Jobs

Spring 2024: We’re Hiring!

Two Farmers Farm is a certified organic vegetable farm that has operated in Scarborough, Maine since 2013. We specialize in growing salad greens and carrots for local and regional wholesale customers, including hunger-relief organizations, distributors, stores and restaurants. Two Farmers Farm is a values-driven operation: we strive to grow  top-quality produce and offer excellent service to our customers while also achieving excellent land stewardship and equitably supporting all members of the farm team. Everything we grow is GAP-certified and certified Organic by MOFGA. Please browse our website and follow us on Instagram to get to know us a bit more.

We think that you’ll like working with us, but don’t take our word for it! Read employee testimonials.

Now Hiring: Farm Worker

Overview

  • Hours per week: 3240 hours/week April;  40 hours/week May-November; 16-24 hours/week December-March (approximately 1,700 hours/year)
  • Start & End Dates: This is a one-year position with a start date between April 1-April 15 2024, and a flexible end date between January-March 2025. 
  • Schedule: Monday – Friday
  • Management: This position reports directly to the two owners/general managers (Kelsey & Dominic)

Summary

This is an essential position involved in many aspects of the farm including harvesting, hand weeding, washing and packing produce, and delivering orders to our wholesale customers. Two Farmers Farm is a team of three people: the “two farmers” (Kelsey & Dominic), and one farm worker. This is a rewarding position for someone who enjoys physical outdoor work, is comfortable working independently, and communicates proactively with their supervisors. Two Farmers Farm is a values-driven, production-oriented work environment where we enjoy each other’s company while focusing on getting our jobs done as efficiently as possible. 

Responsibilities

All responsibilities and duties must be performed efficiently, safely, and in compliance with food safety protocols. The following  list is not exhaustive, but represents the most common responsibilities. A significant amount of working hours will be spent working independently (after a training period), but major weekly tasks like harvesting & washing produce are done as a group. Activities that take up the majority of working hours are in bold. 

Harvest and post-harvest:

  • Harvesting: salad greens are harvested mechanically 2 days/week Mar-Oct; carrots are harvested mechanically 3-4 times total Aug-Oct
  • Washing & packing: salad greens are washed using dunk tanks & commercial spinners 2 days/week Mar-Oct; carrots are washed using a barrel washer 1-2 days/week Aug-Mar. Salad greens and carrots are all packed manually.
  • Wash and sanitize crates with a rinse conveyor approximately once/week Mar-Oct
  • Daily setup and cleanup of washing facility
  • Complete GAP food safety training and comply with that training at all times
  • Annually deep clean walk in coolers, washing facility and equipment, farm vehicles, etc.

Delivery:

  • Deliver orders to customers 1.5 days/week Mar-Oct and 1 day /week Nov-Apr. Includes manually loading and manually unloading a refrigerated box truck
  • At all times, practice defensive driving and safely operate a refrigerated box truck, without crashes and/or traffic violations
  • Promptly communicate all potential vehicle mechanical and/or safety concerns to Kelsey/Dominic
  • Be kind, helpful, and professional when interacting with customers and the public

Production: 

  • Maintenance & repair: high tunnel construction/deconstruction/maintenance and other farm maintenance and repair tasks are the primary tasks for March & April
  • Hand weed carrots: hand weed carrots approximately 8 hours/week Jun-Sep
  • Assist with irrigation: operating pump, monitoring, minor repairs, moving pipe, system deployment, system winterizing, etc 
  • Assist with manually deploying wire hoops and insect exclusion netting on salad greens

General:

  • Work independently with attention to detail, efficiency, and time management
  • “Safety first” mindset in all aspects (equipment, food safety, pesticides, driving etc.)
  • Complete pesticide safety training and comply with that training daily. Mix and handle organic-approved sanitizers and rodent bait in compliance with Worker Protection Standards. 
  • Complete daily records in Google Sheets for harvesting, packing, orders, food safety etc.
  • Operate a string trimmer to maintain edges around farm infrastructure
  • Shovel snow 
  • Be on-call and do farm chores when Kelsey and Dominic are unavailable/on vacation (typically 1-2 weeks in winter and 1-2 weekends during growing season)

Communication:

  • Accurately follow verbal and written instructions including Standard Operating Procedures
  • Proactively ask questions, seek advice, and voice concerns in a timely and constructive manner
  • Prepare for and actively participate in regular one-on-one meetings with Kelsey/Dominic to give and receive constructive feedback

Required Qualifications:

  • Previous outdoor employment
  • Competence working independently in an effective and efficient manner 
  • Proactive and professional communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to accurately follow written and verbal instructions
  • Ability to maintain a positive attitude while working hard
  • Able to safely lift and carry 50 lbs occasionally and safely lift and carry 25 lbs repeatedly
  • Able to stand, walk, bend, squat, kneel, crouch, reach and lift repeatedly all day
  • Able to work outdoors all day, and in hot/humid and cold/wet conditions for prolonged periods.
  • Valid US driver’s license and clean driving history (you must pass a motor vehicle report background check for our auto insurance)

Desired Qualifications:

  • Track record of safe operation of a box van, box truck, or other similarly sized vehicle
  • Enthusiasm for efficiency (performing quickly, accurately, and effectively)
  • Previous employment in commercial outdoor agriculture/horticulture

Basic schedule & time off parameters:

This schedule projection is based on our best estimate of how the season will progress. Though uncommon, this position may require more or fewer hours, depending on actual circumstances. 

Scheduled time off must be requested at least 1 week in advance. 

April*-November: Tue/Wed/Fri 7:30am-4pm, Mon/Thu 6:30am-3pm for greens harvest/wash/pack  (includes an unpaid 30-minute lunch break)

  • *April workload is expected to be 4-5 days/week depending on workload & weather
  • Mon/Thu (greens harvest/wash/pack days) include a paid morning snack break after greens harvest is finished 
  • Greens harvest & associated early start/end occasionally happens Wed instead of Thu, due to weather and/or crop size  
  • Some overtime (typically ~4 hours/month) may be required to complete deliveries & field work
  • Additional overtime and/or weekend shifts may be required to complete carrot harvests
  • We strive to provide compensatory time off as soon as possible following mandatory overtime
  • This position may schedule up to one Friday off in any calendar month between April 1 and Fall break** (not including unforeseen sick days). Time off on days other than Friday is  generally not possible due to our harvest & delivery schedule.
  • **Fall break: we close for 3-5 consecutive business days in November around Thanksgiving

December-March: 2-3 days/week (Tuesday + 1-2 other days/week) 7:30am-4pm/5pm (includes an unpaid 30-minute lunch break) 

  • Standard work days end at 4pm; root wash days end between 4pm-5pm depending on workload
  • Work week may be 2 or 3 days, depending on the volume of fall root harvest. Tuesdays are mandatory for deliveries but there is flexibility for scheduling the other 1-2 days.
  • Optional additional hours for snow shoveling may be available
  • This position may schedule up to 6 days off between Winter break* and April 1st. These days off may be consecutive (i.e. up to two full work weeks in a row)
  • *Winter break: we close for 3-5 consecutive business days in December around Christmas

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Paid hourly, $19.25/hour
  • Overtime pay at 1.5 times your hourly rate for hours over 40 per week 
  • Paid time off accrued at a rate of 1 hour for every 40 hours worked
  • IRA match up to 3% of annual wages 
  • $150/year essential & foul weather gear accountable reimbursement plan
  • $150/year chemical-resistant rubber boots accountable reimbursement plan
  • $100/year waterproof phone case accountable reimbursement plan
  • Workers compensation insurance
  • Free TFF produce (surplus/“seconds”) for your own use

Application Process

To apply, please email kelsey@twofarmersfarm.com with the following:

  1. Your resume or a complete list of your work history. For each job you’ve held, please provide the company/organization name, dates of employment, your job title, and a list or summary of your responsibilities/achievements. 
  2. A brief (1-3 paragraph) email or attached letter that includes the following:
    1. Introduction to who you are & why you are interested in working for Two Farmers Farm.
    2. Why you are interested in the specific position you are applying for and why you think you would be a good fit for that position.
    3. Whether you have a valid driver’s license.
    4. Your preferred start date or date range
    5. Your preferred end date or date range.

We will contact the most qualified applicants to schedule a 15-30 minute introductory phone interview. Some applicants will then be offered an in-person and/or a working interview. Working interviews will be paid and be followed by a reference check. All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Two Farmers Farm is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

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Certified Organic by MOFGA