Job Description

Around The Bend Farms is hiring a Farm Assistant!

Are you looking to join a passionate, hard-working, and innovative nonprofit team that is rapidly expanding its efforts to make fresh, healthy food more abundant for our community members? Are you looking to be on the leading edge of local food production in Central Oregon? Do you love being outdoors and getting your hands in the dirt for a social cause? Do you love to farm because you're passionate about feeding people in the greatest need? Then perhaps we have the job for you!

Summary: The Farm Assistant plays a key role in supporting the day-to-day operations of both our farms located in Bend and Madras. This position involves hands-on fieldwork, crop care, harvesting, post-harvest processing, distribution, and farm maintenance to ensure healthy, abundant, and high-quality produce. The ideal candidate is reliable and hardworking, has excellent communication skills, and is passionate about sustainable agriculture and community food systems.

This position also supports our CSA program (harvest, packing, and distribution), and the Farm Assistant may occasionally assist with our Around the Bend Gardens maintenance projects.

Desirable Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience working on or operating a small-scale farm
• Strong familiarity with sustainable farming practices and principles such as biodynamic farming, and regenerative farming
• Heavy equipment experience (loaders & tractors)
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Strong computer skills and ability to use various applications, programs, and platforms

Job Description

The Farm Assistant will be responsible for the following duties & tasks:

• Perform daily farm tasks: planting, weeding, irrigation, harvesting, and general maintenance
• Harvest, wash, pack, and prepare produce for CSA distribution
• Support the Lead Farm Manager with CSA logistics, organization, and occasional distribution
• Assist with greenhouse and hydroponic growing systems
• Maintain clean, organized workspaces, tools, and wash/pack areas
• Support farmers markets in Madras and Warm Springs
• Help guide volunteers during farm workdays
• Professional conduct and appropriate work attire at all times
• Coordinate farm site visits with the Lead Farm Manager

Admin tasks & responsibilities, which include:

• Maintaining electronic communication and assorted computer-based tasks
• Using our Google Workspace regularly for communication and organizing work
• Attendance and active participation in regular team meetings
• Tracking supplies and materials, and maintaining inventory
• Communicate regularly with the Lead Farm Manager on priorities, scheduling, and needs

Food Production

• Germinate, transplant, and harvest crops
• Growing in traditional soil beds, Greenhouses, and hydroponic NFTs
• Organize and carry out all post-harvest planning and operations - this includes washing, packing, and proper storage of fresh produce
• Maintain clear, organized, and accurate records of the produce yield, inventory, and growing conditions

General Organization, Safety, & Cleanliness

• Ensure your own safety and the safety of others at all times
• Cleaning, sanitizing (if needed), and maintenance of all required tools/equipment
• Submit all requests to purchase necessary supplies and safety equipment to the Lead Farm Manager
• Everyone who is on the farm needs to wear appropriate clothing and PPE wherever possible.

Work Hours

• This position is year round, with a range of 10 - 15 hours per week; hours fluctuate throughout seasons; flexible hours
• Hourly needs of the position are variable on the flow of the farm. For example, some weeks are 15 hours/week and other weeks are 5 hours; this equals a 10-hour weekly average.
• All work hours shall be regularly updated in Clockify each day that you work.
• Compensation for work performed will be paid bi-weekly, and your time report must be submitted no later than 10:00 am Thursday morning at the end of each pay period.
• More than 15 hours per week shall be discussed and approved in advance by the Executive Director.

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