Farm Crew

About Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org.

About This Position
The Farm at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary is a 17-acre organic farm located within Mass Audubon’s very first wildlife sanctuary in Sharon, MA. The Farm at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary has played a foundational role in the Mass Audubon system, educating children and adults about the value of nature and the importance of sustainable farming. At The Farm at Moose Hill, we are committed to producing high quality food while keeping in mind the health of the soil, watershed, and the habitats of our wildlife sanctuary. Each day, we involve the community in what we do.

We seek hard-working individuals with an interest in local food systems and sustainable agriculture to join our team for the 2024 season. We have both full and part-time crew positions available for April through November.

The farm crew will work closely with the Farm Manager and Assistant Grower to raise crops on seventeen acres and market our produce through a CSA program, an onsite farm stand, a weekly urban farmers’ market, and donations to local hunger relief organizations. The work is physically demanding and challenging at times, but you’ll have the opportunity to learn a lot and have a chance to teach others by working alongside volunteers and work-share members. You’ll spend your time out in the fields and will also assist with a wide range of other farm tasks detailed below.

Application Instructions
Please submit a resume and cover letter with your ADP application. Only applications with these materials will be reviewed.

Responsibilities

Assist with many aspects of general farm work related to our 17-acre diversified crops operation, including seeding, planting, weeding, harvest, washing, packing, and distributing:

• Ensure beautiful, high quality produce
• Assist in coordinating tasks with other crew members and workshares

Rotating responsibilities may include:

• Lead volunteer groups in weeding/planting tasks
• Lead the wash and pack area, and load cooler truck in an orderly fashion
• Assist with farm stand and CSA setup/breakdown
• Help with farmers’ markets
• General maintenance and cleaning of work areas and tools
• Maintain electric fences
• Keep records and track donations
• Contribute written pieces to our weekly CSA newsletter
• Additional learning opportunities available to interested individuals (such as tractor use, greenhouse work, assisting with children’s groups, creating harvest lists, etc.)

Qualifications
At Mass Audubon, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or you have a less traditional background. We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:

• Willingness to learn (experience is not required, but food, farming or outdoor work experience is a plus)
• Must be comfortable with physical labor in all weather conditions (during the busiest part of the season we work up to 10 hour days, regularly lift up to 50lbs, and perform repetitive tasks for several straight hours)
• Enjoy working as a team, in a fast-paced environment
• Energetic, optimistic, self-motivated, punctual, and attentive people are a great fit with our team
• Willingness to regularly work alongside volunteer groups of all ages, as well as workshare members and long-term volunteers
• Ability to relate to a diverse range of people and exercise cultural competence and inclusion

Compensation, Benefits and Perks
This position’s pay range is $15.72-$17.68/hour; actual salary will reflect level of experience and qualifications relative to position requirements. This position may be eligible for health insurance benefits.

Work Schedule
A typical schedule will be Tuesday through Saturday, 7:00am-4:30pm (with an hour lunch). Start times and end times may be adjusted to accommodate weather and harvest conditions. Hours will vary throughout the season but will not exceed 50 hours during peak season. Time off is available during the growing season with advance notice.

Other Requirements
Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required.

Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.