About the Farm
Blue House Farm is forty acres nestled at the end of a small agricultural valley in Pescadero, California. We grow a diverse variety of certified organic vegetables, fruits and cut flowers year-round. Now in our ninth growing year, we supply our farmers' markets, CSA and wholesale accounts with the highest quality produce available. We are seeking two new Resident Staff members to begin this spring.
JOB POSITIONS – RESIDENT STAFF
Basic responsibilities include:
- Assisting with greenhouse sowings, watering, and fertilizing
- Field irrigation and fertilizing, both overhead and drip
- Basic tractor work (advanced tractor work available with experience)
- Orchard work (primarily harvesting and thinning, some pruning)
- Truck packing and unpacking
- Washing, sorting, and packing produce
- Occasional transplanting, hoeing, and harvesting
- Vending at 1-2 farmers markets per week, which includes driving a box truck, customer service, detailed record-keeping, attention to detail and repetitive heavy lifting
- Occasional store and restaurant deliveries
The work requires the physical and mental capacity to contribute daily to an often rigorous, fast-paced, and deeply rewarding agricultural practice. Staff work part time (20-35 hours per week) from January through March and full-time (50+ hours per week) from April through December.
Qualifications
Applicant should be self-motivated, hard working, eager to learn, have excellent people skills, great multi-tasker, and be in good physical condition. Ability to perform certain tasks such as heavy lifting (over 50#), repetitive grasping, standing, bending, and walking (No applicant will be rejected because of a condition or impairment that, with reasonable accommodation, does not prevent performance of work.) Although we try and keep the work here varied, farming is inherently repetitive. Applicant needs to have a minimum of 2 years growing experience on a production farm. The ability to speak basic, conversational Spanish is strongly desired. Ideal applicant is willing to make a two-year minimum commitment. Most staff stay for 2-3 years. Reliable transportation is required, as we are 5 minutes from the tiny town of Pescadero, 20 minutes to grocery stores, forty-five minutes from Santa Cruz, and one hour from San Francisco.
Housing and Compensation
On-farm housing is available for rent and is strongly encouraged. Housing is in an old farmhouse and is shared with two other staff. Starting pay depends on experience. Group health insurance is provided. Produce provided and plenty of trading possibilities at farmers markets. A multi-week winter and a one-week mid-season unpaid vacation is encouraged. It is a high priority of the farm to provide a quality experience to those working here. The farm participates in the Central Coast CRAFT farmer-training program. An ideal applicant is interested in participating in many aspects of a small-scale, diversified farming operation and has a serious interest in developing the skills necessary to start their own farm.