Sweet Greens Farm – Flower Farm Team Member

Last Updated On: enero 15th, 2024 at 09:06AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
291 Coles Rolling Rd
Scottsville, Virginia, 24590

Primary Contact: Claudia Seixas
Secondary Contact: James Marzluff

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 8433273959
    Email: sweetgreensfarm@gmail.com

Secondary Phone
    Type:
    Number: 8433272437
    Email:

Website: https://www.sweetgreensfarm.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Sweet Greens Farm is a small family farm in Central Virginia growing sustainable cut flowers and specialty produce on over 5 acres. We primarily sell high quality wholesale cut flowers to florists, designers & grocery stores in the Charlottesville and Richmond areas. We are members of the farmer-owned River City Flower Exchange cooperative. We also sell at a farmers market in Charlottesville offer bulk flowers and floral design for weddings, events and weekly accounts. We grow in high tunnels and in the field using a combination of tractor and human power with modern scale appropriate tools. We strive to be a positive workplace, maintain a culture of cooperation and respect, and foster professional development through challenging work. Our mission is to spread joy and beauty through local cut flowers, bring healthy food to our community and build living soil for future generations.

CRAFT Member Farm? Yes

Internship Starts: March 4th 2024
Internship Ends: November 26th 2024
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: Priority Deadline February 1st; Positions open until filled.
Minimum Length of Stay: 6 months

Internship Details:

Sweet Greens Farm is seeking candidates to join our team for the 2024 season, March 4th-November 26th. Experience on a production farm, especially a cut flower farm, is strongly preferred. Ideal candidates will have a positive attitude in all weather conditions, a strong interest in flowers, food and farming, be capable of working at an efficient pace and enjoy working outdoors both on a team and individually.

This position involves all aspects of farm production including bed preparation, planting, weeding, irrigating, trellising, harvesting & processing, packing orders, making bunches and bouquets, washing buckets and totes, cleaning workspaces, and some marketing responsibilities. The focus will be on flower production and harvest but you will also be involved in vegetable production and harvest.

While you will be immersed in beautiful flowers in an idyllic setting, be aware that this position is physically demanding and the work can be fast paced, repetitive and hard on the body. We work in all weather conditions throughout the year, stand up to 7 hours a day, and cut flowers 2-5 hours a day up to 5 days a week in peak seasons. We grow hundreds of different varieties of flowers each with its own unique set of standards. We value the ability to learn quickly and work efficiently while paying attention to detail to maintain our quality standards.

We work closely with you to train you in our production, harvest and post-harvest practices. Once trained you will be expected to complete tasks independently, efficiently and with attention to detail in order to maintain our quality standards. For example, you will be expected to be able to read a harvest list, cut and process the flowers to our specifications from that list, then follow a detailed packing list to pack and label those orders (bunches, bouquets, vegetables, etc) for their final destination.

We strive to maintain a positive and welcoming work environment. The farm is our place of business but it is also our home which we share with our adventurous toddler and very friendly extra-large dog, who you will see daily. Our main farm area is set within 15 fenced acres on our 65 acre property which is very peaceful, comprised of rolling hills, creeks, native plants and trees, a pond and lots of wildlife.

We have part time and full time positions available. We work Monday through Friday on the farm, and attend a farmers market on Saturdays.  A typical work day is about 8 hours with a 30-45 minute unpaid lunch break. The start time varies throughout the year but is approximately 7-4pm – earlier in the summer (6am), We later in the shoulder seasons (9am). There may be the possibility to continue work part-time over the winter and stay for another season.

You will report to the farm owners/managers, and will work both independently and alongside the farm owners and one or more employees on a wide variety of tasks. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

– Field work including weeding, planting, field preparation, irrigation, trellising, greenhouse work and farm maintenance
– Cutting, processing and bunching flowers & harvesting & washing produce
– Cleaning, sanitizing and organizing equipment and materials

Educational Opportunities: As part of a small team you will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of farm production and receive extensive on the job training. You will have the opportunity to visit other farms as part of the CRAFT program.

Skills Desired: Ideal candidates will possess the following traits: positive attitude ability to work on a team and individually ability to work quickly and efficiently attention to detail to maintain quality standards eager to learn and retain information on crops and new farming systems capable of receiving feedback strong communication skills ability to work in all weather conditions physical stamina with the ability to stand, bend, kneel, squat, cut/snip and lift and move 50 pounds, repeatedly for extended periods of time. Requirements: Must have a drivers license as you will be required to operate farm and delivery vehicles. We are located in a rural area with no public transportation, therefore reliable transportation is required.  Our Covid policy requires that employees are fully vaccinated.

Meals: Free excess flowers and produce are available for personal consumption. 

Stipend: Starting wage of $15-18/hr, commensurate with experience.

Housing: Housing may be available for rent in a shared employee apartment in Scottsville.

Preferred method of Contact: e-mail