Forbidden Fruit & Veg – Head Grower

Organic Growers Alliance; Hilton Head Island (SC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free accommodation

Job summary

Forbidden Fruit and Veg is seeking a Head Grower to lead our 1.7 acre market garden, including outdoor beds, an orchard, six polytunnels, a small greenhouse and packing shed. The ideal candidate has at least two years in organic/agroecological growing (preferably in a commercial setting) with strong edible horticulture knowledge, and a full, current driving licence.

The role includes mentoring trainees and volunteers, planning crops, purchasing and packhouse duties, plus coordinating wholesale

Qualifications

• Two years of organic/agroecological growing experience, preferably commercial.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge in edible horticulture.
• Full, current driving licence required.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of market garden operations and lead the team.
• Mentor trainees and volunteers to build capacity in the garden.
• Coordinate crop planning, purchasing and packhouse duties.
• Oversee wholesale and local deliveries and sales logistics.
• Maintain flexibility for seasonal work and site needs.

Skills

Leadership

Organic farming

Driving Licence

Job description

Job Description

Forbidden Fruit and Veg market garden is looking for a Head Grower to run our 1.7 acre Market Garden which includes outdoor beds, an orchard, six polytunnels, and a small greenhouse in a walled garden with a packing shed nearby, and about 35 chickens. We sell wholesale to a local pub, shops in Bristol, 2 farmers’ markets, an honesty-box kiosk, and via delivered and collected veg boxes.

We are looking for an individual who can commit for one year, renewable if both parties agree, to manage the market garden and provide leadership and support to the trainee and volunteers. We are able to consider a job share for this role. The candidate(s) must have at least two years’ experience of organic/agroecological growing, preferably in a commercial setting, with a strong theoretical and practical experience in edible horticulture. A full, current driving licence is required. The freelance salary would be £90 per 7-hour day. Days worked will be 5 days per week. Accommodation will be free. You will be able to choose between a room in my house with the community of Wwoofers and a trainee, or I can offer a detached 5-bedroom house with your contribution to utilities and food to be discussed.

The Timeline For This Recruitment Is As Follows

• Closing date: 12th December 2025 at 5pm
• Interviews: Week commencing Monday 15th Dec 2025
• Decision by Friday 19th Dec
• Job starting date: Week commencing Monday 9th Feb 2026

The role will involve attending to all aspects of running the Market Garden, including

Annual Planning

• Rotation
• Cropping Plan
• Sowing Plan
• Infrastructure plan

Purchasing

• Seed order
• Equipment & tools
• Consumables

Practical work

• Crop production
• Harvesting
• Sowing and plant raising
• Infrastructure, maintenance and repair

Routine admin

• Recruiting and managing Wwoofers
• Sales lists: collating and distributing by email, updating web lists, box planning
• Prepping pick lists
• Processing Ooooby sales (boxes & others)
• Enquiries
• Ordering bought-in veg

Promotion & publicity

• Social media
• Stalls

Packhouse work

• Packing
• Deliveries (organising drivers)

Human Resources

• Trainee mentoring

The Market Garden Lead Grower Will

• Work with the trainee and woofers to attend to all aspects of care for the land and the production of crops, including soil preparation, sowing, planting, weeding, harvesting and other activities that support crop production such as pest and disease management, compost production and mechanisation;

and the production of crops, including soil preparation, sowing, planting, weeding, harvesting and other activities that support crop production such as pest and disease management, compost production and mechanisation;

• Work with the trainee and woofers in packing and organising delivery of wholesale and individual orders around the local area;

Work with the trainee and woofers to carry out infrastructural work and general maintenance;

• Be flexible in working hours to suit the needs of the garden where necessary, such as early starts on busy harvesting mornings, and helping cover routine duties for example on the weekend watering / tunnel-opening rota. We do however strive to be as flexible as possible in meeting all needs for a regular work routine, and all irregular work will be prearranged according to need and availability;

• Work flexible hours throughout the year due to the seasonal nature of the work;

Help promote and market the business such as helping run stalls at local events;

• Help to oversee casual workers and volunteers who may be drafted in at busy times of the year.

• Whilst your focus will be on vegetables, you are also expected to work with the trainee and woofers in attending to all aspects of fruit growing, arranging, packing and sales, where required.

See more information via our Forbidden Fruit and Veg website

About Forbidden Fruit & Veg

Forbidden Fruit and Veg was established in 2021 in a 1.8 acre walled garden, built by the Victorians to feed Badminton House and the wider estate. The market garden is run by the Head Grower, supported by ‘live-in’ project WWOOFers and volunteers. The garden has 6 large poly-tunnels and a small greenhouse and supplies veg to local markets, farm shops and businesses, as well as running a veg box scheme and honesty stall.

• This topic was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by Holly Jarvis OGA Admin.