Job descriptions at Small Axe Farm -

All 2024 positions have been filled!

All positions are currently filled for 2024 but please be in touch if you have interest in next season.

Employee testimonials:

“I chose Small Axe Farm to complete an internship requirement I needed to finish my degree in Plant Science from SUNY Cobleskill. My experience at Small Axe Farm was everything I had hoped for and them some! I was able to take the concepts I had been studying in school and apply to them to a very successful market garden style enterprise. This unique hill-side farm offers so much opportunity to learn about regenerative farming techniques and the intricacies of running a small scale vegetable operation. Heidi and Evan were so welcoming and would take every opportunity to share their knowledge and experience. Through my time at Small Axe I felt that they were able to successfully create a relationship between employee, community and the farm”. Giovanni

“I had the incredible opportunity of working at Small Axe during the 2022 season. After completing a farmer training program in 2021, I was looking for a job that would put my skills to the test, challenge me, and foster growth both professionally and personally. My expectations were quickly exceeded after just the first couple weeks of starting at Small Axe. Evan and Heidi are both passionate educators as well as farmers, sharing their knowledge throughout the season and genuinely caring for the growth of their team members. Working at Small Axe is defined by more than just farm work. Collaboration, farm business tactics, efficiency and systems thinking are some of the many learned skills that define working at Small Axe. Alongside gaining valuable experience farming on an organic vegetable operation, I gained essential life skills and friendships I will cherish forever. My gratitude goes out to Evan and Heidi for building this inspiring place. If you have the opportunity to work at Small Axe, don’t pass it up, take it!” Luke

SMALL AXE FARM

2 different job descriptions below – 2024

ASSISTANT MARKET GARDENER

PROFILE OF THE IDEAL APPLICANT:

Seeks to advance their knowledge of no till and regenerative market farming with the aim of starting their own farming business or looking to move into a farm manager position.
Has a good level of experience in market gardening (minimum 1 season)
Experience in greenhouse culture management and climate control (minimum 1 season)
Experience in harvesting and conditioning for selling to markets, retail and restaurants (minimum 1 season)
Capacity for physical work under variable weather conditions
Ease of working independently and in teams
Attention to detail and work
Has resilience, a positive attitude and string work ethic
Interested in working in a fast paced environment
Interested in working efficiently and open to systems to increase personal productivity
Has a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Has a smartphone with phone service on our farm (Verizon works best)

AMONG YOUR POTENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Propagation (paperpot seeding & transplanting, direct seeding with Jang seeder, direct transplants, etc.);
Preparation of permanent beds (weedwacking, applying compost, amendments, tilthing)
Biological fertilization (foliar feeding, fertilizing)
Irrigation management
Preventive management and control of weeds, pests, and phytosanitary diseases
Implementation and maintenance of greenhouse crops
Harvest, conditioning and storage of vegetables
Processing and packaging of vegetables for various point of sales (CSA, restaurants, coops)
Order preparation and delivery to various markets.
Management of online store (managing wholesale and retail orders)
Harvest day organization and implementation

WHAT WE OFFER:

The acquisition of plant production skills in a bio-intensive no till, off grid system
An overview of the challenges inherent in starting a diversified, small-scale organic farm
Experience in direct marketing and semi-wholesale
A beautiful place to work in the hills of northern Vermont
Exposure to a market farming system that is transferable to many different settings (rural ,suburban,urban etc..)
Experience with off grid farming
Access to our 2 decades of no till farming, gardening and homesteading experience

The work will be challenging both physically and mentally. This position requires a full commitment, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the farm.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:

Seasonal full-time position -early April to mid-late October (40 hours/week)
The schedule is 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, including a 45 minute paid lunch break. We sometimes start early and end early on Mondays & Thursdays during the busiest harvest weeks. The salary starts at $16.00-$19.00 per hour, depending on experience.
As a full time/full season employee you will be entitled to 5 un-paid vacation days and 2 paid sick/personal days during the 2024 season, to be determined in consultation with farm managers.
There is a 4 week probation period, starting at the hiring date.

ACCOMMODATION:

When we have extra veggies after harvest we make them available for the crew at no charge
There is also a 25% discount for employees if they want to order items we would be selling elsewhere, those items would need to be ordered through our online farm store. We will set you up with a discount code.
Full time/full season employees (those who work May through October 28th):
- 2 paid sick/personal days
- 5 unpaid days off

(Note: You will need to check in, with as much advanced notice as possible, ideally 2 weeks, when requesting time off) When requesting time off we will always try to accommodate you, but there may be certain time periods or situations where we have less flexibility because of the needs of the farm.

HOW TO APPLY:

Your application must include these 3 things:

A resume, including references that we will contact.
A short letter expressing your motivation for the position and how this position will help you reach your long term goals.
A letter of recommendation from an experienced farmer for whom you worked.
Now taking applications and interviewing for 2024 season. Send your application to: smallaxefarminvt@gmail.com

Or at the following postal address: 731 Whitehill Rd., East Ryegate, VT 05042

No-till Farm Worker – now accepting applications for the 2024 season

Small Axe Farm is hiring for the 2024 summer season. We are an off-grid, no-till, organic market garden farm in the hills of Vermont. Come join our team!!

PROFILE OF THE IDEAL APPLICANT:

Seeks to advance their knowledge of no till and regenerative market farming
Market gardening experience preferred but not required for the right applicant
Capacity for physical work under variable weather conditions
Ease of working independently and in teams
Attention to detail and work
Has resilience, a positive attitude and string work ethic
Interested in working in a fast paced environment
Interested in working efficiently and open to systems to increase personal productivity
Has a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (preferred)
Has a smartphone with phone service on our farm (Verizon works best)

AMONG YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Harvest, conditioning and storage of vegetables

Processing and packaging of vegetables for various point of sales (CSA, restaurants, coops)

Order preparation and delivery to various markets.

Preventive management and control of weeds, pests, and phytosanitary diseases

Propagation (paperpot seeding & transplanting, direct seeding with Jang seeder, direct transplants, etc.);

Preparation of permanent beds (weedwacking, applying compost, amendments, tilthing)

Biological fertilization (foliar feeding, fertilizing)

Irrigation management

Implementation and maintenance of greenhouse crops

WHAT WE OFFER:

The acquisition of plant production skills in a bio-intensive no till system

An overview of the challenges inherent in starting a diversified, small-scale organic farm

Experience in direct marketing and semi-wholesale

A beautiful place to work in the hills of northern Vermont

Exposure to a market farming system that is transferable to many different settings (rural ,suburban,urban etc..)

Experience with off grid farming

Access to our 2 decades of no till farming, gardening and homesteading experience

The work will be challenging both physically and mentally. This position requires a full commitment, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the farm.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:

Seasonal full-time position -flexible dates – available from mid April to mid October (40 hours/week) We will consider mid May – mid or late August
The schedule is 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, including a 45 minute paid lunch break. The salary starts at $15.00-$16.00 per hour, more pay commensurate with more experience. Potential for salary increases occur at the 4 week check in meeting, depending upon the employees performance.
There is a 4 week probation period, starting at the hiring date.

ACCOMMODATION :

When we have extra veggies after harvest we make them available for the crew at no charge
There is also a 25% discount for employees if they want to order items we would be selling elsewhere, those items would need to be ordered through our online farm store. We will set you up with a discount code.
Full time/full season employees (those who work May through October 28th):
- 2 paid sick/personal days
- 5 unpaid days off

HOW TO APPLY:
Your application must include these 3 things:

A resume, including 2 references that we will contact.
A short letter expressing your motivation for the position and how this position will help you reach your long term goals.
A letter of recommendation from an employer or professor

Now taking applications and interviewing for the 2024 season. Send your application to: smallaxefarminvt@gmail.com

Or at the following postal address:

731 Whitehill Rd., East Ryegate, VT 05042