Assistant Farm Manager – Rancocas Creek Farm

Last Updated On: October 9th, 2024 at 04:46PM MST

Contact information
Farm Address:
Rancocas Creek Farm
17 Pemberton Rd
Southampton, New Jersey, 08088

Primary Contact: Jeff Tober
Primary Phone:
    Type: Office
    Number: 6098598860 x 130
    Email: jeff@pinelandsalliance.org

Website: https://www.rancocascreekfarm.org

Internship information
General Farm Description: Rancocas Creek Farm, a project of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA), a non-profit organization devoted to the preservation of the New Jersey Pinelands, seeks an individual with farm management experience to serve as Assistant Farm Manager. PPA engages in policy advocacy, constituency-building, natural lands stewardship, outdoor recreation (through its Pinelands Adventures initiative) and chemical-free farming (through Rancocas Creek Farm). Rancocas Creek Farm is a chemical-free, regenerative, diversified farm on 72 acres in Southampton, New Jersey (adjacent to PPA headquarters). The Farm is completing its fifth growing season in 2024 and markets its produce, fruit, flowers, herbs and pastured pork through an on-farm CSA and sales to food businesses, as well as hosting gleaning events and donating food. We also connect with the community through farm and birding tours, farm to table dinners and similar events.

CRAFT Member Farm? Yes

Internship Starts: Flexible
Internship Ends: Full-time position
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: Ongoing
Minimum Length of Stay: 1 year

Internship Details:

The Assistant Farm Manager (AFM) will be involved with all aspects of managing Rancocas Creek Farm.  This is a unique opportunity for someone who has substantial farming experience to join the team in year 6 of our existence and help continue a sustainable course for the farm for the long-term.   We are seeking someone with a diverse skill set, a strong work ethic, a desire to work with a wide variety of people and a passion for growing chemical-free food and healthy farm ecosystems.  The workload on a farm like this varies greatly throughout the course of a farm season and will include:

 

  • Planning seed orders, crop rotations, field plans and seeding schedules
  • Operating and maintaining tractors and farm equipment. These implements and jobs will include mowing, discing, rotovating, making and spreading compost, fertilizing, forklift operation, seeding etc
  • Training, managing and motivating farm Interns, part-timers and volunteers
  • Managing harvests, plantings, wash and pack and food distributions
  • Recording and managing field data including plantings, harvests, distributions, soil amendments etc
  • Administering CSA shareholder correspondence – emails, phone calls, CSA posts and newsletters
  • Assist with grant writing, reporting and compliance
  • Helping to manage all areas of crop production from weed management, disease and insect monitors and controls, irrigation, cover cropping, mulching, pruning etc.
  • Helping to create farm budgets, track income and expenses and work with PPA bookkeeper to document all necessary financial information
  • Represent PPA and RCF during farm tours, speaking engagements, conferences, community meetings, schools etc.
  • Work with partners and other farms to bring knowledge and resources to RCF and promote our farm and farming methods to others (i.e. Rutgers, NOFANJ, NRCS, NJCRAFT, NJ Audubon, Farm Bureau etc)
  • Work with PPA staff to integrate RCF into PPA’s larger mission in a variety of ways
  • Help establish capital improvements on the farm – buildings and grounds, stormwater management areas, fencing, plantings, greenhouse construction, storage areas etc.
  • Help procure, manage and sell products for our CSA distribution area
  • Manage all RCF day-to-day operations when the farm manager is off-farm

The position requires a candidate with multiple years managing or helping to manage a working farm.  Experience hiring and managing staff, producing crop plans, operating and maintaining farm equipment, overseeing crop planting, cultivation, harvest and distribution, and creating and carrying out financial plans are all necessary skill sets.  The Assistant Farm Manager will work closely with the Farm Manager to divide responsibilities, create goals and expectations and identify areas where the Assistant Farm Manager would like to learn, grow and take on specific responsibilities.


Educational Opportunities: There are opportunities to attend conferences and NOFANJ / NJCRAFT events

Skills Desired: This is a full-time opportunity for a candidate with farming / farm management experience

Meals: food from the farm!

Stipend: Salary with benefits

Housing: no

Preferred method of Contact: email

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