Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

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

Job description

Market Garden Lead Grower Sought at Wye Organic

Wye Organic was established in early 2021, and following four successful seasons we are looking to expand the team.

We currently grow ½ an acre of vegetables and flowers in an historic Walled Garden and almost ½ an acre of polytunnel space - all entirely no-dig – and are slowly expanding to field-scale production.

Set in the stunning landscape of the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean, the garden is part of a traditional estate producing organic beef, lamb and more, all to principles of Regenerative Agriculture.

The farm has been organic certified for over 20 years, and is a long-standing member of the Pasture Fed Livestock Association.

In 2022 we started a box scheme, which has thrived and we are now doing some 75 boxes per week. This accounts for about half of our veg turnover, with wholesale – to shops, restaurants and secondary wholesalers - making up the other half.

The Team

The veg garden is currently managed by Head Grower Dom, who has been growing veg commercially since 2011 and has managed organic veg farms in Fife and the Midlands. We also have a cut flower operation managed by Nanda, and the livestock side is run by our farmers James and Kitty. We also employ assistant veg and flower growers, and so along with volunteers you will be part of a small team in the garden.

The Market Garden Lead Grower Role

Wye Organic are seeking an experienced grower who wishes to take on more responsibility within an organic market garden business.You will join the business as Lead Grower.

Year 1 of the Lead Grower role will involve shadowing and developing familiarity with the business, the land and the current setup, alongside the Head Grower; and then in Year 2 taking a leading role in aspects such as the Cropping Plan, the day-to-day management of the veg team, and helping to shape the future direction of the Market Garden.

In this respect, the job is ideal for someone with existing experience in an Assistant Grower-type role who may be looking to make the step up to greater responsibility, as the initial phase will involve shadowing, guidance, training and support from the Head Grower.

Market Garden Lead Grower Job Description

We are recruiting for one Market Garden Lead Grower on a permanent contract with seasonal hours:

• Winter hours: 3 days (24 hours) per week, November – February (18 weeks) inclusive – except January (see below);
• Summer hours, 4.5 days (36 hours - TBC) per week March – October (30 weeks) inclusive;
• January – negotiable, ranging from being off entirely to 2 or 3 days per week.
• On-site accommodation is available for this role (including during the January break);
• Job share considered for the right candidates.

The role will involve working alongside the Head Grower in attending to all aspects of running the Market Garden, including (but not limited to) the following:

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

• 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

 

Experience and Skills - Essential:

• Experience of organic vegetable and flower growing
• Able to do physical work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Confidence in coordinating a small team
• Work alone and be able to self-motivate
• Hold a clean driving licence, and be willing to drive a van (3.5t) and pickup truck
• Basic practical DIY-type skills
• Basic IT skills
• Good timekeeping

Experience and Skills - Desirable:

• Experience with farm machinery and tractors
• Experience working alongside and managing volunteers

The pay rate is currently set at £11.50 per hour – please note that this includes on-site accommodation and vegetables, plus a 20% discount off other Wye Organic products including meat and flowers. The post-holder will be employed and is entitled to statutory holiday pay, as well as any other applicable statutory entitlements, and will be auto-enrolled in the company pension scheme if eligible.

The role will commence in mid-to-late Winter (Jan / Feb) 2024, exact date TBC.

 

 

Application information

Please email your CV and cover letter or any queries to dom@wyeorganic.co.uk by end of Sunday 24th November 2024.

 

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