Lucky Crow Farm
POSITION: 1 APPRENTICESHIP
FULL TIME (40 hrs/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: 4/1 - 10/30
LOCATION: Monmouth (Portland Chapter , Mid-Willamette Valley)
NO ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED
VEHICLE REQUIRED? No, just reliable transportation.
ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Yes.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English.
Lucky Crow Farm operates a 1-acre urban farm in the heart of a small neighborhood in Monmouth, OR. Adjacent to the neighborhood (past the urban growth boundary) is the 60-acre, rural farm where our greenhouses, pack shed and cold storage is located. We spend the majority of our time alternating between these two locations with an occasional trip (about once a month) to an urban farm plot we manage in Salem.
The farms in Monmouth are within a five-minute drive to downtown Monmouth and Downtown Independence. They are both small towns with populations of about 10,000. There are plenty of outdoor activities available in the nearby area including hiking and kayaking on the Willamette River, which runs right through Independence. Monmouth houses Western Oregon University so there is a college town feel. Independence has a bustling downtown. A trolly was recently acquired to shuttle residents between both towns (for free!) The farm crew members live nearby and commute to the farm each day.
We grow mixed vegetables for a 75 member CSA, two farmers’ markets (Corvallis and Independence), restaurant accounts and our online store. We do some of our bed prep at the urban farm manually, while our larger farm utilizes tractor implements much more frequently. Though we are not certified organic, we employ natural farming methods and do not use synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. Our small farm crew is made up of Eden (owner/manager), 1 market employee, one full-time employee, and 1-2 part-time employee(s).
Eden’s family has been farming in the Willamette Valley for six generations. She went to Scripps College in Claremont, California to pursue a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Policy. After school she managed farmers’ markets in the Bay Area and worked on livestock/vegetable/tree farms in California and Washington. She started her own operation in 2017 on family land. Eden’s mission is to feed her diverse, local community delicious, nutrient rich food seasonally. She is driven by her investment in environmental sustainability, social equity and economic profitability. As a young, queer, female farmer, she embraces her responsibility to set an example and to create a working model for sustainable food production and thriving rural business within her hometown and beyond.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Apprentices will receive training/participate in: bed preparation, harvest, planting, wash/pack, farmers’ markets, CSA distribution, customer interaction, marketing, pest management, nutrient management, and propagation. Eden does most tractor/machinery work.
Full-time employees are expected to work 40 hour weeks from around the beginning of April through the end of October. Spring days are generally shorter (with an average of 20-30 hours per week, depending on weather). Employees are not expected to work more than 40 hours in a week, even in the height of summer. Taking vacation days (unpaid) is permitted with advanced notice.
As we switch tasks regularly, training takes place throughout the day as needed. Apprentices are regularly required to sit, kneel, stand, bend, climb and reach; regularly lift up to 50 pounds without assistance; have the ability to work outside in all weather conditions, often for long durations; be capable of performing repetitive tasks with endurance. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Appropriate gear is required for all weather conditions.
Beyond our scheduled training sessions, Apprentices will work one-on-one with either Eden or an experienced staff member every day. We are committed to teaching as we work and having impromptu training sessions when needed. We provide regular check-ins and can make time for meetings/questions if requested.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
• Detail oriented and fast learner
• Self-motivated and able to streamline workflow
• Ability to work efficiently alone or in a group
• Experienced/licensed driver
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills and willingness to work with a diverse group of people
• Ability to keep clear, handwritten and electronic records
• Positive attitude in all types of weather
• Commitment to work entire season (with potential for unpaid vacation time)
• Organized and thorough
Preferred:
• 1-3 years of prior farm work
• Strong love of food, nutrition and healthy local economies
• Manual transmission operation
• Basic mechanics
Apprentices are required to have their own transportation.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
Hourly rate starts at $15, depending on experience.
Each employee receives a CSA share.
The farm does not offer Apprentice housing. As Monmouth is a college town there are plenty of seasonal, diverse housing options depending on the time of year. Past employees have lived in their own studio apartments, campus housing and in a house with roommates.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Eden is queer-identifying farmer who strives to empower those who are not historically/fairly represented in agriculture. Lucky Crow, first and foremost, is a safe and inclusive space for anyone interested in farming and local food economies. We believe a more diverse and equitable food production system is imperative in our work towards a sustainable future. Eden is committed to maintaining open communication with all employees to ensure they feel safe and heard.
Eden