Ecological farms, Sustainable agriculture

Seasonal, Full Time Position

Job Title: Field Crew (March through October)
Job Location: Small Holdings Farm, 1999 Millsville Road (Millsville/Scotsburn), Pictou County, Nova Scotia

Wage: Starting wage of $18/hr. Higher wage based on experience and skills.
Hours: 35 hrs/week *see “Seasonal” just below
Start Date: March 2026 *see “Seasonal” just below

Seasonal: Our farm operates seasonally and this position is seasonal. The work typically begins as part-time for the month of March, with work days being in part weather dependent. Our season begins to slow following Thanksgiving. Work may become part-time with work days dependent on weather.

Summary of Position

This is a full-time, seasonal position. This position would be ideal for someone with prior experience, interested in applying and further developing their skills in ecological agriculture. This position is also open to individuals interested in learning more about ecological farming. In either case, interested individuals must enjoy physical work, working outdoors and being part of a team.

This position will have the employee working in production and harvest. Day-to-day tasks include field preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting, and general care for the crops (vegetable and flowers) using hand tools. Work will be physical, including lots of bending, lifting and shovelling, etc. and will take place outdoors in all weather.

Quality work done at a quick pace is typically needed on the farm. Quick hands and a commitment to improving task efficiency is highly valued. Further, farming requires a lot of decision-making and problem solving, as well as the ability to roll with shifting priorities and conditions.

Over the course of the farm season, employees will work both independently and as part of a team, reporting to the Field Manager. Each employee will also be delegated responsibility in areas of the farm according to interest and past experience.

This position will foster the employee’s skills and knowledge in agriculture as well as other widely applicable workplace skills including team work, communication, time-management, problem-solving, and leadership.

About Small Holdings Farm

Small Holdings Farm is a small-scale vegetable and flower farm in Pictou County, selling primarily direct to consumers through an on-farm store and CSA program (Community Support Agriculture) of over 250 households. The farm is owned and operated by Keltie Butler and Michael Coolican and the 2026 farm season will be their 10th year in operation. The farm practices ecological farming methods including minimal tillage/no-till practices and the incorporation of livestock, and operates without the use of any pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. With the help of community donations, the farm also provides 20+ CSA memberships to local families facing food insecurity annually.

General responsibilities center around working both in the field and in the greenhouses doing day-to-day farm work independently and as part of a team.
- Bed preparation (i.e. compost application, raking, weeding)
- Seeding and transplanting crops
- Weeding/cultivating using various tools
- Crop care such as pruning tomatoes, deadheading flowers, etc
- Watering/irrigation
- Harvesting

Specific areas of leadership and/or individual responsibility could include:
- Seeding crops in field
- Leadership in field preparation, working as part of a small team
- Leading the field team in Transplanting
- Nursery Production (i.e. the daily care for seedling production)
- Harvest Manager
- Leading the team in Post-Harvest Handling (i.e. washing, bagging, bunching, management of walk-in cooler and inventory, etc.)

Requirements/Qualifications

• Have an aptitude for safe work practices and the ability to multitask in a busy work environment;
• Be able to work productively as part of a team while responding to feedback;
• Must enjoy physical work and working outdoors in all types of weather;
• Be in good physical condition;
• Ability to lift 40 pounds;
• Ability to perform various repetitive tasks including (but not limited to) bending, squatting and lifting;
• Must be both efficient and hardworking;
• Possess strong communication skills;
• Ability to take direction and ask for clarification when needed
• Be motivated to continually improve/get better and more efficient at a task;
• Have good attention to detail;
• Is excited to learn new skills;
• Is able to work both independently and as a team;
• Are passionate about sustainable agriculture and food production.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
This job takes place almost entirely outdoors. Dressing for the work and for the weather is essential. Further, the job is physical, requiring bending, squatting, lifting, standing, kneeling, etc. Eating well and drinking plenty of water is important self-care for this type of work.

To Apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter, along with 2-3 references, to us by email. We’d love to hear why you are interested in the position and why you are the person for the job. Also consider speaking to which specific areas of leadership/individual responsibility would be of interest to you/a fit for you (see list above). Thanks for your interest.

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

Application Deadline: Monday, February 9th 2026

Keltie & Michael
Small Holdings Farm
1999 Millsville Road, Scotsburn
Email info@smallholdingsfarm.ca
Learn more about our farm: Facebook, Instagram
https://www.smallholdingsfarm.ca/