Sweet Greens Farm is a family farm in Central Virginia growing sustainable cut flowers and specialty produce on over 5 acres. We provide high quality wholesale cut flowers to florists, designers & grocery stores in the Charlottesville and Richmond areas. We also sell at a farmers market in Charlottesville offer bulk flowers and floral design for weddings, events and weekly accounts. We grow in high tunnels and in the field using a combination of tractor and human power with modern scale appropriate tools. We strive to be a positive workplace, maintain a culture of cooperation and respect, and foster professional development through challenging work. Our mission is to spread joy and beauty through local cut flowers, bring healthy food to our community and build living soil for future generations.

We are seeking candidates to join our team for the 2024 season, March 28th-November 26th. Experience on a production farm is strongly preferred. Ideal candidates will have a positive attitude in all weather conditions, a strong interest in flowers, food and farming, be capable of working at an efficient pace and enjoy working outdoors both on a team and individually.

This position is 8-25 hours/week with a focus on farm production and field work. Candidates must be able to work on Thursdays, and optionally Wednesdays and Fridays. Please see our other open positions if you are interested in additional hours.

The emphasis will be on farm production and field work but you may also be involved in cut flower & vegetable harvest and post harvest tasks. While you will be immersed in an idyllic setting, be aware that this position is physically demanding and the work can be fast paced, repetitive and hard on the body. We work in all weather conditions throughout the year, stand up to 7 hours a day, and cut flowers 2-5 hours a day up to 5 days a week in peak seasons.

We work closely with you to train you in our production, harvest and post-harvest practices. Once trained you will be expected to complete tasks independently, efficiently and with attention to detail.

We strive to maintain a positive and welcoming work environment. The farm is our place of business but it is also our home which we share with our adventurous toddler and very friendly extra-large dog, who you will see daily. Our main farm area is set within 15 fenced acres on our 65 acre property which is very peaceful, comprised of rolling hills, creeks, native plants and trees, a pond and lots of wildlife.

We work Monday through Friday on the farm, and attend a farmers market on Saturdays. A typical work day is about 8 hours with a 30-45 minute unpaid lunch break. The start time varies throughout the year but is approximately 7-4pm. There may be the possibility to continue work part-time over the winter and stay for another season.

You will report to the farm owners/managers, and will work both independently and alongside the farm owners and one or more employees on a wide variety of tasks. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Field work including weeding, planting, field preparation, irrigation, trellising, greenhouse work and farm maintenance
• Cutting, processing and bunching flowers & harvesting & washing produce
• Cleaning, sanitizing and organizing equipment and materials

Ideal candidates will possess the following traits:

• positive attitude
• ability to work on a team and individually
• ability to work quickly and efficiently
• attention to detail to maintain quality standards
• eager to learn and retain information on crops and new farming systems
• capable of receiving feedback
• strong communication skills
• ability to work in all weather conditions
• physical stamina with the ability to stand, bend, kneel, squat, cut/snip and lift and move 50 pounds, repeatedly for extended periods of time.

Requirements:

• Must have a drivers license as you will be required to operate farm and delivery vehicles. We are located in a rural area with no public transportation, therefore reliable transportation is required.
• Our Covid policy requires that employees are fully vaccinated.

Compensation & perks:

Starting wage of $15-18/hr, commensurate with experience. Free excess flowers and produce are available for personal consumption. We provide workers compensation insurance. As part of a small team you will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of farm production and receive extensive on the job training. You will have the opportunity to visit other farms as part of the CRAFT program. Housing may be available for rent in nearby Scottsville.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 8 – 25 per week

Application Question(s):

• Why do you want to work at Sweet Greens Farm?
• Are you able to comfortably lift at least 50 pounds, bend, kneel, squat, stand, snip and perform repetitive tasks for long periods of time?
• Do you have any physical or mental health conditions, recurring injuries, accidents or anything else that would limit your ability to perform strenuous physical labor? Please list all of them below.
• If you do not live locally, are you interested in renting a shared employee apartment in Scottsville?
• Are you able to start on March 28th? Are you able to work Thursdays? How many hours would you like to work per week? Are there any dates this year you are not able to work?

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• farm/outdoor/physcial labor (personal/professional): 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Scottsville, VA 24590 (Required)

Work Location: In person