About Apple Seeds:
Apple Seeds is a nonprofit organization based in Fayetteville, Arkansas that works to educate and excite children about fresh fruits and vegetables while increasing access to healthy food. Our mission is to inspire healthy living through garden-based education. For more information about Apple Seeds, visit https://appleseedsnwa.org/.
About position:
The farm manager is a highly engaging player on our team and in the community. The farmer lays the foundation for a fun and interactive garden that supports youth programming. The 2 acre Teaching farm is inside a city park and includes a teaching kitchen, office, wash station, high tunnel, fruit tree orchard, production rows, raised garden beds, compost facility, and all the equipment needed for a rewarding career in organic gardening.
The farm manager holds extensive knowledge of gardening and serve as the garden expert for the team.
Farm Responsibilities:
• Execute and delegate tasks as needed for crop management, planting, seeding, cover cropping, weeding, construction of gardens, irrigation installation and maintenance, orchard maintenance, and grounds maintenance for a year-round garden that supports programming.
• Responsible for maintenance of grounds and any new additions to grounds including garden beds around the office, mowing grass, high tunnel maintenance, fence repairs, water testing, irrigation set up/ disconnect, tool shed, and orderly storage of tools/gardening materials.
• Organization and facilitation of weekly volunteer groups ranging in size from 1 to 30 people.
• Production of 5,000 to 7,000 pounds of produce annually: crop planning, seeding, planting, ordering materials, irrigation, and use of greenhouse for starting plants.
• Responsible for maintaining GAP standards and protocol for farm/food safety.
• Maintaining system for recording data for harvests and plantings.
• Ensure the gardens are clean, orderly, safe and that all areas are regularly maintained including bird house, rpz box, rafters of pavilion and wash station, gutters, exterior water pipes, compost unit,
• Utilize and manage operational budgets according to Apple Seeds policies to ensure proper stewardship of all funds.
Managerial Responsibilities:
• Manage designated coordinators, part-time staff members, interns and volunteers, overseeing the completion of duties and tasks in their role(s)
• Lead onboarding, training, and orientation for new team members
• Consistently teach, train, and lead volunteers, interns, or others on the team in an encouraging and engaging manner.
• Serve as a role model for the organization’s mission, standards, and values.
Outreach Responsibilities:
• Be a welcoming presence and source of information for anyone who stops by the garden.
• Lead and organize 2 workshops a year related to gardening that are free and open to the public.
• Organize, plan and lead or delegate a leader for all garden volunteer groups
Skills and Qualifications:
• Passion for the mission of Apple Seeds and a commitment to the values of the organization: respect, belonging, authenticity, engagement, and growth
• A minimum of 3 years of full-time experience managing sustainable agriculture or related experience.
• Extensive knowledge in farming and gardening
• A positive, team focused, and solutions-oriented attitude with excitement towards helping grow Apple Seeds’ programs
• Proficiency in Google Suite including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides and/or Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Additional Job Requirements:
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and a willingness to drive Apple Seeds’ vehicles
• Agreement to take and pass a criminal background check
• Ability to operate a tractor, pull a trailer, lift heavy objects.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If you are interested in this position, please send a cover letter and resume to the Executive Director, Mary Thompson: mary@appleseedsnwa.org