Assistant Farmer – Clem’s Organic Gardens

Last Updated On: January 31st, 2024 at 07:15AM MST

Contact information
Farm Address:
858 Davidson River Rd
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, 28768

Primary Contact: Clem Swift
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 7062543171
    Email: clemswift@gmail.com

Website: https://www.youtube.com/c/clemsorganicgardens

Internship information
General Farm Description: Clem’s Organic Gardens grows 8 acres of certified organic vegetables just outside of the Pisgah National Forest and the city of Brevard, NC in the rich bottomland soil along the Davidson River. Our farm model is centered around efficient production for wholesale distribution. We specialize in storage vegetables (beets, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, winter squash, sunchokes and radishes) in the field and tomatoes and cucumbers in our heated high tunnel space. We round that out with an assortment of greens and we trial new crops each year (this year is bell peppers and chard). The farm is run by Operations Manager Matt Rector with the support (both behind-the-scenes and on-farm) of the farm owner, Clem Swift. Four seasonal H2A workers from Mexico and ~3 part-time year-round local workers make up the farm crew. We utilize scale-appropriate machinery and equipment to produce a high volume of quality produce while keeping the demands of the job reasonable.

CRAFT Member Farm? Yes

Internship Starts: Flexible
Internship Ends: Full-time year-round
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Minimum Length of Stay: 2 years

Internship Details:

Position Details

  • Full time (30-50 hours/week), year round
  • $20/hr to start with scheduled pay increases
  • Affordable Housing will be made available nearby or on-farm if needed
  • Flexible start date – applications accepted on a rolling basis

Job Description and Responsibilities

You will be joining a strong team on a farm that is run primarily by employees, with the opportunity for a long-term career.

Assistant Farmers will participate in, develop an understanding of, and play a leadership role in all aspects of the crew work of the farm, including planting, hand weeding, tomato pruning and trellising, harvesting, and washing and packing.

Additionally, they will take on specific responsibilities appropriate to their experience, abilities, and interest, and will report to and stay in close communication with the Operations Manager on a daily basis.

These responsibilities may include one or more of the following (training will be provided, but the candidate is expected to learn quickly and take ownership of their role):

  • Crew Leader – The person in the field with the work crew who’s in charge of quality control, making sure everyone has the tools, vehicles, etc. that they need, observing how efficient the work is, how it could be better, filling out the record sheets, noting observations about the crops (differences in varieties, etc), thinking two steps ahead and transitioning the crew to the next task(s).
  • Sales manager – Communicates with customers through email, phone, and text to sell product, and oversees the packing, invoicing, and delivery of orders.
  • Field manager – Oversees the crop in the field, responsible for observing when a crop needs attention (flame weeding, tractor cultivation, hand weeding, spraying, etc.) and for projecting harvest readiness.
  • Harvest manager – Responsible for the crop that’s ready for sale, either in the field or in storage.  Oversees harvests and the wash/pack process.  Communicates closely with or is the same person as the sales manager.
  • Greenhouse Manager – Responsible for tomato production in the greenhouse.  Monitors the status of the crop and oversees the labor of pruning, trellising, and harvesting.  Scouts for pests and disease and manages irrigation, fertigation, and tissue sampling.

 

Qualifications

  • Experience working on a commercial vegetable farm.
  • Spanish language skills are highly valued.
  • Strong communication skills, a positive attitude, and a solution-oriented outlook.
  • Self-directed while also able to follow directions.
  • Must be willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Application Instructions

Please send a resume and a message describing your interest to clemswift@gmail.com with the subject “Assistant Farmer 2024”

youtube.com/c/clemsorganicgardens


Educational Opportunities: In addition to on-the-job training to prepare you to be part of a self-directed management team, we work with NC State's Center for Environmental Stewardship to enroll new recruits in their 18-month Sustainable Vegetable Apprenticeship program, if you choose. More information at https://cefs.ncsu.edu/academics-and-education/apprenticeships/registered-apprenticeship/.

Skills Desired: Please see internship description.

Meals: No, but there's plenty of free produce available.

Stipend: We offer an hourly wage starting at $20/hr for qualified candidates.

Housing: Housing will be made available at a reasonable rate on-farm or nearby for those who need it.

Preferred method of Contact: email

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