Join the CloverCroft Team
Employment Overview:
In 2024 we will raise 2 acres of vegetables, 1/4 acre of fruit trees, 1500 broiler chickens, 100 hens, and 4 beehives. Our farm is focussed on minimal soil disturbance; using our hands to care for crops, rather than machinery. We weed, plant, and harvest by hand. We're a small farm, and we work together as a team. Everyone shares in the big jobs of weeding, planting, harvesting, and cleaning and packing produce. Some team members also specialize in particular areas of the farm, such as tractor operation or caring for seedlings in the nursery.
We typically work 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday and divide weekend work fairly. A few employees are scheduled to start earlier or end later on certain days to help us prepare for, or finish up, the day's work. For most of the year, we follow a weekly schedule of harvests and deliveries. On Mondays and Wednesdays the entire crew typically works toward harvesting and washing produce. That produce is then stored in our coolers and then taken to market, or picked up by farm members. On Tuesdays, and Thursdays, we have the chance to go to market and show off what we have grown, and develop relationships with the people we grow for. The rest of the work week is spent doing the work of growing our crops: sowing seeds, transplanting seedlings, weeding, training plants, and so on. Livestock care and care of the forest garden will be determined as interest and experience are presented.
Why work for us?
We're serious about what we do. We have fun while we work; we laugh, tell stories, create the best vegetable puns, chat with the kids, and look at the bugs and the birds. But we mainly work while we work. We delight in this good work: the work that feeds people, the work done by the hands we know, the work that keeps the land healthy and beautiful, and biodiverse. We love the sight of a well-weeded row, a neatly trained tomato vine, a crate of red peppers, or soil washing off of our hands after a good afternoon of work. If you like a job well done, you'll be happy and valued here.
We respect people. We deeply appreciate what others do on our farm. Many of our most joyful and vivid memories are of the work we did alongside employees. We are considerate and respectful of personal time and needs. We devote much of our time and thought to training our staff, answering their questions, and making sure they understand their work.
We're a farm that produces. While all farms are subject to the vagaries of unpredictable weather and mechanical breakdowns, we have put years of experience, thought, and planning into shaping methods that work to preserve local food security, and to regenerate the soil that sustains us. We organize our time and our tools. You'll work hard here, but your work won't be wasted. If you want to learn how to farm vegetables yourself, you'll see an excellent example of a system that works.
Our Standards
We've listed here the qualities which distinguish successful from an unsuccessful farmer - dividing a productive and satisfied team who raise fantastic food for people in our community, from employees who are not cut out for this work. These are the standards by which we judge applicants. We're laying them out not to be harsh, but to be clear. You should read and understand these standards before you apply or interview here.
You must be able to do repetitive physical work outdoors in hot, cold, and rainy weather. Your knees and back must withstand bending, kneeling, stooping, and sitting on the ground long periods.
You must work carefully and be detail-oriented. We are picky and fastidious. Our quality standards are exacting.
At the same time, you must be fast. Not sloppy, rushed, or careless, but quick and efficient. Time is money; and money pays you, pays us, and keeps the farm afloat.
You must communicate and cooperate with your co-workers. There are few things more frustrating than work which was left undone, was done poorly, or took too long because workers did not communicate well with one another or work together.
In the end, we are flexible and understanding. We recognize and appreciate human differences, and we've worked happily and long beside employees who've had some shortcomings in the areas above but who were trying their honest best. But without exceptions, you must have a good attitude. We have no tolerance for people who don't respect their work and their co-workers. If you're lazy or rude, then you won't fit in.
You do not need experience. Many great farmers have come here with no experience growing vegetables. However, team members with experience are likely to start with higher pay and more responsibilities. You will finish the season feeling confident about growing good food.
The Power of Diversity
The applicant selection process reflects CloverCroft’s commitment to a healthy and diverse work place
At CloverCroft, we believe in the power of diversity. We proactively seek to have strong representation of women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and visible minorities in our organization. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a safe, inclusive, equitable, and welcoming learning and working environment for all of our employees regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or cultural background. We’re working hard to create opportunities and training for BIPOC farmers - hit up farmer Ryan and we can see what would fit here.
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If all that sits well with you, we would love to hear from you. Visit the links above to see what interests you the most.