YORK FRESH FOOD FARMS
Job Description
JOB TITLE: Farm Hand
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:
York Fresh Food Farms is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization that operates a year-round, sustainable urban vegetable farm in South Central Pennsylvania with a June to November Mobile Produce Market operation, winter markets and FarmShares (a year-round CSA). Our mission is to cultivate community health through agriculture, access, and affordability by growing, selling, and donating safe, nutritious, affordable vegetables for the underserved, food desert neighborhoods of York, PA.
REPORTS TO:
This position reports to the Farm Supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Dependable, hard-working and able to follow verbal instructions. Ability to work as part of a team. A positive attitude, good sense of humor, motivation, enthusiasm, and a strong desire to learn. Good people and communication skills as well as being able to talk and work with culturally diverse groups of volunteers and neighbors are a plus. Being a York City resident and fluency in Spanish are a plus but not required.
GENERAL DUTIES:
The Farm Hand is a field labor job that will include preparing the soil for growing, digging, mulching, field transplanting and planting, weeding by hand or with tools, irrigation, trellising, harvesting, washing and packaging produce for sale or donation, greenhouse production, basic tool and equipment cleaning, sanitation and maintenance, and record keeping. The job will also include assisting the Farm Supervisor or Operations Coordinator with special projects, maintenance, repair or other activities and running work related errands.
Responsibilities
- Perform the physical labor of field and high tunnel preparation, planting, cultivating, weeding, thinning, pruning, trellising, mulching, composting, integrated pest management, harvesting to ensure high quality and timely production, washing, packing, loading, delivering, unloading produce, tilling, laying plastic mulch, sowing cover crops, mowing, light construction, seeding and greenhouse production.
- Perform general farm upkeep such as irrigation system and facilities maintenance and light construction projects.
- Perform basic tool and equipment maintenance.
- Follow farm safety, food safety, farm sanitation and emergency procedures.
Work Schedule
This position is part-time and field based in person. It requires early morning, some weekend and possibly evening hours, with the major part of the schedule dictated by the type and timing of farm work that needs to be done.
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Ability to do manual labor and work outdoors in the fields or in our high tunnels (large, unheated plastic greenhouses).
- Ability to work independently and efficiently as well as with a team.
- Ability to focus on tasks until they are completed satisfactorily.
- Ability to follow instructions and perform and complete tasks assigned to you with minimal to no supervision.
- Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS:
The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.
- Ability to do strenuous outdoor and indoor activities sometimes in temperatures below 35° F and above 90° F.
- Ability to work in adverse conditions and extreme weather such as heat, humidity, cold, dirt, dust, pollen, precipitation, wind, and sun.
- Gross manipulation of legs, feet, wrists, and hands and exceptional hearing and vision. Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
- Ability to work weekends as needed.
- Must have reliable transportation to and from work.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving record (if driving farm vehicles).