Black Dirt Farm is an integrated and diversified agroecological family farm in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom designed to mimic the carbon cycle. We operate a year-round food scrap collection route to collect organic discards from our community. We strive to put this “waste” to as much positive use as we can.  We blend the food scraps into a compost mix which provides forage for our laying hens, then make compost and worm castings with the excess food and manure, and finally, we sell and use the resulting products to nourish our soils and crops.  Our farm is firmly based in regenerative agricultural practices and the creation of ecologically-thriving and socially-just food systems.

The Office Manager is responsible for all administrative tasks of the farm office including bookkeeping, sales and marketing, shipping and deliveries, packaging inventory, and customer support for all of the farm’s products and services.

Please visit our website for a full job description: https://www.blackdirtfarm.com/employment

Black Dirt Farm is an integrated and diversified agroecological family farm in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom designed to mimic the carbon cycle. We operate a year-round food scrap collection route to collect organic discards from our community. We strive to put this “waste” to as much positive use as we can.  We blend the food scraps into a compost mix which provides forage for our laying hens, then make compost and worm castings with the excess food and manure, and finally, we sell and use the resulting products to nourish our soils and crops.  Our farm is firmly based in regenerative agricultural practices and the creation of ecologically-thriving and socially-just food systems.

The Compost Operator plays a central, multifaceted role in the farm’s composting operation. The Compost Operator fulfills two primary roles, 1) producing compost and managing composting operations, and 2) managing the farm’s worm herd and producing worm castings. The Operator’s time will be roughly 60-70% composting operations and 30-40% worm operations.   

COMPANY DESCRIPTION 

Lareau Farm and Forest in Waitsfield, Vermont is looking to fill one more full time Organic Market Gardener position. This work starts immediately and goes until November 1st. Year round work may be available in other departments.

The 25 acre farm is located on the west side of the Mad River and is framed by State and Town Forest reserves. The farm is home to the original American Flatbread restaurant, a twelve room farmhouse inn, a wedding pavilion, a restored 19th c. dairy barn that hosts a series of summer art shows, a Community Garden, and the Mad River Valley Shares Victory Garden and farm stand.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The 2 acre market garden supports the food needs of the restaurant, inn, wedding pavilion, and special philanthropic projects. The garden is managed for nutrient-density and biodiversity. The work is both physically and mentally engaging and includes soil preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting, organic pest management, compost management, lawn mowing, fence building, animal care (pigs, chickens, and turkeys), wood stacking, light carpentry (optional), various small projects, and speaking about the gardens and farm with visitors and guests (the farm hosts several thousand guests each summer some of whom walk through the gardens). Farm work experience and/or academic training in the life sciences are desirable but not mandatory. The ideal candidate will be willing to work one shift a week with our events crew on Saturday evening, to equal four garden days and one event evening each week. 

COMPENSATION

Compensation includes a base rate of $18/hour with enhanced gratuity pay for event hours, six paid holidays per year, paid sick leave, and some meals. Primitive housing may be available. 

APPLY

To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to our Garden Manager, Brittany Atkins at [email protected] or American Flatbread at Lareau Farm and Forest 46 Lareau Rd. Waitsfield, Vt. 05673. For any additional questions, contact owner George Schenk by phone at 802-496-7814 or email Brittany. 

The Seasonal Growing Assistant is responsible for raising organic vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit, including seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, washing, packing, and various farm maintenance tasks. This seasonal position is primarily focused on maintaining and improving the perennials and annual veggie beds.

The anticipated contract end date is October 2024.

Responsibilities

• Fieldwork: weed, pest, and disease management, planting and cultivation, irrigation management
• Operate on-farm equipment (walk-behind tractor, gator, etc.)
• Routine care of perennials such as pollinator habitats, orchard trees, berries, and flowers
• Maintain a high level of aesthetics for all grounds and facilities on the farm
• Assist team members in general maintenance and upkeep of Philo Ridge Farm
• Support other agriculture operations on the farm as needed
• Assist in stocking the Farm Stand with fresh produce and flowers
• Support and staff the Farm Stand as scheduled

Qualifications

• At least one full season of garden or landscape experience
• Plant identification skills and experience working with a variety of plants such as vegetables, annuals, perennials, and flowers
• Experience using various gardening tools and equipment
• Accepting the repetitive nature of farming and being willing to do certain tasks, such as extensive weeding, mowing, and mulching, as necessary
• Strong work ethic and the aptitude to keep a consistent pace throughout each day
• Willingness to work in all weather conditions
• Reliable and able to arrive on time
• Valid driver’s license

To Apply:

Candidates can send an email to [email protected] with “Seasonal Growing Assistant” in the subject line.  Please include: 

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Two references and their contact information, including phone number and email address
• Availability, including start date, end date (if applicable), and any planned time off

No phone calls, please. Qualified candidates will be contacted directly.

^{Tags: vegetable ferments; sauerkrauts; kimchi; fermented hot sauces; kvass and wild-fermented fruit sodas.} 

Hello farmers!

Making a living growing and selling organic vegetables is fulfilling and rewarding life work. However, it is hard work full of challenges, and there are many other organic farmers competing for customers, so the profit margin is narrow.

It is a well-established fact that value-added products are made using vegetables, milk, meat, grains, etc... produced on the farm can significantly boost farmers' income. But, due to the long hours of hard work required to grow organic vegetables, farmers rarely have the time or energy to develop such additional enterprises on their farm.

My name is Jerome, I am a former organic vegetable grower, and I have a great deal of experience creating, marketing and selling various fermented vegetables, sauerkrauts, kimchi, hot sauces, vegetables kvass, shiitake and oyster mushrooms as well as artisan sourdough bread at farmers markets.  

I would take great pleasure in helping you develop such products. In addition, I can help you transform low value items, i.e.; imperfect “ugly” vegetables and fruits, fruit pomace, wild-foraged herbs, fruits and mushrooms into valuable value-added products such as beautiful vegetable ferments, tasty pestos and salsas, artisan vinegars, wild fermented sodas, fruit kvass, dried herbs and mushrooms, etc...

My goal is to help you set up and run a sustainable value-added business based on your farm’s production and the resources of the surrounding land. I can organize and manage marketing and sales as needed. I have experience contacting health food stores, chefs, co-ops, and doing food demonstrations at farmers markets. I am passionate about this work.

What I need: access to a certified kitchen, either on the farm or nearby (community kitchen, commercial kitchen, etc..), a walk-in cooler to store fermented products, a work area, a starting budget (to be determined) keeping in mind that I will quickly generate my own budget based on a percentage of my sales. And of course, a place to live with food provided.

Does additional income sound appealing? Need help to make it happen? Don’t hesitate to call me, help is only a call away.  

I can also come to your farm strictly as a consultant to help you evaluate the local markets and financial resources and determine what potential value-added business could be realistically developed that would fit best with your farm production, location, and resources.

I look forward to discussing in person details, logistics, and potential business ideas with you.