Fertile Ground Farm
Join Our Team
POSITIONS FILLED for the 2020 Season
Our Farm
We are an organic vegetable farm operating on a beautiful 100 acre property near Waterloo. Since building relationships with the people we feed is really important to us, most of our produce is sold through our 275 member CSA (Community Shared Agriculture), supplemented by some local restaurant & retail sales. We have wonderfully supportive & committed CSA members, and are always looking for ways to create opportunities for community interaction and involvement. While our primary focus is our vegetable fields, we also raise pastured laying hens and our land supports 40 acres of hay and a similar acreage of woodlot, wetland and meadow habitat. Special projects for the 2020 season include further expansion of our pollinator gardens, development of low-till strategies, and Farmer-Led Research trials (you can meet Lead Farmer Angie in the featured video). Continuous learning & ongoing systems improvement are important here. Having facilitated new farmer training courses and workshops for a number of non-profit farming organizations and hosted interns for almost a decade, Lead Farmer Angie is experienced at providing a solid educational experience alongside the day-to-day production work.
We have 2 seedling greenhouses and 1 tomato tunnel. 2 Farmall tractors are used for primary and in-row cultivation. Our team consists of 3-4 full time seasonal workers, with the Lead Farmer being an equal participant in harvest & field work activities. Although the landscape is very rural, we are less than a 10 minute drive from the west edge of the city of Waterloo.
Requirements & Responsibilities
Applicants should have at least 1 (and preferably more) full season's experience on a vegetable farm, efficient field skills and great stamina. Must have quick hands, positive attitude, strong observation skills and ability to see tasks through start to finish. Tractor experience and skill with tools & equipment are valuable assets. Expect the work to be physically and mentally demanding, with long hours outdoors in all weather. Strong back and knees are essential. Most tasks require quality work at a quick pace, often under pressure:
Planting, weeding, harvesting and washing/packing vegetables
pest control & irrigation
greenhouse and high tunnel work
poultry chores
tractor work if appropriate
hosting at least 1 CSA distribution weekly June-Oct
Hours & Remuneration
40-50 hr/wk Mon-Fri, typically 6am-4pm June-Oct. Occasional evening and weekend work for chores and special events. Additional benefits: 1 wk holidays, 2 off-farm learning days for professional development, plenty of vegetables for personal consumption.
$15/hr, negotiable with sufficient experience, 7-7.5mth contract April to Oct/mid-Nov
1 short season position (May-Sept) may be available
As our team is small and everyone is essential, commitment to a full season of work is important.
To Apply
Send resume and a letter outlining your relevant work and farming experiences, as well as your motivations for working with us to: info@fertilegroundcsa.com
Only Canadian citizens/permanent residents or those with legal Canadian work permits will be considered.
Housing/Transportation
Please note: While we don't provide on-farm housing, St. Agatha and West Waterloo are within reasonable biking distance, and we are only 10-20 mins drive from town.