Fertile Ground Farm
Join Our Team
Positions Filled for 2022 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 300 member CSA (Community Shared Agriculture), supplemented by local restaurant & retail sales, online store, and a spring seedling sale. 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 2022 season include development of tillage reduction strategies, a Seed Showcase Garden in partnership with the EFAO, and (possibly) Farmer-Led Research trials (you can meet Farm Manager Angie in the featured video).
We have 2 seedling greenhouses and 1 tomato tunnel. 2 tractors are used for primary and in-row cultivation. We still do a lot of field work by hand. Our team consists of ~3 full time seasonal workers, Lara (our experienced Team Lead), and Angie (Farm Manager) who is an equal participant in harvest & field work activities as well as carrying out all the administrative & marketing tasks of the farm. Continuous learning & ongoing systems improvement are important here. Having facilitated new farmer training courses and workshops for a number of farmer training organizations and hosted interns for almost a decade, Angie is experienced at providing a solid educational experience alongside the day-to-day production work. Although the landscape is very rural, we are less than a 10 minute drive from the west edge of the city of Waterloo.
Skills & Assets to Thrive on Our Team
Diversified market gardening is highly skilled work. Applicants will ideally have experience on a vegetable farm. Whether experienced on not, the ability to absorb and integrate detailed instruction and feedback is key. We are looking to build a team with quick hands, positive & collaborative attitudes, strong observation skills and tenacity to see tasks through start to finish. Adaptability to roll with rapidly shifting task priorities, curiosity to drive your learning, a desire to contribute creatively to the ongoing improvement of our farm systems and a sense of humour are all highly valued.
Our work is physically and mentally demanding, with long hours outdoors in all weather. Great stamina, and in particular strong back and knees are essential.
Tractor experience and/or comfort using power tools to perform repairs & do some construction work are valuable assets.
Our Daily Work
Most tasks require quality work at a quick pace, often under pressure:
- Planting, harvesting and washing/packing vegetables
- Pest control, weeding & irrigation
- Greenhouse and high tunnel work
- Poultry chores
- Endless problem-solving
Hosting CSA distributions weekly June-Oct
Infrastructure Position: We are looking for at least 1 staff to have significant experience and skill with tools & equipment: power tool proficiency, basic construction & structural repairs, tractor implement adjustments, electrical, general fix-it and mechanical prowess. While this position would be primarily a field work position, it would also involve responsibility for repairs and maintenance of infrastructure including greenhouses, cooler, tractor implements etc.
Hours & Remuneration
We are an Ontario Living Wage certified employer
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.
$17.25/hr starting wage, (higher wage negotiable with sufficient experience), 6-7.5mth contract April/May to Oct/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
(POSITIONS FILLED FOR 2022 SEASON - you will only be contacted if a position opens up unexpectedly)
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
Applicants from members of BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities are welcome.
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.