ECOLOGY ACTION POSITION:
GROW BIOINTENSIVE Farmers
Position: GROW BIOINTENSIVE Farmer
Location: Mini-Farm – Mendocino County, CA
Date: Feb 2013
Position Overview:
Ecology Action is currently seeking 1 to 3 farmers as part of staff for three separate sites in Mendocino County California.
The GROW BIOINTENSIVE method is a system of sustainable mini-farming that is designed to dramatically increase food production, rapidly build farmable soil, increase income and provide ecosystem services such as improved water holding capacity, specie biodiversity, increase sequestration of carbon to mitigate greenhouse gases, and other benefits.
This position will work closely with Assistant Garden Managers, apprentices, seasonal garden interns, workshop participants, as well as other staff. There will be a range of tasks and responsibilities, including garden planning, bed preparation, planting, composting, weeding, watering, harvesting, data collection and record keeping. Other farm positions, such as Mini-Farm Managers, Assitant Managers and Field Coordinators are often selected from this group.
The ideal candidate will be able to work within a research, training and farming structure, with the ability to be flexible and adaptive, as well as draw on the innate skills of working on the land. Good interpersonal skills are necessary in order to be a team player as well as interacting with the people that come for tours and short trainings. The successful candidate will be able to give and receive instruction as required. We have a group of international interns every year, so openness and acceptance of others perspectives and opinions is highly valued. A secondary language, particularly Spanish or French, will be a plus.
We desire to bring a candidate who is willing to take on a variety of tasks, and is not afraid to take on special project. To ensure continuity of our research, we are looking for long-term farmers: a 3-5 year committment is requested, and preference will be given to those willing to make a 5-10 year committment.
Background on Ecology Action:
Ecology Action is an educational nonprofit organization that has spent over a third of a century developing and codifying the organic GROW BIOINTENSIVE Sustainable Mini-Farming approach that is low-cost and non-polluting. It maximizes agricultural yields, builds soil fertility, and minimizes inputs of water, energy, and nutrients in organic fertilizer form. Ecology Action has demonstrated results in helping communities in the U.S. and worldwide to grow plentiful and nutritious food without depleting precious natural resources, and by using sophisticated, yet low-technology approaches to farming and marketing.
Ecology Action’s work is centered at its Common Ground Research and Demonstration Garden/Mini-Farm located in Willits in northern California. The site was chosen due to its difficult growing conditions, including poor soil quality and hilly terrain, to best demonstrate the effectiveness of the GROW BIOINTENSIVE approach and its adaptability to diverse climates and cultures. The garden serves as one of the oldest, long-term sustainable agriculture research projects in the world.
Duties and Responsibilities in the Research Garden:
Assist with raised-bed growing area (approx. 10,000+ sq. ft.)
Assist with supervision and teaching/training of 4 to 6 apprentices and/or interns
Daily gardening tasks
Data collection
Teaching Responsibilities:
Under the guidance of the Garden Manager prepare GROW BIOINTENSIVE topical and crop classes for students and the general public
Outreach Education:
Assist with 4 tours annually
Assist with 2 3-day workshops annually
Teach at our Palo Alto location periodically
Research:
Assist with management of data
Desired Attributes:
3 years of organic agricultural experience, either based on a degree in Sustainable Agriculture or related field, or from life experience.
Cross-cultural experience a plus
Strong communication skills
Excellent organizational skills
Flexibility
Desire to live and work in community
A self-starter, solutions-oriented person and a co-creative team player
Desire for continued training, including using Ecology Action’s Apprentice Program’s objectives in teaching and learning
Ability to work with Microsoft package applications—especially Excel
Ability to work with MAC computers
Knowledge of data management systems a plus
Salary and Benefits:
$20,800 annual salary
$200 monthly medical stipend
Up to $600 reimbursable for dental/vision care annually
4 weeks of paid annual vacation upon completion of 1st year
8 paid holidays each year
Onsite housing is sometimes available
Timeline and Application Procedure:
Submit resumes to: Jake Blehm, Assistant Director, Ecology Action, 5798 Ridgewood Rd., Willits, CA 95490 or email to: jakeblehm[at]growbiointensive.org
Preferred start date: As soon as possible, but we will work with the prospective candidates. We are currently anticipating hiring a farmer by April 7, 2013.
Applications will be accepted until we find the right candidate. Thank you for your interest in Ecology Action!