Organic Farm Help
Crops & Livestock
We review resumes on an ongoing basis, in order to keep in touch with people who are interested in either full- or part-time farm work. Feel free to sumbit your resume, and we will contact you, if the need arises. Thanks.
Nick’s Organic Farm
We are part of the local and regional food movement that markets it value-added products directly to consumers and other organic farms. Our livestock are raised on grass-based systems, and we use regenerative agricultural practices to produce forages, food and feed grains, and seed. We are continuously trying to improve our farming methods to build healthy soils and help reduce global climate change by adding more carbon into the soil.
Our farm is 175 certified organic acres near Frederick, MD—within commuting distance to Washington, DC and Baltimore. We direct market in the greater suburban Maryland-Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia metropolitan areas. Using modern farm equipment, we raise grass-fed Black Angus beef, pastured chickens and standard and heritage turkeys, and free-range eggs. We grow and sell various types of hays and baleage, and we maintain different types of pastures. We produce non-GMO certified organic field corn, popcorn, and heritage Native American food grade corn, feed- and food-grade soybeans, barley, and various organic seeds, such as barley, corn, and soybeans. When we started farming we grew only vegetables, and now we are primarily a livestock, feed- and food-grade grain, hay, and seed operation.
Our livestock is all grass-based. We build our soils with rotational grazing and an 8-12 year crop rotation. We use summer and winter cover crops and intercropping. We plant multiple species together whenever possible. We plant new species into standing crops. We plant annuals into perennials and perennials into annuals. We use organic no-till and shallow tillage techniques. We maintain habitat along our borders for beneficials and wildlife.
We add value to our products by on-farm processing. We process our chickens and turkeys; we breed, produce, clean and package seed from our grains; we grow and grind our poultry feeds for sale; and we grind our food grade corns into meal.
Employment Opportunities:
Desired applicants would have some, not necessarily all, of the following qualifications:
- Interest in organic/regenerative/sustainable farming and local/regional food systems
- Ability to take initiative and be self-directing
- Prior farm experience, preferably more than one year
- Experience operating tractors and equipment
- Experience in one or more of the following production systems:Mechanical ability to do simple repairs (we currently have a mechanic on site)
- Row crops and small grains
- Vegetables
- Hay
- Seed production
- Beef or Dairy
- Poultry
- Familiar with some basic trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanics, or welding
- Valid drivers license, CDL desirable
- Ability to lift at least 50 pounds
- Relevant educational background (agricultural, environmental, life sciences, etc.)
Depending on circumstances, we may change or expand some of our activities, possibly including on-farm research and demonstration, increased education and outreach, additional marketing, new areas of livestock and crop production, farm scale composting, and silvaculture.
Currently, primary duties are to assist with care of beef herd and poultry flocks and with row crop and hay production.
Specific duties include: field work involving operation and maintenance of tractors and farm equipment, daily care and feeding of livestock, and on-farm processing of poultry, ground feeds, and seed.
Housing possible for full time employment.
Health insurance and vacation benefits for full time employment.
Salary commensurate with skills and experience.
For more information about the farm go to: http://www.nicksorgnicfarm.com
To apply:
A letter of interest with your background and/or a resume would be helpful.
Contact Nick: farmemployment@comcast.net
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