Details

Posted: Thu, December 19, 2024

$16.50/hour Horsham job

Phone Number: 7818541409

Email: kirstie@pennypackfarm.org

About Our Farm

Founded in 2003, Pennypack Farm & Education Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit diversified vegetable farm growing with organic and regenerative practices in Horsham, PA (eastern Montgomery County). The work we do on the farm is centered around our mission to Grow, Give, and Teach.

Grow: Growing on 13 acres, we run a 380-member Summer CSA from the end of May through early November and a 180-member Winter CSA from late November through early March. We also attend the Ambler Farmers’ Market weekly. We grow over 150 different varieties of 60 different crops, aiming to provide our community with high quality and nutrient-dense produce consistently throughout the year. Building our soil’s health and fertility is the foundation of our farming practices, and we strive to be good stewards of the land by using regenerative methods to ensure the farm’s productivity for many years to come.

Give: An integral piece of our farm’s mission is increasing accessibility to high quality organically grown, local produce in our community. As part of our Produce Giving Program we donate produce weekly to local food pantry partners and also work with other local hunger relief organizations throughout the year. In 2021, we donated 25,000 lbs of produce to our community as part of this program.

Teach: The farm focuses on educating the next generation of farmers through our summer internship and apprenticeship programs. We also teach our community the importance of sustainable, locally grown food through volunteer opportunities, weekly newsletters, and workshops.

About Our Seasonal Farmer Position

Our Seasonal Farmer position is a great opportunity for someone looking to build their sustainable agriculture resume while working in a professional environment on a successful CSA farm. The Seasonal Farmer is a full time temporary position. One prior season of farming or equivalent outdoor experience is preferred.

As an important part of the farm crew, seasonal farmers work in all aspects of our farming operation including, but not limited to, seeding, transplanting, growing, organic pest and weed control, setting up and running irrigation, harvesting, and working with volunteers. Seasonal farmers will also receive tractor training to prepare beds, mow, and use the water-wheel transplanter.

Job Schedule (we are hiring for two seasonal positions-please indicate in your application which time frame you are interested in or choose both). All seasonal positions paid $16.50/hour.

Full-Time Mid-April-Oct 31, 45-50 hrs per week
Full-time June 1- Oct. 10, 45-50 hrs per week (option to start part time in May)

*Hours listed above are standard but not guaranteed in the beginning of the season. Hours in the months of April and May could be anywhere between 30-45 hrs/week depending on weather. *

Daily Schedule
Monday-Friday 7:15 am-5 pm (approximately 10 hours a day for the duration of the main season between April and November including an unpaid hour for lunch). End time will shift to 6 pm for the first two weeks in August.
Rotational weekend duties no more than 2 weekends per month that may include a half day of farm tasks on Saturday or watering duties.

Job Requirements:

Seasonal crew members should be committed to a farming lifestyle and the mental and physical commitment it entails: farming is very rewarding but also demanding. As such a small team, we rely on each other to keep morale and motivation high during the heat of the summer, so we look for people who are organized, personable, enthusiastic about the work, enjoy creative problem solving, and have a sense of humor and positivity.

Ideal candidates:

Have one season of experience working on a vegetable farm or equivalent outdoor work experience
Have good stamina both on a daily and seasonal basis and are able to complete physically demanding work for long hours for the entire duration of the season
are interested in taking on responsibility and commitment at the farm during their seasons they work with us
Are able to keep a good pace and practice time management of themselves and other members of the team/volunteers.
Have a positive attitude and a sense of humor (although farming is very demanding we like to keep a lighthearted and fun team atmosphere!)
Are able to be patient and flexible as tasks and priorities change often as the nature of farming means that things can shift with little notice due to weather or other variables
Are able to stay organized and maintain presence of mind in the face of difficult weather conditions such as heat, cold, wind, rain etc. or long hours
Have the desire and aspiration to acquire the necessary skills and experience to pursue a career in organic agriculture.
Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation: Employees will be driving tractors, farm vehicles on supply runs, and taking produce to farmer’s market weekly in farm vehicles.
Must pass a criminal background check and child abuse clearance.

Duties will include but not limited to:

Planting, weeding, harvesting, irrigation, repairing items, working with volunteers, washing produce, driving tractors*, greenhouse work, seeding, field clean-up, general crop care.

*Previous tractor experience is not required but the applicant must be willing to learn and operate tractors on a regular basis. Please mention in application if you have prior tractor experience.

Compensation:
All seasonal positions paid $16.50 hourly wage paid biweekly
Weekly seasonal produce
Paid time off

The farm is located in Horsham, Pa, about 45 minutes by car from Philadelphia. Unfortunately there is no easy public transit and having your own transportation is strongly recommended.

If you are interested in applying for PFEC’s Seasonal Farm Crew for 2025, please email Farm Manager Kirstie Jones at jobs@pennypackfarm.org and include:
Subject line: Seasonal Farmer Application
Your resume
Cover letter answering the following questions:
Why has larger scale (as in more than a few acres/raised beds, using tractors etc) sustainable agriculture piqued your interest?
What skills prepare you for this position and what will you bring to the farm?
Why Pennypack Farm?
While rewarding, farming at this scale is also very physically and mentally demanding. Please address any relevant experience or qualities that have prepared you for the long hours and hard work required on a farm.
How do you think spending a season at Pennypack Farm will affect your future goals in the field of agriculture?
Which time frame interested you (March-Oct, April-Nov, or both)
Anything more we should know about you? Any interesting talents, hobbies?
No phone calls please.

Pennypack Farm & Education Center is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. PFEC encourages women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ applicants. PFEC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected factor.