Market Garden Assistant

ABOUT TABULA RASA FARMS 

Tabula Rasa Farms is a 440 acre, diversified, regenerative farm that sits amongst the foothills of Oregon’s Coast Range, 4 miles west of Carlton, OR. We have an integrated livestock and garden operation where we raise grass-fed/grass-finished cattle, forested and pasture-raised heritage breed hogs, laying hens, and turkeys. Our 3 acre market garden runs a 4-season program growing 140 varieties of vegetables and fruits supporting local restaurants and a CSA program. 

Tabula Rasa Farms is part of the ecosystem of The Ground which is based in the beautiful Willamette Valley. The Ground is a business that connects farm, food, and people through hospitality. 

WHY WE NEED YOU  

We are seeking a self-motivated, skilled individual with a passion for gardening to assist during our peak season in our market garden. This is a full-time or part-time position based on availability.

The Market Garden Assistant works closely with the Market Garden Manager, Assistant Manager and other farm employees to assist with planting, harvesting, washing, packaging, and cleaning fresh produce. Your responsibilities include helping with weeding, pruning, plant and soil maintenance, seeding, transplanting, and more. Other duties include keeping accurate records of all market garden operations, such as seeding and harvesting schedules, pest and diseases. As a garden assistant, you will use a variety of hand tools and machinery to complete your tasks, so you should be familiar with garden equipment. Occasionally, you may also help with feeding, watering, and moving livestock as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Be receptive to learning new methods of farming/gardening and sharing existing knowledge of farming/gardening.
• Support food production goals and ongoing garden maintenance through daily tasks such as seeding, planting, watering, weeding, mulching and mowing.
• Propagate plants from seed in high tunnel. 
• Process vegetables for distribution including harvesting, washing, bunching, and packing.
• Perform light data entry and other record-keeping.
• Maintain garden areas by operating gas-powered string trimmer, tiller, and mower as needed.
• Install, maintain, and operate drip and overhead irrigation systems.
• Occasional farm and animal assistance dependent on need and other work priorities   

Qualifications and Skills:

Must-Have:

• Current, valid driver’s license and clean driving record in order to be insurable for farm vehicle use
• Reliable transportation
• 1-2 years of experience in small-scale farming or vegetable gardening.
• Ability to maintain focus while performing repetitive tasks
• Ready to work outside, in all types of weather
• Able to meet the physical demands of farm labor, such as walking, standing, reaching, stooping, squatting, lifting up to 50 lbs and working indoors and outdoors in cold, hot or wet conditions on uneven surfaces
• Excited to learn/deepen knowledge of market gardening best practices and techniques
• Open to direction and working well in a team

Nice-to-Have:

• Comfortable using Microsoft suite.
• Experience with BCS (or other) walk-behind-tractors and implements.
• Experience with irrigation system installation and repair, both drip and overhead.
• Experience starting plants in a greenhouse or high tunnel.
• Experience using tractors, skid steers, and related implements.

Schedule:

• Full time. Average 40hrs/week. Up to 50hrs/week during peak season.

Salary and Benefits:

• $17/hr starting pay
• PTO accrual
• Medical, dental, vision, and 401K

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