SAUR FARMING
POSITION: 1 APPRENTICESHIP
FULL TIME (40 hrs/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: mid April - mid Nov
LOCATION: Hood River (Portland Area)
NO ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED
VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes
ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Strongly preferred.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English.
Anastasia and Ben started Saur Farming in 2011 just outside of Hood River, Oregon. After four seasons we moved up the valley to Parkdale, where we have been farming since. We farm on 10 acres; 2 acres in veggie production, 2 in pasture, and 5 in forest. We provide produce and cut flowers to our local thriving Farmers Market, a small CSA, and to many restaurants and wholesale customers in the area.
Our goal has been to build healthy community through healthy soil and food. We farm using organic methods but are not certified. Cover crops, compost, and ecological habitat projects help to maintain soil health and biodiversity.
We use draft horses for many tasks around the farm including soil preparation and cultivation, compost and manure spreading, forest management, etc. We also use a BCS walk-behind tractor for mowing and final bed preparation.
Our fields of veggies are farmed intensively using much hand work. We are a detail oriented farm crew that strive to do good work; we value clean rows and high quality crops. In order to make a living farming, us and our crew must be efficient in all we do; working intently, smartly, and quickly is the name of the game.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Our crew members will be doing nearly everything on the farm, including soil and bed prep, transplanting, trellising, weeding, harvesting, manure management, wash & pack, etc. We do not require previous experience, but we do require that staff come with an attitude that is ready to learn and continually progress in their skills and tasks. You will learn a ton about organic systems, small scale efficiency, and the thousand day to day tasks it takes to run a small vegetable farm.
Our staff does not work with the horses on a daily basis, but they do interact with them at times throughout the season.
The work will be full time during the main season (May through mid November), with possible part-time work before and after. Expect lots of manual labor: lifting, carrying, bending, shoveling, etc. Staff needs to be able to lift and carry 50lb bags repeatedly. We work outside all day long throughout the season, so being able to work joyfully in all weather is essential. We are a small, tight crew where each member is a large part of what makes this farm function and if staff doesn’t show up for work the entire farm suffers. We can accommodate some time off requests, but that should be the exception not the rule, come ready to work.
Training and teaching will consist of daily morning meetings, in field instruction, as well as weekly check-ins to ensure the apprentice is understanding the week’s work. You will be learning from the farmers as well as our crew leader. There will be monthly ‘classes’ for bigger picture teaching that will address the seasonal dynamics of the farm and general organic farm practices. We love to teach and encourage our staff to ask questions and be inquisitive.
We also have seasonal employee reviews where we give feedback on job performance as well as provide time to listen to each staff member.
We take ‘field trips’ throughout the season to either do something fun or to go check out other farms in the area. We work hard but laugh a lot and have a great time. You will feel like family by the end of the season.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
Starting wage is $15.50/hr with reviews and probable raises throughout the season. We also offer bonuses throughout the season based on performance, and an end of year bonus for those who finish out the season.
No housing offered. Housing in this area can be challenging (expensive), but we do know a lot of people in the area and can help to find something.
QUALIFICATIONS
Apprentices must have good communication skills, stable mental health, the ability to follow directions and take feedback (not always positive). Attention to detail, good physical abilities, and an overall pleasant demeanor and good attitude is mandatory. You must work well with a team and show up everyday with a desire to learn and do good work.
Communication is a key component for how our farm is run. We communicate our expectations and instructions and expect our crew to be communicating with us.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Farming on a small & sustainable scale often attracts people from different backgrounds and marginalized communities, everyone is welcome here.
Anastasia and Ben.