Farm Crew Member

Golden Rule Gardens is a farm located in Willits, CA on the 5,000 acre Ridgewood Ranch. It is a project of the Non-Profit, The Golden Rule Association. The farm grows food for a 40-member CSA, Farmstand, on-site communal dining hall, and the MendoLake Food Hub. The farm is split into two sites (The Buttercup Field and The Golden Rule Field) and run by two managers. The Buttercup Field primarily focuses on intensively managed crops like cut greens, herbs, flowers, peas, and cherry tomatoes. Buttercup is managed by-hand, using Biodynamic and organic principles. Buttercup also provides all of its own soil fertility by using cover crops and compost curated on the farm. The Golden Rule Field offers a wide diversity of crops and approaches to production. It employs the use of a tractor for longer growing season crops like corn, potatoes, winter squash, and sweet potatoes. Additionally, a wide diversity of cucurbits, solums, asters, alliums, umbells, amaranths, and brassicas are grown using “minimal-till,” intensive market garden methods. This field also includes perennial grapes, blackberries, and raspberries. This position will fulfill duties at both sites (~70% at GR field, 30% at Buttercup), offering an opportunity to experience a wide array of farming scales, techniques, and tools.

Qualifications: Strong communication skills Interest in farming Ability to lift 50 lbs repeatedly Ability to work outside daily, including in inclement weather (heat, smoke, rain, etc.) Ability to work both independently and in a team environment (strongly encouraged) Willingness to be flexible, work long hours, and apply oneself where needed Responsibilities: General farm work including, but not limited to: seeding, planting, weeding, bed prep, harvesting, washing/packing, irrigation, and general farm maintenance. Opportunities: Learn Biodynamic and bio-intensive principles as well as crop planning, marketing, and farm-management. Exhibiting qualified candidates can also learn to operate heavy equipment (tractors, excavators, backhoes).

Golden Rule Gardens is a part of The Golden Rule Association which is a member-run community with around 120 on-site residents that hosts several agricultural operations. We operate a community dining hall where meals are prepared and shared several times a week, as well as other fun community activities! Employees are welcome to participate in the broader community at Ridgewood Ranch! Shared housing is available for this position. Possibility of non-shared housing.