Witte Flower Farm-FULL FOR 2024
POSITIONS: 1 Apprenticeship
1 FULL TIME (30-40 hrs/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: March 1-April 15 to Oct 1-Nov 30
LOCATION: Salem (Willamette Valley, Portland Chapter)
NO ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED
VEHICLE REQUIRED? No, but there is no public trans to the farm
ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Preferred, but not imperative.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English.
Witte Farm is located on 25 acres in South Salem, Oregon. The farm has beautiful views of a pond, our neighbor’s vineyard and the Cascades. We grow cut flowers for weddings, events and the Portland Flower Market on 2+ acres with the remaining acres in pasture. Our crops include a wide variety of flowering shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals – with flower crops blooming from March through October. The farm connects to walking/riding trails along the ridge line. We are just 4 miles from town, 10 minutes from the Willamette River, 45 minutes from Portland and an hour from the ocean. It is a beautiful spot, and we love sharing our farm with others.
The Farm has a diversified sales approach that includes wholesale flowers delivered to our local grocery and the Portland Flower Market, direct sales to the public and bulk orders direct to floral designers for weddings and events, as well as on farm workshops.
We provide subscription floral arrangements to local restaurants, businesses and homes, as well as floral design for events. We host a large dahlia tuber sale in the spring and a large bulb sale in the fall with local and shipped products. We grow many heirloom varieties of blooms and dry volumes of seed heads and flowers for winter sales.
Although not certified organic, we use organic practices and a no-till biodynamic approach to build healthy soil and ecosystems. We are pollinator certified. We arrived on this land 10 years ago. A former Christmas tree farm, the soil was depleted and lifeless. Much of our work has focused on healing the ecosystem. We have a deep interest in rehabilitating farmland to create diverse habitats, healthy soil biology and water retention capabilities.
Our farm crew consists of two owners, a farm manager and two farm hands. Apprentices are involved in all aspects of farming, and receive mentorship in sourcing seed, soil health, growing, harvesting techniques, and developing wholesale and retail sales. We supplement our farm income with agritourism and farm stays. Apprentices will help us with hosting and sharing our farming activities with guests in the summer.
Kristin is a 4th generation farmer, starting with her great-grandparents’ homestead in the late 1800s. She has been growing flowers for decades and started this flower farm 8 years ago. She has a deep interest in rehabilitating farmland to create diverse habitats, healthy soil biology and water retention capabilities. Mike was a builder before farming, and he has an amazing collection of tools and the knowledge to build or fix anything. He loves working with interns to share his building and mechanical skills and there will be many hands-on projects throughout the season. In an earlier life, Mike owned a bakery in Corvallis and he loves to share his creations.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Apprentices receive training on all aspects of cut flower farming: seed sourcing, propagation, planting, cultivation, irrigation (overhead and drip), harvesting, processing, floral design, wholesale and retail sales, agritourism including glamping guests and workshops, construction, livestock fencing, honeybee hives care (if interested), and general farm maintenance.
Weekly planning sessions and daily mentorship with our farm manager will give you a broad introduction to a market garden style of farming. Expect to work in most weather conditions and occasionally lift/carry 50 lbs. The farm is open 7 days a week and we can accommodate most work schedule preferences as long as the schedule remains stable during the season.
QUALIFICATIONS
A kind person who has a passion for growing flowers, an interest in learning no-till and biodynamic farm practices and habitat creation, as well as a strong desire to share this world with the public through on farm workshops and activities.
We love our farm, and we want to share it with happy people who will collaborate to make this a wonderful place to live and work. You need a strong work ethic, a creative approach to solving all manner of challenges and a love of working outdoors. It helps to have a strong body that can manage bending and kneeling, good stamina, and the ability to lift 50 lbs. occasionally.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
$15/hour, step increases possible on quality and quantity of production work.
We have excellent cell service and internet on the farm. Free and fast Wi-Fi provided.
Apprentices can share our veggie garden and there is additional space to grow crops if interested.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
We welcome all races, orientation, gender and spiritual beliefs on the farm. We strive to be a safe and positive space for BIPOC and LGBTQIA folks and a welcoming community for workers and visitors alike. We strive to be a kind, joyful and supportive place to work.
Kristin