SUSTAINABLE FARMING PROGRAM

Positions: Young Entrepreneurs
Organization: Clearwater Farm / Ontario Water Centre
Location: Willow Beach, Georgina, Lake Simcoe, Ontario. Subsidized local housing available for participants.
Type: Learning opportunity with stipend, housing, more (see below)

Welcome to Clearwater Farm’s Young Agripreneur Program

ClearWater Farm’s Young Agripreneur Program is designed to support young people who wish to prepare themselves for a leadership position in regenerative agriculture, either through running their own (or someone else’s) farm or overseeing marketing and/or logistics operations. The Program is a multi-year experiential learning opportunity that takes individuals from developing physical skills and basic farming knowledge (year one), through increasingly independent work (years 2-3) with opportunities in years 3-5 to access increasing amounts of land to be farmed for their own account. Following a successful first year, participants gain access to supporting education to provide an intellectual framework for the practical skills they are developing. Interested candidates who already have prior years of sustainable farming experience can apply for second or third-year status in our program, enabling them to access land more quickly. The program can support participants by providing access to a financial stipend, subsidized local housing, shared equipment, and mentorship.

Duties and Responsibilities

First year participants will be involved in all farming-related tasks — from seed to harvest, wash/pack and delivery.

Main duties include:

• Seeding and transplanting crops
• Crop maintenance, soil cultivation and fertilization program.
• Weed and pest management strategies.
• Harvesting, processing, packing, and distributing vegetables through the weekly basket program, wholesale orders and farm stand.
• Preparing beds for direct seeding and transplanting in the early season
• ‘Flipping Beds’ efficiently to prepare for a second crop
• Preparing compost and compost tea for fertilizing crops and soil
• Maintaining greenhouse crops
• Preparing the harvest for customers with different wash/pack protocols
• Maintaining a clean work environment

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to work in all weather conditions
• Detail and accuracy oriented
• Can lift up to 50lbs.
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Team player

Preference for candidates with: previous experience in vegetable farming, market gardening, landscape, farming machinery, food marketing or logistics; a passion about environmental health and about building a better food system for Ontario; self-knowledge about strengths and weaknesses.

Year 2-3 Agripreneurs

For candidates with previous experience in sustainable farming, we are looking for farmers who would be interested in specializing in the following:

• Greenhouse/nursery management — ensuring greenhouse/nursery schedules are carried out and taking a special role in maintaining optimal greenhouse conditions for all crops;
• Field management experience with tractors and mechanical components; field preparation for bed crops; maintenance of cover crops;
• Logistics — ensuring smooth packing and delivery of our food to all customers;
• Marketing — assisting in building a food brand and telling our food story;
• Farm stand — connecting with and selling to the community at our weekly Friday and Saturday Farm stand.

Start Date: May 3, 2021
End Date: October 28, 2021

To Apply:

Please e-mail your resume and a brief covering letter to:
hr@ontariowatercentre.ca
Subject: Young Entrepreneur

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