Harmony Valley Farm
S 3442 Wire Hollow Rd.
Viroqua, WI 54665
Phone: 608-483-2143
Email: bookkeeper@harmonyvalleyfarm.com
In addition to an hourly wage, all full time employees are eligible to participate in our retirement benefits and health insurance programs. We also offer lunch for all employees prepared by our farm chef during the peak season, April-November. You will have access to produce from the farm when available. Opportunity for advancement always exists for individuals demonstrating a strong work ethic and superior performance.
Hours of Operation
During our peak season, April-November, work hours are 7:30/8:00 am-6:00 pm with a 1-hour lunch break. In the off-season, work hours are 8:00 am- 5:00 pm. Keep in mind this is a farm and there may be times when these hours will vary based on weather conditions, farm events, or other variable factors.
POSITIONS
Field & Harvest Coordinator—Hiring for 2010We are looking for an organized, people-oriented individual who has a minimum of 2 years farming experience, with an emphasis on growing fresh market produce. In this position, you will work with the management team to plan field and harvest tasks and expedite job completion while working with a field/harvest crew of 20-25 people. You will manage quality control of product being harvested, supplies, and time usage. Basic tractor operation skills are required. Additional opportunities, based on experience, may include greenhouse management, planting, irrigation and other field work. Spanish language skills a plus. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
§ Daily & Weekly harvest scheduling
§ Manual & Mechanical harvest
§ Quality Control
§ Ensure appropriate post-harvest handling of product
§ Transport of harvest from field to packing shed
§ Record Keeping
§ Other production related tasks may include transplanting, weeding, mulching, pruning, mowing, and other field maintenance.
This is a year-round position. During the off-season, tasks may include helping as needed in the packing shed, doing inventory of seeds, seed ordering and receiving, germ testing and end of season record keeping and production reporting, time-studies evaluation, etc. Basic computer skills are a must (Outlook, Word, Excel), advanced computer skills a plus.
Position available March 1, 2010
Farm Chef—Hiring for 2010
Are you looking for a creative culinary challenge and a chance to connect directly with your source of organic ingredients? We are looking for a creative individual with cooking experience and an affinity for organic ingredients who is interested in writing and preparing their own weekly menus based on the seasonal produce available from our fields and meat from our pastures. Your primary responsibility is preparing lunch for our crew of 40-45 Monday-Friday. The sky is the limit as long as the meals are prepared on time and are nourishing enough to fuel the appetites of our hard working crew and emphasize ingredients from our farm, supplemented with staple organic ingredients from other local producers and our local food co-op.
You will also have the opportunity to serve as a resource for our CSA members by providing weekly recipes and information for our newsletters on vegetables they receive in their boxes, participating in and planning culinary aspects of on-farm events.
Additional responsibilities include weekly blog entries, food preservation, and managing food inventory and storage areas as well as purchasing.
You must have experience and references for previous work in the foodservice industry. Also must have basic computer and writing skills. This is a full-time, salaried, seasonal position. The Chef’s contract is for our peak growing season, April 5, 2010-November 20, 2010.
Assistant Farm Chef—Hiring for 2010
We are in search of an individual with cooking experience and an affinity for organic ingredients to assist our farm chef, prepare dinner for farm residents and guests, and contribute culinary information to our weekly CSA newsletters. Responsibilities include assisting with lunch prep and cleanup several days weekly, assisting with food preservation projects, assisting with maintaining neat, clean and orderly kitchen and storage areas, and filling in for the Farm Chef in their absence. You will also have the opportunity to interact with CSA members at our three annual on-farm events and through weekly written and recipe contributions to our vegetable, fruit and/or cheese newsletters for our CSA members. You will also prepare dinner 4-5 nights weekly for 3-5 farm residents and any guests of the farm.
Shop & Field Crew Member—Hiring for 2010We are looking for an individual with 2 or more years of experience working on a farm to be part of our shop and field crew. Must be willing to learn organic farming methods and be a flexible, cooperative team member. Experience with operating tractors and implements required. Basic skills with preventative maintenance and repair of machinery and facilities, and computer skills are preferred. Depending on your skills & experiences, as well as the needs of the farm, you may work independently or as part of a team to perform any of the following responsibilities:
§ Soil preparation
§ Transplanting & seeding in the field
§ Mechanical cultivation & harvest
§ Seeding cover crops
§ Fertilizer, mineral and pest control application
§ Pasture management & caretaking of animals (cattle, pigs, chickens and goats)
§ Irrigation setup
§ Equipment & facility maintenance and repair
§ Turning and spreading compost
§ Record Keeping
This is a year-round position with tasks varying with the seasons. We are looking to recruit individuals with an interest in working here for a minimum of two years in order to build a strong team with continuity from one season to the next.
Position available March 1, 2010
Delivery Driver—Available for 2010 Season
We are looking for an experienced truck driver with a valid CDL and a clean driving record. You will drive a 27' straight truck on a delivery route to Minneapolis/ St. Paul or Madison. If driving to the Twin Cities, you will leave the farm Wednesday evening, stay overnight in the Twin Cities, and complete deliveries Thursday morning before returning to the farm in the afternoon/early evening. If driving the Madison route, you will leave the farm very early on Saturday morning, complete deliveries and return to the farm in the afternoon. We are looking for more than just a truck driver; you will be representing Harmony Valley Farm to our customers. Responsibilities include:
-Delivery of wholesale produce orders to warehouses
-Delivery of retail orders to stores and restaurants
-Delivery of Community Supported Agriculture boxes to home sites
-Meticulous set-up of CSA sites which involves neatly stacking the correct number of boxes, and set-up of a newsletter and brochure table.
-Keeping careful logbook entries
Position available May 2010
Packing Shed Coordinator—Position Available for 2010
We are looking for an individual with excellent communication and organizational skills to work in our packing shed. In this position, you will work with our current packing shed coordinators and management to plan, coordinate and supervise the flow of production to complete washing and packing of product for distribution to our CSA, wholesale accounts and farmer’s market and supervise packing shed crew members. Your primary responsibilities include the following:
Wholesale/Retail Sales: Receive orders, communicate with Sales Manager, Bookkeeper & WS coordinator in the packing shed to ensure orders are filled and shipped correctly. You will also schedule and plan trucking, coordinate consolidated shipping /cross-docking.
Market: Ensure product being harvested for Farmer’s Market is received from the field, washed, sorted and stored appropriately for market quality standards. Pack product for market and load the truck including all needed supplies. Complete inventory of product upon return from market.
General responsibilities include supervising wash/pack operations to ensure proper packing and maintain quality standards. Prepare packaging needs (labels, boxes, containers, etc). Wash and pack produce. Enforce and supervise sanitation practices, help maintain general orderliness of supplies, inventory and work areas.
Required Skills Include:
Computer Proficiency (Microsoft Word, Excel)
Able to work as a part of a team with effective communication
Experience operating fork lift and pallet jack
Previous supervisory experience
Spanish language skills a definite bonus
Position available March 1, 2010
Assistant Production Manager
We are looking for an individual with a minimum of 2 years experience farming vegetables to join our team as an Assistant Production Manager. In this position, you will assist with the planning and management of field operations including soil nutrition management, cover cropping, planting, cultivating, disease prevention and management, composting and maintaining surrounding field areas. Work will involve planning as well as execution of the plan, record keeping, and management of 3-5 crew. This is a year-round position. In the off-season, you will assist with record keeping, planning for the upcoming year, equipment maintenance and other related tasks.
Required skills include:
Experience operating tractors, skidsteer
Basic computer skills (Word, Outlook, Excel)
Able to work as part of a team with effective communication
Willingness to learn and contribute to the success of the farm
Spanish language skills, experience with specialized vegetable implements, machine repair and maintenance skills are a plus, but not required.
The potential for ownership in shares of the farm exists for the right individual who demonstrates a strong work ethic and contributes to the success of the farm.
Position available immediately.
