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Higher Farm
Castle Cary, Somerset
Posted: 16 Aug 2023
Deadline: 30 Sep 2023
Compensation: £30,000 - £35,000
Paid Full-time Part-time
Job description
ROLE: Head Grower
DURATION: Full time
SALARY: £30-35k depending on experience
START: Part time from October - January, Full time February onwards
LOCATION: Higher Farm, Sutton, BA4 6QF (nearest station Castle Cary, 5min drive, 15min walk)
ACCOMMODATION: Potential accommodation available on site and near the site
Project overview
Higher farm is a 50 acre site near Castle Cary, Somerset. Nested in a beautiful location close to Frome, Glastonbury and Bruton. The project aims to regenerate local food systems and to enable an agroecological transition through natural food production, education, research and community engagement. The project is in its first year, giving excellent opportunities for experience in setting up and growing a business.
This first year, we will be establishing our market garden and agroforestry system, developing our routes to market and setting up our operations. Alongside the natural farming project we are developing an onsite farm shop, restaurant, event space, artisan business space and accommodation. In the coming years we will be implementing a forest garden and plant nursery, a native forest restoration project and silvopasture systems across the site. In the third year we will start to run courses in permaculture, agroecology and natural farming, seeking to scale those courses from day courses to full residential courses, eventually aiming for long term residencies and certified courses that train the next generation of natural farmers.
Job Description
We are looking for an experienced grower to head up our market garden growing operations. You will work closely with our farm manager to design, implement and maintain our market garden. You will be principally responsible for the sowing, growing, harvesting, sales and distribution of our market garden produce. Initially you will work closely with the farm manager to establish our infrastructure and growing systems. Following which, you will take on responsibility for the market garden, growing vegetables for sales direct to consumers in the locality.
Responsibilities
Initially you will be working part time as we build up our readiness for the full growing season. You will be working very closely with our farm manager, who will essentially also act as a head grower with you in the first year. The farm manager will have more of a focus on developing our routes to market, the design and implementation of our next growing systems, the management of agroforestry systems, networking in the local area, community & public engagement, fertility management, research, education, landscape management, liaising with contractors and organising staff. You will start part time enabling us to get to know each other and to really integrate you into our ecosystem and allowing you to have a hand in the design of our growing systems which you will help to manage.
Your responsibilities will include the following:
October - January, 4 month, Part Time Starting Period
February Onwards, Full time
Skills and experience
Desirable extra experience
Application information
To apply - Please send CV and cover letter to jehan-basil@higher-farm.co.uk
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About Higher Farm
Higher farm is a 50 acre site near Castle Cary, Somerset. Nested in a beautiful location close to Frome, Glastonbury and Bruton. The project aims to regenerate local food systems and to enable an agroecological transition through natural food production, education, research and community engagement.