Willow Brook Farm- Carlton, WA Methow Valley

Position: Farm Crew

Salary: $13.75+ per hour, 24 hours/week

Crew Lead: Eric Wittenbach willowbrook39@yahoo.com

Period of Employment: May 1st- November 15th

Overview

Willow Brook Farm is a small scale, intensive, certified organic vegetable farm located in Carlton, Washington in the beautiful Methow Valley. We produce a variety of vegetables as well as a line of handcrafted cultured food products. Our produce and ferments are sold regionally to stores and restaurants located throughout the Methow Valley and North Central Washington, as well as directly at the Methow Valley Farmer's Market in Twisp.

We have been growing food in the Methow Valley for over 20 years in a manner that strives to be in balance with the natural environment while producing nutrient dense, high quality, ultra-fresh, organic food. The farm uses high tunnels, micro-irrigation, soil building practices, and other principles of small scale intensive farming to maximize production on a small space. We use minimal tilling and primarily hand tools to cultivate our soils in a manner that seeks to maintain soil health. In addition, the farm uses plantings of native and pollinator friendly plants to encourage local biodiversity and healthy pollinator populations.

The position available is to join our Farm Crew. The position will provide exposure to many aspects of small-scale organic farming from seeding to harvesting and packing.

Responsibilities

The work responsibilities for this position will include a variety of activities like planting, transplanting, weeding, field maintenance, plant maintenance, bed preparation, harvesting, washing, and preparing produce for delivery. Large projects are typically completed with a multi-person crew while other tasks, such as foliar feeding, may be solitary projects. The position will provide experience with building healthy soils, use of compost and organic amendments, record keeping, plant care and health, techniques related to harvesting and processing of a variety of vegetables, greenhouse management, and other general farm operations.

Work on the farm is fast paced and at times physically demanding. Good group dynamics and attention to detail are required of crew members. While some tasks required of crew are potentially redundant and/or physically demanding, we do our best to work on large projects in groups, and to vary activities in any given day to reduce fatigue. We ask that crew restrict their use of cell phones to lunch and breaks only during the work day.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Though helpful, no prior farming experience is needed for this position, however the following qualifications are required:

• Willingness to be present with the work.

• Ability to work well both with others and solo.

• Comfort with physical work in potentially demanding and fast paced conditions.

• Good communication skills; ability to ask questions for clarity.

• An appreciation for high quality, nutritious and organic food.

Professional Benefits

At Willow Brook Farm we strive to create a healthy and positive work environment. We strive to pay a living wage and supplement hourly wages with a variety of perks such as produce and food products to take home, as one example. We believe that if we take care of our team, that energy ultimately goes into the produce we sell our community, and we want to keep that high-vibe and well-cared for all the way around. We want to see all people succeed and we aim to treat our crew with love, respect, and appreciation.