Farm Production Assistant

Southside Blooms; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Training in flower farming

Growth within mission-driven org

Exposure to urban agriculture

Job summary

Southside Blooms, a social enterprise cut flower farm on Chicago's South Side, is seeking a Farm Production Assistant to support daily farm operations across flower production, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and general farm maintenance. The role is hands-on, outdoors, and ideal for someone who enjoys working outdoors and cares about sustainable agriculture.

You will work closely with farm leadership and production teams to ensure crops are grown, harvested, and processed efficiently and to

Qualifications

• Physically demanding outdoor work in all weather conditions.
• Lift up to ~40 lbs and stand for long periods.
• Reliable, punctual, and strong work ethic.
• Willingness to learn and follow detailed instructions.
• Team-oriented and able to work with others.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planting, weeding, irrigating, and maintaining flower crops.
• Support greenhouse and field production tasks across growing stages.
• Harvest flowers at proper maturity and handle them for quality preservation.
• Process, clean, and bunch flowers for storage and distribution.
• Maintain farm infrastructure, tools, and workspaces.

Skills

Physical stamina

Team collaboration

Willingness to learn

Reliability

Attention to detail

Job description

Southside Blooms

Location: Chicago, IL

Type: Part Time / Seasonal (depending on need)

About Southside Blooms

Southside Blooms is a social enterprise cut flower farm based on Chicago’s South Side. The organization focuses on sustainable urban agriculture, workforce development, and creating meaningful employment opportunities while growing high-quality flowers for local markets and events.

Position Overview

The Farm Production Assistant supports daily farm operations across flower production, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and general farm maintenance. This role is hands‑on, physically active, and ideal for someone who enjoys working outdoors, cares about sustainable agriculture, and is motivated by community impact.

You will work closely with farm leadership and production teams to ensure crops are grown, harvested, and processed efficiently and to high-quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting with planting, weeding, irrigating, and maintaining flower crops
• Supporting greenhouse and field production tasks across multiple growing stages
• Harvesting flowers at proper maturity and handling them with care for quality preservation
• Processing, cleaning, and bunching flowers for storage and distribution
• Maintaining farm infrastructure, tools, and workspaces
• Following established production schedules and crop plans
• Helping with pest and disease monitoring under guidance
• Supporting delivery preparation and occasional market/event prep
• Upholding safety, cleanliness, and organization across all farm areas

Qualifications

Required

• Ability to perform physically demanding outdoor work in all weather conditions
• Comfort with repetitive tasks, lifting (up to ~40 lbs), and standing for long periods
• Reliability, punctuality, and strong work ethic
• Willingness to learn and follow detailed instructions
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

Preferred

• Experience in farming, horticulture, landscaping, or greenhouse work
• Familiarity with cut flower production or small-scale agriculture
• Interest in sustainable agriculture, food systems, or community development

Work Environment

This role is primarily outdoors and in greenhouse environments. Conditions may include heat, cold, mud, rain, and fast‑paced seasonal workloads. Work is hands‑on and requires attention to detail, especially during harvest and post-harvest handling.

Compensation & Benefits

• Training in flower farming and sustainable agriculture practices
• Opportunity to grow within a mission‑driven organization
• Exposure to urban agriculture, distribution systems, and floral design workflows
• Potential for advancement into lead farm or production roles

Equal Opportunity Statement

Southside Blooms is committed to inclusive hiring practices and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. We value lived experience, community connection, and a willingness to learn alongside formal agricultural experience.