Find your place in the field of good food

Seasonal Horticultural Worker

Pitney Farm Market Garden
The Wagon House, Wood Birds Hill Lane, Pitney TA10 9AP

Posted: 04/01/2021

Deadline: 30/01/2021

Compensation: £9 - £10 per hour

Paid

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Job description

Job: Seasonal horticultural worker (with longer term option) at Pitney Farm Market Garden, South Somerset

Wage: £9 - £10/hour

Dates: April - October

Application deadline: 30 January 2021

 

Job description

Seasonal horticultural worker in Somerset from early April till mid October (with longer term opportunities). 30 hours a week at £9-£10 an hour, rate negotiable. Option for on-site accommodation.

The job role will involve all aspects of organic vegetable production in the field, polytunnels and pack shed.

Farm description

The organic certified market garden is 2.5 acres plus 650m2 of no-dig polytunnel space. It's situated on a traditional 100 acre mixed organic farm, with whom we work very closely.

We are a wholesale operation with a passion for ecology, soil health and efficient working systems. Our primary customer is a popular on-site farm shop and cafe which serves the local community. We also sell to local vegbox schemes, festival caterers, greengrocers, cafes and high end restaurants.

We are a four season farm producing a large range of crops year round. We grow 150 different varieties of over 50 different crop types, from maincrop potatoes to peashoots. The production system utilises both hand tools and tractor mounted machinery.

Who we are

The market garden is run by Adi & Rita; both are first generation farmers and have 15 years combined organic horticultural experience.

Our ethos is to produce high quality, fresh vegetables for the local community whilst doing our best for the climate, biodiversity and the soil.

Both are active members of Land Workers Alliance.

What we offer

Due to the scale of the market garden there will be ample opportunity to experience and learn about various different styles of horticultural production: from field-scale tractor based tillage and weeding, to high density plantings, successional cropping and no-dig beds. In the 2020 season we produced all of our own plants meaning plenty of time in the propagation tunnel too!

We believe in empowering our staff. We want them to be part of as many aspects of the operation as possible, from deliveries to tractor driving, from sending invoices to sowing seeds. We are interested in sharing responsibility should the successful applicant desire it.

Desirable traits

• Previous experience in commercial vegetable production,
• A passion for the environment, biodiversity, soil, and plants,
• A quick learner who can work efficiently to a high standard,
• Someone who enjoys problem solving, multi-tasking, and is proactive and uses their initiative,
• Precise in their work, with a keen eye for detail and an awareness of good quality,
• Someone with a positive attitude, who is passionate about working outside in all weather,
• Willingness to put energy into clear and honest communication, and work well as part of a team.

Essential traits

• Drivers licence.

We run the business as a partnership. We are entering the second year and in the near future we are looking for someone to join us as an equal member to run the business with. Please state in your application if this is something that you are interested in.

Application information

Please get in touch with your CV and a cover letter. If you'd like to know more about us or the farm feel free to get in touch at pitneyfarmmarketgarden@gmail.com or check out our instagram.  

Deadline for applications 30th Jan 2021.

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