Grower In Training Seasonal

Position Summary:

The Grower in Training position encompasses all aspects of farm work to ensure the farm's overall quality and production goals are maintained. This may include: prepping sites, creating crop plans, seeding, planting, tending, weeding, trellising, pest management, irrigating, harvesting crops, and animal care. We are looking for an individual who is self-motivated, detail-oriented, timely, maintains a positive attitude, has excellent communication skills, and a strong work ethic. This is a full-time seasonal position from March through the end of November. This role provides you with on-the-job training, giving you the experience you need for advancement upon successful completion of the farming season.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Crop Care & Production (25% - 10 hrs/week)*:

Hand cultivating beds for weed control;

Daily observation and maintenance of farm sites including seeding, planting, tending, weeding, trellising, and irrigating crops;

Pest Management - Monitoring and spraying crops for insect and disease prevention, may include hand-picking, maintaining row cover, and spraying of organic pesticides;

Irrigation set up and system monitoring, including drip, sprinkler and hand irrigation;

Harvesting (25% - 10hrs/week)*:

Harvesting, post-harvest handling, record keeping of crops for sale and distribution;

Assisting with produce packing, sales, load-in and out of produce at farmers’ markets and for the Fresh Moves Mobile Market — must be able to lift 75 pounds;

Bed Prep & Composting (20% - 8 hrs/week)*:

Prepare and build-out fields for seeding, planting and transplanting;

Applying vermin, compost or other soil amendments to crops;

Compost processing and record keeping of expired crops and produce;

General Farm Upkeep (15 - 6 hrs/week)*:

Opening & Closing checklists;

Maintaining records for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) requirements;

Ensuring farm is clean of debris, garbage, signs are hung up, etc;

Daily reporting to supervisor with weekly progress reports submitted;

Animal Care (15% - 6 hrs / week)*:

Animal Care - provide daily feed and water, cleaning housing areas of animals once a week or more frequently, as needed;

Special Projects & Other, as needed:

Construction and repair of hoop-houses and additional infrastructure on farm sites, as needed;

Occasional transportation of supplies to farm locations, as needed;

Assisting in other farm tasks, programs, and events, as needed

**These projected time allocations represent an estimated average time only - actual time will be tracked weekly and adjusted seasonally based on seasonal farm needs.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• At least one full growing season (spring-summer-fall) of on-the-job work, volunteering, or apprenticing at a farm; exceptions apply for candidates with a strong reference from one of our Collective partners;

• Experience growing crops from the following families: brassicas, alliums, nightshades, legumes, cucurbits, root crops, cut salad greens, etc;

• Basic knowledge of safe power tool use;

• Ability to problem solve;

• Excellent physical stamina;

• Ability to lift 75 pounds;

• COVID-19 Vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption with mandatory weekly testing

• Able to work early mornings, weekends, and occasional holidays

• Preferred: Valid Driver’s License, clean driving record and willingness to drive;

• Preferred: IL Pesticide Applicator License

• Preferred: Familiarity with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP); Organic Certification & FSMA requirements

• Excellent organizational, communication and follow-through skills;

• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries in working with co-workers and teens;

• Ability to think critically and creatively;

• Willingness to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment, but can work unsupervised to complete the job;

• Basic familiarity with Google Workspace & G Suite, and/or willingness to learn;

• Passion for food justice, youth development, and urban farming.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions:

• Must be willing and prepared to work outdoors in all weather conditions (hot, humid, rainy, cold, snowy);

• This position requires operation of several different types of power equipment and machinery to carry out responsibilities of the role, including: tiller, weed wacker, Dingo, Gator, lawn mower, air compressor, drills, saw, etc.;

• This position requires daily use and safe handling of farm tools including wheelbarrows, tools, hand tools, irrigation equipment;

Location/Hours:

• South Chicago Farm 9001 S Mackinaw Ave, Chicago, IL 60617 (willingness to travel, but this is home base)

• 8:30 am to 5 pm (early start depending on weather)

• Sunday - Thursday

Salary:

• $20 to $21 per hour