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. 

^{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. 

Food Connects is an equal opportunity workplace that does not discriminate on the basis of disability or other legally protected categories. If an employee has a disability that makes it difficult to perform their job duties, they are encouraged to notify us to discuss reasonable accommodations. 

About Food Connects

Food Connects is a nonprofit organization based in Brattleboro, VT. We distribute regional foods through our Food Hub, provide educational and consulting services to bring producers to market, and inspire kids to love local foods through our Farm to School Program.

We partner with producers and customers across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts to transform the local food system. We’re growing quickly and are looking to expand our fun and quirky team.

Position Summary

The Fleet & Facilities Coordinator assists with maintenance of Food Hub infrastructure, including vehicles, equipment, office, and food storage spaces. This role must have exceptional mechanical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose and suggest repairs for a fleet of diesel trucks. This is a hands-on position with the expectation that this individual will be willing to jump in where needed to support the team. This position is supervised by the FH Fleet & Facilities Manager and collaborates closely with the Food Hub’s Operations Team. 

Depending on the applicant, this position may be trained to operate the Food Hub fleet vehicles in order to cover driving shifts. 

Core Competencies

• Attention to Communication
• Task Management
• Time Management
• Fostering Teamwork
• Flexibility

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Fleet & Facilities Coordination

• Prepare vehicles each morning for the day’s routes
• Complete maintenance, cleaning, and repair logs in Google Sheets
• Coordinate purchases of necessary supplies and resources
• Regularly update spreadsheets with fleet and facility information and service providers.
• Research alternative service providers to increase resiliency and cost-effectiveness
• Maintain organized inventory of fleet and facility supplies.
• Update list of needed tools for our facility to prioritize possible purchases 
• Assist in improving the safety, usability, and reliability of fleet vehicles

Fleet & Facilities Compliance & Sanitation

• Ensure weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual preventative maintenance services are completed as scheduled.
• Make appointments with service providers for scheduled service, and coordinates within Food Hub operations. 
• Wash vehicles on a monthly basis

Additional Responsibilities

• Fill in for other staff when needed. 
• Assist with training new employees, as needed.
• Occasional paid off-hours meetings and events (with plenty of advance notice).
• Attend regular one-on-one check-ins with supervisor.
• Engage in annual self-review. 
• Participate in annual peer-review processes for employees as required.
• Other duties as needed to assist Food Connects in fulfilling its mission.

Food Hub Deliveries

There is an opportunity in this position to cover Food Hub delivery and pick-up routes. Please indicate in your cover letter/resume whether driving a delivery vehicle is something you would be interested in and able to do. 

Schedule:

Morning availability is required for this position. The ideal candidate is able to work 30-40 hours per week divided into 4-5 shifts, during our operating hours listed below. For the right candidate, we will consider a more part-time (< 30 hour/week) schedule. 

• Monday: 7:30AM-5PM
• Tues: 9AM-5PM
• Weds: 7AM-5PM 
• Thurs: 7:30AM-5PM
• Fri: 7AM-5PM

Work Conditions: 

• The position is based in the Food Connects Food Hub facility in Brattleboro, VT.
• The duties for this position involve working in a warehouse environment, delivery vehicles, and an office/desk workstation.
• Some federal holidays may require at least part-time work. Adequate advanced notice will be provided.
• As a hands-on position, this role requires onsite work, with minimal opportunities to work remotely. 

Physical Demands - Required: 

• Ability to repeatedly lift and move products (up to 50 lbs) as needed.
• Ability to operate pallet jacks and lift trucks, as needed.
• Ability and willingness to drive delivery vans and trucks, as needed.
• Ability to drive continuously for a full workday.
• Ability to work and drive in variant weather/temperature conditions.
• This position entails some use of a desktop or laptop computer, sitting or standing at a desk workstation.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications 

• At least 1 year of experience in one or more of the following types of roles: 
• Vehicle repair and maintenance
• Facility repairs and maintenance
• Farming/Manufacturing 
• Other applicable experience
• At least 21 years old (legal requirement for operating DOT-registered vehicles). 
• A driving record free of serious infractions in the last three years.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain detailed records. 
• Reliable transportation for getting to headquarters in Brattleboro, VT.
• Reliable cell phone with a data plan.
• Ability to obtain DOT Medical Card and drive diesel trucks up to 26 feet box size (CDL NOT required)
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 
• Comfortable with change and growth.
• A can-do attitude with willingness to support the team as needed.
• At least three professional references.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience driving box delivery trucks / straight trucks or other comparably-sized vehicles. Note that our trucks DO NOT require a CDL. 
• Experience in logistics and/or food distribution. 
• Knowledge of basic food safety regulations.
• Experience operating pallet jacks and forklifts. 
• Familiarity and alignment with Food Connects’ mission and organizational culture. 
• Interest in local foods and community-centered distribution.
• Familiarity with the geographical area of delivery services.

Compensation

• This is an hourly, non-exempt position.
• Beginning at $20.00 hourly. Negotiable depending on experience.
• This position has access to the following benefits
  • Paid time off: vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
  • Short-term disability insurance (for employees working 20+ hours/week)
  • Life insurance (for employees working 20+ hours/week)
  • Access to vision and dental insurance
  • 15% employee discount on food purchases. 
  • 2% retirement contribution 

The Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE), based in Hardwick, VT, seeks a Program Manager for Just Cut. Just Cut is an essential connection between food growers, buyers, and eaters. Our team purchases, inspects, washes, and prepares Vermont-grown produce for institutional kitchens both large and small. By partnering with local farmers, food buyers across New England, and a regional delivery network, we help to ensure the viability of Vermont’s working landscapes and provide greater accessibility of high-quality produce to all markets.The Just Cut Program Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations involved in the aggregation, processing, distribution, and coordination of ready-to-use products.

JOB DETAILS 

Position: Just Cut Program Manager

Reports to: Food Hub Operations Manager

Schedule: Monday through Friday, onsite in Hardwick, VT

Compensation:  $58,000 - $62,0000 /year, full time,  40 hours a week, exempt

Benefits: Paid Time Off, SIMPLE IRA, Qualified Small Employer HRA, Employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance, quarterly phone stipend, professional development compensation

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Office/Administrative work (60%): 

Sales and Customer Service

Work with our team and partner to optimize production capacity, adjust sales goals, ensure safe, timely and appropriate delivery and distribution of our products and raw produce to our locale, and provide bookkeeper with invoicing needs, expense reporting and record upkeep

Program Operations

Procure and manage the raw product supply in accordance with production needs, maintain materials and supplies inventory, manage Just Cut customer service relationships, oversee the Just Cut budget and assist with grant applications and reporting

Production (40%)

Effectively supervise Just Cut team/production staff and work in the kitchen to support production when needed

Lead the production planning process and manage production and kitchen space in compliance with all food safety protocols

Oversee and support the aggregation, preparation, packaging, and shipment of weekly Just Cut product orders

TO APPLY

Review the full job posting on our website and then email us with your resume, cover letter or letter of interest, and include ‘Just Cut Production Manager’ in your email subject line. We’re interested to hear your thoughts on any life or work experience as it relates to this position. Applicants who go on to interview with us will also be asked to provide references. Our application deadline is June 30, 2024.  Initial phone interviews will begin by July 5. Let us know if you have any questions!

Hello there NOFA VT community,

My name is Abi Charlebois, I am a 24 year old woman and curious naturalist with a love and deep passion for baking bread, cooking plant based meals, and being out in the garden. I am seeking private housing, ideally no more than $1200/month with utilities, a kitchen, and full bath. I am looking to rent/lease 20-30 miles from Woodstock, VT starting in July for the duration of my employment with the National Park Service. I'd be happy to provide professional and housing references upon request. If you feel you have something to offer, my email is [email protected]. I look forward to connecting with you!

Warm regards,

Abi Charlebois