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Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

Assistant Manager / Grower:

Combe Farm Kitchen Garden

Location: Combe Farm, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 4AP

Start date: End February / early March 2027 (start of the growing season)

Contract: Zero-hours contract — seasonal and full-time in practice. After the 3 months probation period we will hold a review meeting to discuss performance, and both parties are able to request a fixed-hours contract reflecting your typical working pattern and performance.

End date — likely to run into winter if we decide to grow winter crops, so some flexibility on both sides. Again depending on how the season ran and production performance.

Hours: Up to approx. 35-40 hours/week, flexible and weather-dependent — hours will move around to suit the season and the jobs of the day rather than a fixed daily pattern.

Holiday: Given the seasonal nature of the role, we ask that longer holidays be held until autumn/winter where possible, once the peak growing season has eased. Single days and short breaks can usually be accommodated during the season with reasonable notice, to be agreed with Marigold in advance.

Salary: £15.00/hour + on-site accommodation and food from the farm

Reports to: Marigold Fiddian-Green

About the role

Combe Farm is developing a no-dig market garden to supply Hilltop Kitchen new farm-to-fork restaurant (opening June 2027) and The Merry Harriers pub. We're looking for someone to help front this project through its first growing season - working closely with Marigold to bring a brand-new 40-bed no-dig market garden into production and supply two working kitchens with a steady stream of fresh produce plus the Combe farm shop to come.

This autumn (October) we're building the growing infrastructure: 40 beds, each 10m x 1m, laid out on a no-dig system, with materials currently being sourced and beds being marked out. You'll be joining as this space comes into its first productive season — with real scope to shape how it's run.

This is a hands-on, onsite role with accommodation and produce from the farm provided. You'll be working under Marigold, who part owns and manages the farm, growing the market garden together and taking the lead on the day-to-day running of the beds. We're also recruiting a part-time, locally based grower to help cover the times when you and Marigold are both off, so you won't be solely responsible for cover and we all can share the load.There's genuine room to grow with the project: as the farm's wellness area develops (sauna, yoga space, and space for education and workshops), there's scope for the right person to become involved in all other sides of the site too.

What you'll be doing

• Managing the day-to-day running of the 40-bed no-dig market garden plus x1 polytunnel, working closely with Marigold on planning, sowing, planting, and harvest schedules fit to succession and demand from the restaurants
• Helping to plan and coordinate work with the part-time local grower who'll be joining to cover time off
• Growing produce to meet the needs of Hilltop Kitchen restaurant and The Merry Harriers, liaising directly with the kitchens on what's needed and when (main harvest day Monday and top-up harvest Thursday)
• Managing the compost system — building, turning, and maintaining compost to feed the no-dig beds
• Sowing, planting, weeding, harvesting, and general bed maintenance across the growing season
• Keeping basic records of yields, successional planting, and what's working (and what isn't)
• Keeping track of tools inventory and seed auditing
• Helping maintain and improve the growing infrastructure and design as the project develops
• Over time, potential involvement in the farm's developing wellness offering — sauna, yoga space, and educational workshops — for someone with the interest and skills to take this on
• Reimplementing the old hilltop kitchen garden that once was and making it a fully fledged perennial herb patch

What we're looking for

• Experience growing vegetables at a market garden or smallholding scale (no-dig experience a strong plus, but not essential if you're keen to learn)
• Interest and knowledge in foraging UK wild herbs and berries
• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of a space, while collaborating closely with the wider farm team, farm shop and onsite chefs
• Physically fit and happy with early starts, physical, weather depended, outdoor work, and seasonal variation in hours
• Good communicator — you'll be liaising directly with Marigold, chefs and kitchen teams
• Genuine interest in sustainable/regenerative growing methods
• Happy living onsite/nearby as part of a small, close-knit farm community
• A bonus (not essential): interest in yoga, wellness, or education/workshop facilitation, given the future direction of the site
• Free ability to work in UK, clean drivers license is a bonus (Godalming train station is 10 minute drive or quick cycle)
• Just an all round great person!!!

What we offer

• Onsite/nearby accommodation
• Food from the farm
• A rare opportunity to shape a market garden from its first season, supplying two working kitchens
• Room to grow into the farm's wellness project as it develops
• Salary/day rate — to be assessed regularly and increased post probation period and ongoing discussion always

Application information

Please email m.fiddiangreen@gmail.com

CV, cover letter and any other details in regards to your application.

Deadline for applications: 30th October, 2026

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