Lead Grower
Posted 2025-04-24Position: Lead Grower
Hiring Organization: Common Roots Farm, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation
Employment Type: This is a year round position, hourly, full-time 40 hours/week
Job Location: City of Santa Cruz, CA
Application Deadline: February 15, 2025, or until filled
Position Reports To: Farm Manager
Who We Are: Common Roots is a 4.5 acre low till market farm where people with disabilities join with others to grow healthy food, beautiful cut flowers, and build relationships that sustain everyone.
What We Do: We sell direct to customers through a 60 member food and flower CSA, farmstand, and wholesale contracts. We also care for a flock of egg layers and four sheep. We propagate seeds in our wheelchair accessible greenhouse, manage a small orchard, tend raised and roll-into garden beds, and welcome people of all abilities to our farm for a variety of farm-based experiences. Our primary operation is row crop vegetables, strawberries, raspberries, and flowers. Approx. 2 acres are cultivated.
Lead Grower Position: Common Roots Farm seeks an organic grower with experience in diversified market farming and a high drive to farm. Our Lead Grower will be able to lead and improve our food crop production while helping to include participants living with intellectual/developmental disabilities in many of the farm?s tasks (training provided). We are seeking a farmer who is serious about helping us develop our farm business, can implement our regenerative growing practices, collaborates easily, can delegate tasks and meet deadlines, and is enthusiastic about farming with people of all abilities.
Responsibilities: Food Crop Production using organic and regenerative practices (80%); Lead Field Tasks (15%) Infrastructure/Tool Maintenance (5%)
Requirements: At least three years of full season, paid experience in small scale organic agriculture, preferably market farming, including experience operating a CSA. Prefer at least two years of experience leading a field crew. Be able to safely operate two-wheeled tractors and implements; lift 50lbs., be willing to help out with animal care and feeding when needed. Be able to model attention to people, plants, and farm tasks vs. a cell phone. Work occasional Saturdays to lead a volunteer group or run a pop-up market. Bi-lingual, Spanish-speaking a plus.
Compensation: $22-$27/hour, plus benefits, DOE. Common Roots offers medical/dental/vision, vacation, holidays, sick leave. Farm crew breaks for the month of January.
Career Path: With additional skills & experience in crop planning, customer sales/marketing, crew management and value-added production, position can lead to a future farm management role.
Submit qualifications and an email explaining your interest in this position to:
Heidi Cartan, Executive Director
Apply Job!