⬩ VEGETABLE FARM MANAGER WANTED ⬩
Stonewood Farm, Millbrook, New York
Stonewood Farm, a well-respected and celebrated not-for-profit market garden, seeks an experienced and passionate vegetable grower to manage our approximately 2-acre operation located in New York’s desirable Hudson Valley. We are USDA certified organic and Real Organic certified and have been growing diversified vegetables, flowers, herbs, and berries (with a small flock of chickens for eggs) since 2013. Our excellent reputation for quality and aesthetics is known across the Hudson Valley. We received our 501(c)3 status in 2021. We are committed to regenerative farming practices and work to ensure that everyone in our community has access to high quality, culturally appropriate food.
The market garden is the central feature of our 15-acre, deer-fenced farm. The relevant infrastructure includes approximately 1.5 acres of fertile fields, a designated irrigation well and related equipment, a glass propagation greenhouse, a heated 25’ x 40’ high tunnel, an equipment storage barn, a chicken house, three-bay compost bins, and a “Cookhouse” that houses our wash/pack facility, walk-in cooler/freezer, commercial kitchen, root cellar, and space for gatherings.
We have a strong community outreach. In addition to our wholesale and retail sales, we co-founded and currently make weekly donations to our local food pantry, deliver weekly to our local chapter of Meals on Wheels and several seniors groups, and work with local, like-minded not-for-profit organizations - like the 4-H Club, Cardinal Hayes Home for Children, and the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund - to create edible gardens and learning opportunities. We have a food recovery program where our Culinary Director takes unwanted food from a local food distribution site, combines it with our fresh produce, and prepares delicious, healthy, culturally appropriate meals for our neighbors in need. Our charitable work culminates each season with a Christmas Day supper that is open to all members of our community who are in need of kinship and a good meal. We also offer a seasonal apprenticeship program to train a novice grower and host on-farm volunteer days.
With the completion of the Cookhouse in 2021, we started welcoming visitors to Stonewood to learn and share common interests related to food, gardening, health, agriculture, and the environment. With the market garden as the focus, we host immersive on-farm educational activities, tours, cooking classes, and monthly harvest dinners. The Cookhouse is also the location of our weekly pop-up produce markets where we sell our produce, flowers and eggs as well as our Culinary Director’s prepared foods and baked goods. All these activities directly fund our outreach programming.
Job Description
As Farm Manager, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining Stonewood’s market garden to ensure that it is productive, inviting, well kept, and aesthetically pleasing. Given Stonewood’s small size, this is a hands-on position that requires physical labor in all types of weather. You will have the opportunity to recruit seasonal support to assist you as needed. The Farm Manager will work closely with a team that includes Stonewood’s Founders and Board of Trustees, our Culinary Director, Property Manager, farming support staff, grant writer, social media consultant, and various visiting chefs. The Farm Manager will also have relationships with our wholesale and retail customers and our supporters.
Responsibilities Include:
Develop a crop production plan for the market garden and high tunnel based on wholesale and retail market demand and the needs for our community outreach partners and on-farm gatherings;
Supervise, plan and participate in all aspects of the market garden operations including propagation, cultivation, field prep, transplanting, weed and pest management, and harvesting using certified organic methods;
Build and maintain soil health using soil tests, cover crops, and organic amendments;
Process, package, market, and deliver produce;
Monitor and be accountable for the progress of all field work;
Plant and maintain the Giving Garden, our small, edible garden on the Millbrook campus of the Cardinal Hayes Home;
Install and maintain drip irrigation systems;
Keep and maintain all records for compliance with our organic certification;
Perform repairs and maintenance of market garden infrastructure and equipment;
Care for and maintain health of laying hens;
Order materials and supplies;
Create and effectuate apprenticeship and volunteer programming;
Supervise, manage, mentor, train and work alongside junior staff and apprentices;
Develop relationships and work with local chefs/restaurants and markets to sell our produce;
Work with our Culinary Director and visiting chefs to supply produce and flowers and lead garden tours for our on-farm dinners, gatherings, and classes;
Set up, manage, and break down/clean up our on-farm pop-up market each Friday morning;
Help create workshops and learning opportunities for our community outreach and on-farm visitors;
Write new, and maintain existing, SOPs; and
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment.
The position is full time, year-round. It requires longer hours during the primary growing season with reduced hours in the off season. Some early morning, weeknight, and weekend work is required as needed.
The starting annual salary range is $55,000 to $75,000 depending on experience and housing needs.
Benefits include15 days paid vacation, 5 personal days, and a share of vegetables and eggs. A one bedroom, on-site apartment, including utilities and wi-fi, can be part of the package. No pets and tobacco/drug-free. The ideal start date is November/December 2024 or early January 2025.
Desired Qualifications:
A minimum of 4 years’ experience and proven track record growing vegetables and managing a small scale production vegetable operation using organic methods;
Background in the operation and maintenance of greenhouses and high tunnels;
Working knowledge of composting systems, soil health and fertility management, succession planting, and organic pest, disease and weed management;
Experience mentoring and effectively managing apprentices, seasonal workers, hourly staff, and volunteers;
Ability to safely operate a tractor and other farm equipment and tools;
Demonstrable experience installing and maintaining drip irrigation systems;
Experience and interest in raising chickens for egg production; and
Comfortably able to lift 50 lbs. and a valid U.S. drivers license.
Additional Beneficial Skills:
Cut flower production and arranging;
Speaking in public;
USDA-certified organic methods and recordkeeping;
Ability to speak Spanish;
Social media (mainly Instagram) and photography; and
Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs, and Square software.
We employ a “market gardening” approach to farming, growing on a small scale using intensive methods. We practice regenerative farming methods, relying primarily on small machinery (we have a BCS tiller) and simple hand tools for field cultivation. We also have a compact tractor with front loader and tiller. You should have a similar small-scale farming approach and mindset.
This position is designed to lead and inspire others. You will report directly to Stonewood’s Founders but be largely independent. You must be:
hardworking, collaborative, an organized manager of your time, enthusiastic about our mission, and committed to being a key player in our organization.
articulate and a people-person who can build and foster relationships and collaborate with coworkers, guests, customers, supporters, and the local community.
a self-starter, resourceful, energetic, detail-oriented with an eye for both quality and efficiency, very neat with attention to aesthetics, and respectful of your surroundings.
able to multi-task and manage the varying intensity of work throughout the growing season.
a person with excellent communication skills and timely email and phone responses.
