Join the Team
2024 Job Opportunities – Open until Filled
If you are interested in working on a diverse farm with lots of learning potential follow the application instructions below. We are looking for farm crew members who work hard, communicate well, and are eager to learn more about farming.
Positions Available
- Full-time Farm Crew Member
About Foothill Farm
Foothill Farm is a certified organic, diverse vegetable and grass-fed beef farm located on 70 acres in the Mission Valley of Western Montana. The farm was started and is owned by Julie Pavlock and the farm crew consists seasonally of 4-6 employees. This will be our 20th year in business, and our goal is to provide healthy food to our community and a sustainable environment that is positive and productive.
The gardens are 7 acres of vegetables with 3 hoophouses, a heated greenhouse for starting plants and outdoor field production. The rest of our farm is dedicated to pasture and hay ground with cows, a small flock laying hens, and a few pigs rotated through the system. Our mixed, fresh vegetables are sold through the Western Montana Growers Cooperative, with three sales and delivery days/week. We sell our meat through the Cooperative’s CSA, and direct to consumers. We also have online sales of our farm products, and sell seed garlic and other seeds to several seed companies. We grow a large assortment of herbs, fruits, and vegetables with our main emphasis on these crops: heirloom tomatoes, cherry and slicing tomatoes, shallots, onions, garlic, lettuce, beets, potatoes, summer squash, and winter squash, thyme, lavender, plums and apples. We utilize mainly tractors as well as horse power on the farm.
Job Summary
We are looking to hire farm crew members who have a strong desire to learn, work hard, communicate effectively, think ahead, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and potentially have an interest in a farming career.
Full-time employees will assist with all aspects of fresh vegetable, herb, and fruit production: greenhouse work, field preparation, direct seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, washing, packing, drying vegetable seed, cleaning seed, fence repair, trellising, pruning, some animal care and field irrigation which includes moving irrigation wheel lines and handlines. Each employee is responsible for weekend chores once a month which may include field and garden irrigation, closing and opening hoophouses and gates, feeding and animal care, etc.
Employees are also expected to be able to work efficiently by themselves and also with the crew. Farming is physically demanding and applicants must be prepared for the rigors of farm work and be able to lift at least 60 lbs repeatedly. Farm crew members will report directly to the Garden Manager.
Compensation
We will provide a starting salary of $1600 /month. Crew are responsible for their own meals although we will occasionally share farm lunch or dinner. There will be produce available for personal consumption, as well as seconds for preservation. A bonus is given to all employees who stay the entire season.
Housing
On-site housing is available for farm crew, depending on applicant. There are individual rooms and communal kitchen and shower with a composting toilet.
Schedule and Hours
On average we strive to have employees work 40-45 hours a week Monday-Friday; but this is farming - and we do expect people to work until the job is complete. The position starts in late-April or early May through the end of October (date can change slightly depending on the season).
Application Instructions
Please send resume, cover letter and three references, and answer the following questions to foothillfarm@gmail.com
Please be specific when answering these questions. It is a helpful way for us to get to know you and find out if we are compatible.
1. Why do you want to work at Foothill Farm? Please make answers specific to the position that you are applying for.
2. What skill sets are you hoping to acquire from this position?
3. How do you think we as a farm will benefit from having you as a member of our crew?