Jobs
Seeking Seasonal Employee(s) at Wellspring Forest Farm LLC in the Finger Lakes Region, NY
About Us
We are a small agroforestry-inspired farm in the Finger Lakes Region of New York on the Indigenous Lands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ (Cayuga). This will be our thirteenth year of stewarding 35 acres of pasture and woodlands.
Our main commercial crops are mushrooms, produced outdoors and in our indoor facility. Our agritourism operation includes hosting short-term guests at our yurt and cottage rentals and providing occasional tours and workshops.
Adjacent to these enterprises we conduct research, host educational events, and produce on a small scale a range of items, including maple syrup, lamb in silvopasture grazing systems, elderberry, and nursery trees.
We value community, honesty, integrity, hard work, and being in service. As we farm, we seek ways to address the intersections of climate change, social equity, and environmental restoration.
Learn more about us at www.WellspringForestFarm.com
Job Description
We seek individuals who identify as self-driven, detail-oriented, hard-working, and skilled at honest and open communication.
Responsibilities
(40%) Mushrooms: We manage both outdoor shiitake logs and indoor production of oyster, lion's mane, and king oyster. Weekly work includes harvesting, inoculating logs and blocks, composting spent blocks, cleaning and sanitizing production spaces, and packing and delivering to restaurants, our CSA, and farmers markets.
(40%) Agritourism Rentals: Clean and prepare two rental spaces several times per week as rental guests come and go, and take aesthetic care of the surrounding grounds with general landscaping, trail maintenance and occasional painting and repairs.
(20%) Projects: As the season and time dictates, time allows and your interest lies, engage in rotating the grazing sheep, forestry and chainsaw work, planting and maintaining trees, caring for trees in the nursery, and engaging in farm tours and education events.
Employment Dates / Schedule
April 1 to November 1. Depending on applicants, we may hire two part-time employees for an average 15 - 20 hours per week each, as many farm tasks go smoother with multiple sets of hands. We may be open to one full-time person if it's a good fit.
Our ideal schedule is usually three days of the week, 9am - 1pm, and one full day of work, 9am - 5pm. The week of July 4th we need the person in this position to handle farm operations independently as we will be out of town.
Compensation & Benefits
$17 - $19/hr depending on experience. Workers comp is provided as dictated by New York State Law. We are committed to providing above a living wage as defined by the Tompkins County Workers Rights Center.
Employees receive a weekly share of mushrooms, a full vegetable share we pay for from a local CSA farm, and free access to our online courses and on-farm workshops as they occur during your tenure. Sick and vacation days are also offered, exact number TBD when an employment offer is made.
Skills & Qualifications
Minimum of one season of experience working on another farm
Familiarity with machinery including tractors, chainsaws, and power tools (additional safety training will occur so proficiency, not expertise, is required)
Communicative about needs, questions and farm happenings
Detail-oriented and thoughtful about keeping spaces organized and clean
High cleanliness standards for the rentals - higher than personal standards!
Personality to observe farm systems and initiative problem solving
Excellent initiative and follow-through with tasks
A sense of pride and integrity in doing good work and holding oneself accountable
Emotional maturity and life experience
Applicants who are happy to work independently, as well as in teams
A clear passion for farming and food, interest in the intersection of farming & justice
Interest in lifelong learning and interaction with our students
Reliable attendance at weekly meetings, organized to track tasks and report on progress
Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in a variety of weather conditions
Commuting vs Living On Farm
There is no reliable public transportation to our farm. Employees must have their own vehicle.
There is the option to camp on-site for the summer free of charge in your own housing, as many previous employees have done and enjoyed immensely. We have a rustic outdoor hot shower, compost toilet, and swimming pond on site. These facilities are shared with others when we are conducting educational programs and need to be maintained and kept clean throughout the season. We have had past employees bring their camper or tiny house, which we can negotiate. We cannot provide housing.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
Wellspring Forest Farm provides equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
As white people holding the deed to land still home to the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ, we recognize our privilege and power and are committed to actively exploring issues with openness and honesty, to dismantle racism and discrimination in our work, business, and the larger world. We encourage people of all backgrounds and races to consider applying.
TO APPLY:
Please send the following items to stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com as a single DOC or PDF:
LETTER introducing yourself and answering the questions:
How do your personal goals relate to our work?
(www.WellspringForestFarm.com to learn more)
Your experience with farm production systems, mushrooms or other agroforestry systems?
What does detail-oriented mean to you? What does hard working look like?
What approach to work do you take? What does it mean to have “completed” a task?
What is one skill you’d like to build while working with us?
Are you interested in full or part time work?
What is your housing and vehicle situation?
RESUME or a listing of relevant farm and other life experience
2 -3 references from previous and related experiences (email and phone number)
Send docs to: stevegabrielfarmer@gmail.com with "JOB APPLICATION" in the subject line.
We review applications as they are received and will start interviews in early February until the position(s) are filled.