Farm Aprentice, Lexington Community Farm

About the farm: Lexington Community Farm Coalition (LexFarm) is a non-profit certified organic farm. We are committed to increasing access to organic produce for households of all income levels. LexFarm provides hands-on education to foster connections to farmland, farming, and each other, through workshops, our CSA, and volunteer programs.
LexFarm was founded in 2009 in an effort to preserve the 7.9 acre Busa Farm upon its sale to the Town of Lexington. LexFarm incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2011 and is currently in its fifth year of production on five acres. Produce is sold through a 200 share 20-week summer CSA, 50 share 8-week fall CSA, 70 share summer flower CSA, and farm stand. We have a busy flower and vegetable seedling sale during May weekends. We also donate produce through two local food rescue organizations. In 2018 farm production will focus on improving yields, increasing efficiency, and improving soil health through reduced tillage, improved drainage, compost production, and targeted amendments.

Job Description:
The Farm Apprentice will work closely with farm staff, work shares, and volunteers to complete seedling production, planting, harvesting, washing and packing, irrigation, cultivation, record-keeping, and farm maintenance tasks. The Apprentice will also work 1-2 Saturdays/month in the farm stand leading the CSA distribution in the morning and staffing the stand in the afternoon.
Farm leadership gives staff the education they need to succeed and take ownership of tasks. Each time a new task is introduced, farm leadership will give Apprentices sufficient background to fully understand the reasoning behind the task.

Hours (may vary for the right candidate):
- 32-40 hours/week May 28-August 31. Apprentices work Tuesday-Friday in the fields and 1-2 Saturdays/month in the farm stand.
Tuesday-Friday hours are roughly 7:00-3:30 with a midmorning break and lunch break. Saturday hours are 8:30-4:30. If interested, the Wednesday schedule will be adjusted so Apprentices may attend EMass CRAFT trainings.

The right candidate will be interested in sustainable agriculture, self-motivated, quick, responsible, attentive to detail, curious, flexible, and comfortable communicating with a wide variety of people. This position involves working both independently and with a group.

Requirements:
- A minimum of one season’s work outdoors
- A positive attitude and good sense of humor, in all kinds of weather
- Demonstrated ability to follow directions and work independently
- Ability to bend and lift 50 pounds repeatedly
- Punctuality. All staff are expected to be dressed for the weather when the work day begins.

Benefits include: compensation at $11.00-12.50/hour, produce from the farm, discount on local products in the farm stand, Worker’s Compensation, 5 days unpaid vacation available after completion of 1 month, and paid holidays.

To apply, please send a resume and brief letter of interest to
employment@lexfarm.org.