Camphill Village Copake - Turtle Tree Seed Company
About Camphill Village:
The founding of Camphill Village in 1961 was part of a transformative movement in the United States to reform how society treats people with special needs. Worldwide, this was known as the Camphill Movement. We are the first and largest Camphill community in the United States, and we are one of more than 100 Camphill communities, including villages and schools, that exist around the globe.
Camphill Village Copake is a non-profit organization dedicated to our mission of being an integrated community where people with developmental differences are living a life of dignity, equality, and purpose.
On 615 acres of wooded hills, gardens, and pastures in rural upstate New York, adults with special needs and long- and short-term service volunteers strive to live and work together as equals in extended families in homes throughout the Village.
At Turtle Tree Seed, a workshop within Camphill Village, we manage 3 acres of land with a crew of folks with developmental differences, young volunteers for whom this is the first experience of land work, and one or more experienced land workers working alongside people of varying skill levels and abilities. We grow vegetable, flower and herb seeds, and do trialing of some varieties each year. The seeds we grow here, along with seeds grown on partner farms across the country, are cleaned, tested and packed for sale during the fall, winter and spring.
More information about Camphill Village can be found at: https://camphillvillage.org and about Turtle Tree Seed here: https://turtletreeseed.org.
Job Description:
The Turtle Tree Seed team is seeking a full-time, year-round gardener to support all aspects of growing and seed production. All team members will report directly to the co-managers and will be responsible for assisting in all aspects of production from propagation to harvest. This job does not involve direct marketing of produce and is focused primarily on production. It also involves working with people with varying experience levels and abilities. Seed production requires a high level of attention to detail, beyond that of regular vegetable, herb or flower growing.
Specific Job Duties Entail:
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Propagation of seedlings and care of thereafter
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Transplanting by hand
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Direct Seeding
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Irrigation setup and maintenance
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Field maintenance (weeding, hoeing, weed whacking, mowing, etc.)
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Tractor work (either tractor operation, if qualified, or work related to or involving the tractor)
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Harvest, drying, and processing of seeds
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Pest and disease control
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Customer service and shipping/handling during winter months
Job Schedule:
Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30am-5pm, year round. A one-hour lunch break is allowed daily.
Qualifications:
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Commitment to Camphill Village’s mission and to Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture
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Farm experience preferred (vegetable, seed, herb)
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Tractor Experience preferred (tillage, mowing, implement use, loading, etc.) Most tractor work will be executed by a Co-Manager or other team member but it would be helpful to have another hand for occasional work/assistance.
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Positive attitude and strong communication skills
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Strong grasp of time management and task prioritization
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Punctuality
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Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in all weather conditions (hot, cold, rainy)
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Valid driver’s license
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Strong work ethic
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Organized and efficient
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Enthusiasm to learn seed growing
Compensation:
This is an hourly position. Pay begins at $18/hour for those with no prior experience farming or working outdoors and is capped at $22/hr for more experienced individuals.
Benefits:
- The health insurance benefit through CDPHP only costs $57 bi-weekly for the family plan! All copays, deductibles, and prescriptions are paid by Camphill Village and there is no waiting period. Or, you can choose to opt-out of our insurance offering and receive $3500 annually.
- We offer generous paid time off (4 paid weeks off per year to start, plus up to 14 paid holidays)
- We encourage and support good health and wellbeing by offering an annual wellness stipend of $1000--this can be used for a new kayak, fitness equipment, massages, a bicycle, etc!
- We care about your retirement-- to help fund your 401k, Camphill Village will contribute 5% of your pay to your retirement account.
- Other benefits include dental and vision insurance, opportunities for on-the-job training, and a diverse, beautiful, and non-traditional work environment. We also have a fabulous coffee shop, bakery, and Café on site where one can purchase delicious soups, salads, and other meals, and the opportunity to join one or more of our house communities for a lively hot lunch!
Application Process:
Those interested should email the HR manager, Jess Albright, at jessicaa@camphillvillage.org with the header “Turtle Tree Seed Gardener.”
Please include a brief cover letter, 1 page resume, and 3 references. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible.