Farm Community Lead

Seed Peace has an exciting new opportunity for a highly-motivated individual to join our farm team for the 2024 season and beyond! This position is focused on strengthening leadership of our on-farm community while supporting the growing and distribution of vegetables produced by our market garden operation. The Farm Community Lead (FCL) will act mainly as a crew leader, taking direction from farm management staff and managing responsibilities of 3 on farm apprentices in day to day tasks while simultaneously maintaining the farm’s social media presence to keep the local community engaged with on farm happenings.

This position offers a unique opportunity for someone with farming experience to further improve their leadership and management skills portfolio while gaining in depth knowledge of regenerative farming and seed saving practices.

Day to Day Roles:

The FCL will act as the point person for prescribed tasks throughout the work day. This requires effective communication and delegation skills, as well as the foresight to ensure tasks are completed effectively and efficiently.

The FCL will work closely with our two farm managers to identify and prioritize these tasks that include, seeding, transplanting, cultivating, harvesting, washing and packing, distribution through CSA, wholesale and farmers markets, irrigation, infrastructure projects, participating in crop planning and execution, etc… A successful candidate will feel comfortable engaging in direct communication while simultaneously receiving constructive feedback from managers and farm director.

Supporting the FCL with day to day tasks alongside management will be three farm apprentices. The FCL’s role is to ensure the apprentices gain experience and knowledge through hands on learning, refining and enforcing proper technique, and maintaining a positive and light-hearted work environment.

The FCL is responsible for acting as the primary communication link between management and apprentices to ensure apprentice needs are met. The FCL will be responsible for keeping track of apprentice’s schedules to address conflicts which may arise as a result of sick days, off farm appointments, and vacation days.

Engaging the local community off the farm will also be an important role for this position. Seed Peace is lucky to be supported by locals who see value in what we do for their health and the health of the land. Keeping the community updated on our day to day happenings as well as sharing our processes, practices, and perspectives is an important way to maintain interest in local, regenerative farming. The FCL will work throughout the season, in collaboration with farm managers, the farm director, and land owners, to maintain social media presence and coordinate on farm events such as tours and social gatherings including our end of season community appreciation/harvest party.

This is a dynamic, new position on the farm perfect for someone who has farming experience, enjoys interactions with plants and people, and wants to fit into a supportive, local-minded mountain community. On top of farming experience, being an excellent communicator and problem solver are paramount to this position’s success and the success of the farm as a whole. Ideal Candidates also have:

• Ability to work independently
• A safety oriented consciousness
• At least 2 years of farming experience (management experience a plus!)
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Ability to lift 50 lbs consistently
• Ability to bend, squat, and kneel for extended periods of time
• Ability to be flexible and work in a dynamic, unpredictable environment
• Proficient use of computer tools like MS Word, Excel, etc…
• Excellent time management skills
• Enthusiasm and positive attitude towards physically intensive work
• Ability to work swiftly with a sense of urgency
• Tractor operating experience a plus!

Seed Peace is committed to professional development and offers many resources outside of day to day farm work to learn and grow. We encourage employees and apprentices to take advantage of our on-farm library, visit other farms, and utilize upper management’s knowledge to further their understanding of regenerative and small scale sustainable farming. Through our non-profit, we also offer employee stipends/allowances as an opportunity to attend conferences, network, and grow professionally. Other perks include access to on-farm produce at no cost as well as farmer discounts at our local health food store.

If you feel that you would be a good match for this position, we encourage you to apply. Send a resume and cover letter to community@seedpeace.org.

We are looking to fill the position quickly to have the successful applicant start working on the farm as early as March 1st, 2024.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,000.00 per year

Experience:

• Farming: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Carbondale, CO 81623 (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Carbondale, CO 81623: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person