COMMUNITY FARMER
Meadowlark Farm
Lake Leelanau, MI
Company description
Meadowlark Farm is looking for one person to join our team for the 2023 season! We are a certified organic farming community in our 29th season of growing organic vegetables and culinary herbs. Meadowlark is a 20 acre farm, part of a larger farmstead that was originally established in the 1850's. We are sheltered by the old home, old buildings and old trees of the original farm. We cultivate 7 acres intensively, using 4 hoophouses to extend our growing season on both shoulders(spring and fall). We provide food for our community for 12 months of the year! We grow over 70 different vegetable/herb varieties like salad greens and heirloom tomatoes, while also cultivating exciting things like a hoophouse full of baby ginger and microgreens. Our farm relies on a 26 kw solar panel array that generates our power and an additional 30% that we share with our community.
We feed our 200 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, local food co-ops, grocery stores and restaurants, taking great pride in nourishing people’s minds and bellies. Our CSA provides a curated box including a weekly recipe that encourages deepening relationships with the farm and the people who grow their food, while educating and supporting home cooking for pleasure and health. Our community includes 12 solidarity shares, providing access to organic vegetables to people in our local economy who either can't afford or don't have access for a variety of reasons. We believe that eating lively, nutritious food is a human right.
The farm exists because of the hard work and dedication of a multigenerational community that has supported the farm since its beginning. We like to practice the ideology that “everything worthwhile is done with other people”, which we learned from organizer and educator Mariame Kaba. We connect and learn together by growing and eating good food, and we are excited to welcome someone new into this community!
Job descriptionAs a community farmer, you will learn about and participate in Meadowlark Farm's 29th season of certified organic vegetable growing in beautiful Northern Michigan. Meadowlark is just 4 miles away from Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with swimming beaches, hiking trails and sand dunes. Traverse City is 25 minutes away and has opportunities for socializing and exploring eateries, cideries, bakeries and breweries.
Responsibilities and learning opportunities include greenhouse growing, hoophouse maintenance and production, seedling growth, care and transplanting, cultivation/weeding, efficient harvest, washing and processing, packing CSA boxes, learning all aspects of large scale salad mix production, growing and drying culinary herbs, growing and tending baby ginger, pruning and trellising heirloom tomatoes and the care and maintenance of over 70 varieties of mixed vegetables. Must be able to work as part of a team, take direction and listen well, and also be able to work independently doing repetitive tasks with a positive attitude and good humor. This position asks for comfortability with bending, kneeling, squatting and working on the ground and/or standing for prolonged periods of time.
This position is full time, Monday through Friday(no weekends) 40-45 hours/week and starts April 3rd until November 3rd. Must be able to lift 50# for short stretches of time and perform repetitive physical tasks in all types of weather. Must be punctual, have reliable transportation and a valid driver's license. The farm is in a rural area with no access to public transportation. If workers live on farm, it’s important that they are able to access groceries, services and fun on their days off, with a car. If workers don’t live on farm, they will have at minimum, a 30 minute commute. In either situation, having access to a car is vital.
We offer on farm housing in a renovated granary with room for 3 people. Each has their own private heated bedroom with a shared kitchen and bathroom with hot water and heat and a washer and dryer.
We are a multigenerational community, so the ability to get along with, care for and listen to people of varying ages is a definite must. Previous farm experience is ideal, but not required. We look for people who thrive doing detail oriented, fast paced production work. Extra benefits of working at meadowlark farm include a weekly box of vegetables, fruit, herbs and eggs, paid time off, rain gear and work gloves.
Compensationthis position is : hourly, $15-20/hr
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If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free!DeadlineApril 01, 2023