Full Time Experienced Grower Required at Shillingford Organics – Exeter

Organic Growers Alliance; Exeter; On-site; GBP 21,000; Full time

Job description

Shillingford Organics is a commercial organic vegetable farm with a community feel just outside of Exeter in Devon. We grow a range of organic vegetables on 30 acres for our local box scheme, farmer’s market, and local wholesale. We have both field scale and protected cropping.

We are looking for a full-time, permanent grower to join our team. This is a varied all-round role with responsibilities for growing, packing, deliveries, sales, finances, and marketing. You will be responsible for a set of crops as well as a number of other managerial duties, working closely alongside a team of co-growers.

Since January 2019, we have operated with a unique self-managing setup. The business is divided into three micro-businesses: the growers micro-business, the box scheme micro-business, and the rest of the farm. Each micro-business is autonomous, yet they work closely together and trade internally.

Essential skills and experience:

• Growing experience in a commercial setup
• Good communication and team-working skills
• Ability to manage your own workload

Desirable skills and experience:

• A full UK driving licence
• Tractor driving experience
• Experience of crop planning and record keeping

Start date: mid-January 2021
Salary: £21,000 plus bonus scheme. Working hours are 40 hours per week.

Application process: To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to [e-mail] by Monday 14th December. We will invite shortlisted applicants to come and join us for a trial day. Early applications are encouraged.

We are a small team of six, including four full-time growers who take responsibility for the growing micro-business. We work closely as a team, each taking on a set of responsibilities yet sharing the harvesting and growing tasks so that we rarely work alone. Working hours fluctuate through the year, and we tend to work longer hours during the summer. Decisions about what to prioritise are made by consensus and through close communication. This is a good, supportive, learning environment but also a great opportunity to get stuck in and make your own mark.