5” in an effort to nourish local wildlife habitat and promote biodiversity.

Our accommodation is unique in that we have a central shared staff kitchen, shower, laundry, wifi and power access and charge a small fee for the use of these centralized facilities ($100/mo per person).

Sleeping arrangements can then be as rustic or comfortable as suits each individual’s needs. We find the balance of privacy and community a great combination.

• Cabins: This year we have currently one vacant cabin. Beautiful small (10’x10’ with sleeping loft) insulated, 4-season, cabin with heat and hydro, available for rent overlooking our pond and back forests. Fully furnished. $250/mo
• BYOA: Bring your own trailer, tent, yurt, tiny house, etc. -OR- you can camp out in the homestead in the back. There is a camper shoolie there with solar power and all basic amenities. It’s rustic though. No additional charge to the $100/mo centralized facility fee.

We feel our accommodation options are pretty nice. We don’t profit off them.

Local off-farm accommodations may also be available, just ask us.

Leisure: We have a recreation pond for swimming after long hot days in the field. As well as a wood fired sauna which is particularly nice during the cold season. Previous employees have enjoyed spending weekends and evenings canoeing and swimming local rivers and lakes, hiking, rural thrifting, preserving food, hunkering down with a book, spending the weekend in Toronto, having “family dinners” with farm residents, and visiting nearby farms.

Staff and residents have access to loads of fresh organic vegetables and oftentimes farm fresh eggs from our farm. Local cow share programs and other things like that also possible.

We are part of a thriving small organic farm community with a number of established, like-minded farms of different styles with young farm employees, interns and incubator farms. We think of them as an extended social and working culture for our staff to explore if desired.

A number of our employees have returned to work multiple seasons. Some, to start their own farm projects under our guidance and with the use of the land and infrastructure. Of our six years of employing people, we’ve now had six staff who have continued on to start their own farm.

We are currently hiring for 3 out of 6 farm team positions. We are somewhat flexible this year, please let us know which of the following best suits your availability:

Full-Season Farm Employee

• April 20 - November 1st 2023
• 7-9hrs/day, 5 days/week.(M-F)
• 2-3 positions available
• Starting wage $18-22/hr.

Part-Season Farm Employee

• Soft start date, May. Soft end date, Fall
• 7-9hrs/day 4-5 days/week (M-F)
• 1 position available
• Starting wage $18-22/hr.

To apply:

Send us an email to aldrgrv@gmail.com with Subject "Employment 2025" and answer the following:

1) Your phone number and current address.

2) Are you between the ages of 18 and 30? (not required)

3) What position are you applying for? What is your availability in the time frame for the position you are applying for?

4) Do you have any prior commitments that would bar you from working any days during the season?

5) How do you like to stay fit?

6) List all work experience (or attach resume).

7) Are you available to come to the farm for an interview?

8) Do you have a current drivers licence (G2 or G)?

9) Do you have access to a vehicle for the season?

10) Are you a Canadian citizen?

11) Do you require on-farm accommodation?

12) Why do you want to work at Aldergrove and what particular skills do you think you can bring to the 2025 team? Tell us anything else you think we might want to know about you. Nothing formal, we want to get a sense of who you are.

Please indicate you saw this posting at FoodWork.ca.

Eligible applicants will be asked to schedule an interview at their soonest convenience. References will also likely be requested.

Find us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aldergrovefarm/

LGTBQ+

Thank you for considering the position and we look forward to hearing from you. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have regarding the job/application and we’ll do our best to get back to you in a timely manner. We will respond to all applicants.

-Fraser

We acknowledge that the land on which we farm is the traditional territory of the Annishnaabek Nation: the People of the Three Fires known as Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations. And further give thanks to the Chippewas of Saugeen, and then Cheppewas of Nawash, now known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as the traditional keepers of this land.

Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.