Summer jobs, Student jobs

Hiring: Farm Technician
Type: summer positions
Organization: The Farmlands Trust (Greater Victoria) Society
Location: Saanichton, BC

Our vision is to achieve and promote food sovereignty in Greater Victoria where the communities and community organizations we serve define their own food and agriculture systems to produce healthy and culturally appropriate food for people through ecologically sound, regenerative and sustainable methods. We deploy agro-ecological farm practices, provide education and learning opportunities to the public, and donate most of our harvest to local community organizations who offer free grocery or meal programs to those experiencing food insecurity or poverty.

Responsibilities

Working in a team, and with the supervision of the Farm Manager, Farm Technician duties include a wide range of tasks related to crop production. These duties are physically demanding and require flexibility to work split shifts and weekends, depending on the season and farm needs. Under the guidance of the Farm Manager, the Farm Technician will have the opportunity to develop and conduct their own agro-ecological research project, continuing farm led research.

Crop-related duties

• Field preparation
• Seed and care for seedlings
• Field seed and transplant seedlings
• Fertility management
• Hand and machine cultivation
• Harvest, sort, weigh, wash, track and pack produce for distribution
• Maintain farm biodiversity, hedgerows, fencelines

Machinery and maintenance duties

• Operating and performing maintenance on farm machinery and equipment including irrigation and fertility systems
• Repairing farm equipment, buildings, and fences
• Setting and monitoring environmental controls
• Assisting with general farm maintenance tasks

Leadership duties

• Executing the farm plan
• Planning tasks for, training and supervising volunteers, providing feedback and supporting a positive experience for volunteers

Research duties

• Draft outline for an agro-ecological solution that furthers the established farm led research
• Document and journal (including photos) progress
• Report on learnings and findings (informal)

We’re looking for someone who:

• Can commit to working for the full season
• Is detail oriented and can manage working in our established pace
• Is conscientious and careful about maintaining a healthy and safe workplace
• Wants to learn new skills and farm systems in an agro-ecological setting to support food sovereignty

Onsite training will be provided. Farming / vegetable growing experience is an asset. Must be a student returning to school in the fall. Enrolment in post-secondary agriculture, ecological or environmental studies related fields of study is an asset. Applications from members of equity deserving groups encouraged. We are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage women, people of Indigenous ancestry, people of colour, LGBTOIP2SA individuals and members of diverse communities to apply.

Term: April 20 - August 29, 2025 (flexible within these dates, part-time hours available August 30 - November 1) Pending funding from Canada Summer Jobs

Rate: $20-$22/hour, based on experience and qualifications. (Additionally, we encourage applicants to apply to https://iafbc.ca/summer-student-farm-worker-bursary-program/ to top up their earnings by up to $3,000.)

Location: Newman Farm (Upper Farm), Central Saanich -  accessed via Central Saanich Road, 0.8 km north on Central Saanich Road from Mount Newton Cross Road

Please send letter of interest and resume as one pdf file to: newmanmanager@farmlandstrust.org

Please mention you saw this at rcen.ca or goodwork.ca.

We thank everyone for their interest, but only those selected for interviews will be contacted.