Field Assistant

Fort Lewis College•Durango, CO

9d•$19 - $21

About The Position

Position Summary: The Farmer Training Program focuses on three areas: running a productive farm, providing an educational experience for Farmers-in-training (FITs), and providing a space for reconciliation and healing. Field Assistants continue to gain hands-on experience growing vegetables at high elevation, while taking on additional responsibilities. Field Assistants work with other staff to tend about three acres of vegetables, learning new and traditional skills and techniques vital to farming at high elevation, and join a network committing to supporting beginning farmers through incubator and land access opportunities, business planning, and community support. Field Assistants work with and assist other program staff in tasks including but not limited to the following, which may take place in both the FIT Plot and the Education Garden: working with FITs in field work; leading FIT groups; running the campus Farm Stand; assisting with the CSA; using hand tools; operating small equipment; assisting with irrigation and repairs and daily operation; succession planting; weed management; harvest/processing; deliveries; events; and assisting in other daily farm tasks. Job Description: Essential Functions and Responsibilities: The team of Field Assistants will work to accomplish highest priority tasks, which may take place in the FIT Plot or the Education Garden and may include weed management, equipment operation, harvesting, processing, propagation tasks, cleaning, general farm maintenance and other tasks as identified by program staff. A team of Field Assistants will work to complete the following tasks: Approximately 50%: Working with other managers to determine and accomplish highest priority tasks, which may take place in the FIT Plot or the Education Garden and may include weed management, equipment operation, harvesting, processing, propagation tasks, cleaning, general farm maintenance and other tasks as identified by the Production Manager or Assistant Director. Approximately 25% (depending on the time of year): Lead harvest prep, harvest, and post-harvest processing, including doing crop counts; adhering to food safety SOPs, including twice daily harvest shed cleaning on harvest days; overseeing the cleaning of harvest bins and supplies; establishing size and quality standards for produce with other managers and Assistant Director; training FITs and volunteers in produce standards; leading harvest shed-packout for markets, CSAs, and wholesale orders of produce from both the FIT Field and the Education Garden; and leading harvests in the Education Garden. Approximately 25%: Providing overall care for the Education Garden, including watering, maintenance, succession planting, high tunnel management, and care of perennials, which includes managing weekly irrigation and providing crop counts when in production. Field Assistants are also responsible for setting a positive, professional and respectful tone; following training and work guidelines created by management and setting an example for farm team and volunteers in terms of timeliness, focus, pace, and accuracy in the field; adhering to Food Safety SOPs; following instructions and training and responding to feedback; demonstrating care for tools and farm equipment by appropriate use, cleaning, and storage, and completing online trainings to become a FLC authorized driver. Field Assistants take on additional areas of responsibility, including leading groups of FITs, running the Farm Stand, and/or assisting with CSA coordination. Additional Functions and Responsibilities Contributing to staff meetings Creating content for social media and newsletters Working at the Farm Stand or Country Store Packing the CSA Restocking and cleaning the Country Store Caring for perennials in the Education Garden Processing storage crops Assisting with setting up for, hosting, and cleaning up from public events

Requirements

One or more seasons of vegetable growing experience
At least one season growing at high elevations or in short seasons
One or more years’ experience in leadership or teaching roles, especially in a farming context
Experience working with teams from diverse backgrounds
Significant experience working independently as a farmer or in a physical job
Significant experience working in fast-paced environments, especially as a pace-setter
Successful experience working collaboratively as part of a team
Proficient with the use of Microsoft Office programs, Google Suite, and Dropbox
Interest in using google sheets for farm coordination
Ease with email, Slack messages, and phone calls as forms of team and professional communication

Nice To Haves

College degree in agriculture or related field
Experience using small equipment

Responsibilities

Working with other managers to determine and accomplish highest priority tasks, which may take place in the FIT Plot or the Education Garden and may include weed management, equipment operation, harvesting, processing, propagation tasks, cleaning, general farm maintenance and other tasks as identified by the Production Manager or Assistant Director.
Lead harvest prep, harvest, and post-harvest processing, including doing crop counts; adhering to food safety SOPs, including twice daily harvest shed cleaning on harvest days; overseeing the cleaning of harvest bins and supplies; establishing size and quality standards for produce with other managers and Assistant Director; training FITs and volunteers in produce standards; leading harvest shed-packout for markets, CSAs, and wholesale orders of produce from both the FIT Field and the Education Garden; and leading harvests in the Education Garden.
Providing overall care for the Education Garden, including watering, maintenance, succession planting, high tunnel management, and care of perennials, which includes managing weekly irrigation and providing crop counts when in production.
Setting a positive, professional and respectful tone
Following training and work guidelines created by management and setting an example for farm team and volunteers in terms of timeliness, focus, pace, and accuracy in the field
Adhering to Food Safety SOPs
Following instructions and training and responding to feedback
Demonstrating care for tools and farm equipment by appropriate use, cleaning, and storage, and completing online trainings to become a FLC authorized driver.
Leading groups of FITs
Running the Farm Stand, and/or assisting with CSA coordination.
Contributing to staff meetings
Creating content for social media and newsletters
Working at the Farm Stand or Country Store
Packing the CSA
Restocking and cleaning the Country Store
Caring for perennials in the Education Garden
Processing storage crops
Assisting with setting up for, hosting, and cleaning up from public events