Market Garden Lead / Farmer (or couple)

GoodWork Environmental Jobs; Central Ontario; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental job platform seeks a Market Garden Lead for Edwin County Farms in Ontario. The role involves overseeing organic vegetable production, managing a gardening team, and ensuring sustainable farming practices. Ideal candidates should possess two years of experience, strong organizational skills, and familiarity with market gardening tools. A full-time contract offers a competitive salary and accommodation options.

Benefits

Accommodation available

Friendly work culture

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience in intensive market gardening.
• Familiar with organic/regenerative production methods.
• Strong organization and team management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee activities related to organic vegetable and flower production.
• Participate in hiring staff and adjusting crop plans.
• Manage seedling production and oversee planting and harvesting.

Skills

Organization

Team Management

Market Gardening Tools Familiarity

Organic Production Methods

Tools

Irrigation Systems

Small Tractors

Greenhouses

Job description

Organic market gardening / Farming

Hiring: Market Garden Lead / Farmer

(Also hiring: Interns)

Farm: Edwin County Farms

Location: Prince Edward County, Ontario

Accommodation: Accommodation is available. We have a two bedroom apartment and a one bedroom apartment. We can accommodate individual applicants or couples.

Type: full year contract position. $52-$60,000 ($25hr - $30/hr) depending on experience. Shorter duration contract is also possible.

Start date: Start ASAP. Start date is flexible and we can accommodate an earlier or later start date for the ideal candidate.

Our farm family is growing! Our wonderful market garden manager is starting her own family and heading off on materinity leave this spring so we are looking for an experienced market gardener to head up our 2025 growing season. Edwin County Farms is a bio-diverse farm located in beautiful Prince Edward County, Ontario. Right on the shores of the Bay of Quinte. Our 2.5 acre market garden and seasonal greenhouse facility is the star of our 700 acre farm and ecological preserve, producing vegetables and cut flowers for our community. Our farm also produces certified organic maple syrup, grain and beef and we are involved in the developing and planting native tree species, maintaining large tracts of our farm as an ecological preserve. We are committed to producing the highest quality organic produce for our restaurant and community clients using methods that are regenerative and in tune with natural processes.

Edwin County Farms is affiliated with the newly restored Royal Hotel in Picton, Ontario, providing an array of organic produce, meat,etc for the Hotel's farm to table program. We also supply more than a dozen other local chefs and restaurants in one of Canada's premier wine regions. In addition we feed our community through local farmers’ markets, growing a diverse array of produce. We are looking for farmer who is experienced in medium scale organic vegetable production and is passionate about growing great food.

Our mission is to produce the highest quality, naturally grown vegetables and flowers using organic and regenerative methods, to nourish our community as well as to provide a friendly and supportive environment and lifestyle for our employees. We have a work culture that strives to be inclusive, productive, efficient, organized, and fun!

Prince Edward County is nestled into the Eastern end of Lake Ontario, along the shores of the Bay of Quinte. With over 30 wineries and cideries and its many restaurants, the County has become a top food and wine destination for culinary enthusiasts. Access the water through the beaches and parks including Sandbanks Provincial Park and many other hidden away destinations. The summer and fall play host to Classical, jazz, and country music festivals as well as theatre.

Tasks

The market garden manager will oversee and initiate all activities relating to the organic vegetable and potentially our cut flower production. This includes:

• participating in interviews to hire the necessary staff members to carryout the season's crop plan
• adjusting crop plan in accordance with weather and production needs
• ordering seeds and materials as required
• updating weekly fresh sheets for restaurant clients and organizing weekly harvests
• overseeing and working with the market garden team to carry out the season’s crop plan
• updating and meeting with the farm owners to discuss strategies, plans, etc.
• seedling production work (making potting mix, seeding trays) and management of successional planting
• establishment & upkeep of crops (planting and weeding)
• installation of field materials including caterpillar tunnels, geotextiles, row covers, irrigation
• vegetable harvest (possibly some flower harvest as well)
• post-harvest operations: washing, sorting, weighing, bagging
• bed prep using the broadfork and BCS in the field greenhouses and tractor in the fields
  
  

The Successful Applicant Will Have

• a minimum of 2 years of experience working in and/or managing intensive market garden operation
• familiarity with market garden tools and systems (irrigation, small tractors and implements, Paperpot planters, greenhouses, etc)
• familiarity with organic or regenerative production methods including fertilizer, weed control and integrated pest management
• Strong organization and team management skills
  
  

To apply

Please e-mail your resume and a brief cover letter to Lucas Sorbara at [e-mail]

subject: Market Garden Manager

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