Organic farming, local food

Hiring: Organic Vegetable and Flower Farm Workers
Farm: Wheelbarrow Farm

Location: Sunderland, GTA/ Durham Region, Ontario
Housing: We provide on-farm accommodation to staff at a below-market rate of $500/month. Accommodations are private rooms in a shared farm-house and include utilities, laundry, internet and free access to farm produce. Wheelbarrow Farm is home to a forest with trails, a bonfire pit, a sauna, open green space and a pond for swimming.

Do you love the feeling of getting your hands in the soil, working with a team, feeding your community and contributing to a sustainable way of life? Do you want to take your love of gardening to the next level? Wheelbarrow Farm is looking to hire this coming growing season.

The position is partially funded by the Youth Employment and Skill Program of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. Successful applicants will need to meet these specific requirements to be eligible for the role;

• Under 30 years of age,
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or a status refugee,
• Must not have been previously employed in a Youth Employment and Skills Program funded position,

Priority will be given to candidates facing barriers to employment including;

• Indigenous youth,
• Racialized youth,
• Immigrated to Canada within the last 5 years,
• 2SLGBTQQIA+,
• Living in a low income household,
• Is a single parent,
• Early leaver of high school.

About the farm

Wheelbarrow Farm is located an hour north of Toronto, nestled amongst the rolling hills and forests of Durham region. Entering our 18th year of production, we grow five acres of mixed vegetables and flowers using organic and sustainable methods. Our methods are a mix of small scale intensive market gardening techniques and tractor based production methods.

Our produce is sold through a CSA program (300+ members) and two farmers markets in Toronto. We also run a seedling sale in the spring, a short winter CSA and manage an online store for our CSA members. Wheelbarrow Farm has a great reputation with our CSA members and farmers market community and we are known for our high quality vegetables, environmental initiatives and friendly staff.

Wheelbarrow Farm has a team-focused structure as it’s owned by three friends, each with their unique skill set (field manager/operations, CSA manager/admin/marketing, accounting/HR). Our field team is typically 4-5, full-time staff. We value a good attitude, a sense of humor and healthy work/life balance (as well as delicious food, the occasional game of vegetable baseball and positive vibes!).

Job Description

As a member of the Wheelbarrow Farm team, you will participate in all aspects of organic vegetable and flower production, from seed to market.

Main areas of work will include:

• Greenhouse work and seedling production
• Organic fertility management and application
• Bed Prep and transplanting
• Irrigation management
• Harvesting and post harvest handling
• Pest and weed control
• CSA packing and distribution
• Farmers’ Market (Brickworks and Leslieville)

Job Requirements

We are looking for candidates who have some experience and are looking to develop their knowledge of commercial production systems.

• A positive attitude that can contribute to a fun and productive work crew
• Strong problem solving, organization and communication skills
• An interest in sustainable agriculture as a potential career or way of life
• Ability to work well alone or in a team setting
• Ability to work outdoors 8 hours a day in a physically demanding environment
• At least one season of horticultural work (farming, gardening, tree planting, etc.)
• A G license and a clean driving record is required for market/csa leads.

Schedule

Farm staff are expected to work 5 days a week for the duration of their employment. On-farm work days are 8 hours long, while farmers’ market or CSA delivery days are approximately 12 hours long. A typical work week is between 40 and 45 hours of work.

Term

The organic farm worker position starts May 1st and ends October 31st, 2025, however we may be flexible to change the end date, if requested.

Compensation package

The hourly wage for the position is $17.20 per hour.

We also provide one paid vacation day per month which translates to approximately an extra dollar/hour of compensation.

Accommodations

We provide on-farm accommodation to staff at a below-market rate of $500/month. Accommodations are private rooms in a shared farm-house and include utilities, laundry, internet and free access to farm produce. Wheelbarrow Farm is home to a forest with trails, a bonfire pit, a sauna, open green space and a pond for swimming.

Development opportunities

Over the years, many staff have returned to work with us in subsequent seasons. We provide the opportunity for returning staff to deepen their knowledge base into new areas, take on management positions, and increase their wages. Many staff have stayed with us for several years and have gone on to manage other farms, manage farmers’ markets, attain jobs in related fields as well as starting their own farm businesses.

There are also many non-monetary benefits to working at Wheelbarrow Farm including:

• Working outside everyday (not a desk job)
• Connecting with positive, like-minded individuals (on the farm, at market, CSA customers)
• Enjoying our forest trails, clean air and healthy living
• Fresh and abundant produce
• Fostering the land in a sustainable way
• Access to growing space
• Access to a sauna and a pond for swimming

To apply

Please submit your cover letter and resume to wheelbarrowfarm@gmail.com

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Learn more about Wheelbarrow Farm: wheelbarrowfarm.com | Instagram