The Home Ranch Farm is a year-round farm that specializes in growing and providing organically-produced food to our local communities in the Yampa Valley in the mountains of Northwest Colorado. Located just north of Steamboat Springs in Clark, Colorado, at 7,200 feet, we grow food with a four-season geothermal greenhouse, and two extended-season high tunnels, approximately one acre of garden beds and field crops, and an orchard. We also raise and tend heritage chickens and ducks for organic eggs. We offer our products via a weekly Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA), at the Community Ag Alliance in Steamboat Springs, at a local market in Clark, at local restaurants through wholesale accounts, and from June through September at a local farm stand in Clark and at the Steamboat Farmers Market. In 2024, we will also have an online ordering platform with a pick-up location in Clark.
We are seeking two experienced and qualified farm staff to join the team for the 2024 farm season to assist with all aspects of farm operations including:
- Assistance with greenhouse and high tunnel tasks and details including prepping, planting, soil amending, pest mitigation and other tasks as directed by farm manager
- Product harvesting, cleaning, packaging, and delivery details for orders and accounts
- Setting up, running, and breaking down farm stands under the direction of the market manager and the farm manager
- Maintenance and care of chickens and ducks, coop maintenance and cleaning, and egg collection, cleaning, and packing
- Seed starting and seedling watering and maintenance
- Routine cleaning of the processing kitchen, bathroom, and propagation room
- Assistance with compost management
- Helping organize and execute farm workshops and events
- Help with the production of herbal and botanical products
- Additional chores and tasks as needed and determined by the farm manager
Experience with farming is essential. including knowledge and skills with the following:
- Harvesting protocols to ensure high quality and consistent products (eg. kale in ½ lb bunches, zucchini harvested at 6-8” into 10 lb cases)
- Wash and pack protocols to maximize efficiency, and organization while processing vegetables (eg. sanitize sinks, change water as needed, dry salad mix thoroughly, inspect and remove bruised or tip burned leaves, bugs, weeds, etc.)
- Utilizing pack lists and SOPs to weigh, bag, and label, consistently and efficiently
- Comfort with farm apps, Google Sheets, etc. to view daily tasks, track progress, make requested notes, and sign off on completed projects
- Attention to field and crop health, identify symptoms, and report spread of diseases, pests, and potential soil health issues to farm manager
- Bed Preparation: tarp, shovel compost, broad fork, operate BCS, and hand tools
- Irrigation: maintain and operate drip and sprinkler systems
- Seeding and Transplanting: operate Earthway and Paper Pot seeder and transplanter, and other seeding equipment and practices (Jang, hand planting)
- Cultivation and Weeding: prevent germinating weed seeds and remove weeds using hand tools, mowing, and tarping
- Maintenance: maintain and repair machinery, and equipment
Position Requirements:
- Minimum two seasons of experience working in a small-scale organic farm setting
- Comfort in using and operating farm tools, equipment, and machinery
- Comfort with basic mathematical skills to calculate weights, prices, and farm inventory
- Working knowledge of plant life cycles, and wild plant and weed identification
- Experience with greenhouse tomatoes, poultry, and/or carpentry, a definite plus!
- Landscaping skills are also helpful
- Ability to take initiative, work quickly, independently, and efficiently with attention to detail and quality
- Considerate and hardworking team player with the capacity to be both self-motivated and collaborative with the farm team and with the ranch employees and owners
- A positive attitude and curious nature
- Clear, kind, and direct in verbal, written, and interpersonal interactions
- Ability and comfort in checking with manager when unsure of best action
- Ability to address questions, concerns, and maintenance issues
- Ability to roll with the quick changes that are inherent in small-scale farming and ecological agriculture, with an understanding that priorities can shift quickly
- Trustworthy
- Interest in regenerative, sustainable agriculture and small-scale farming
- Passionate about plants, local food and farming
- Current driver’s license, clean driving record
- Ability to work in a remote location; a car is helpful for personal needs
- Ability to perform tasks safely and effectively
- Ability to perform manual labor: walk or stand for 8 hours/day in all weather; sit, stand, reach, lift, bend, kneel, stoop, push, pull, and lift items weighing 40-50 pounds.
Additional Information:
The Home Ranch Farm is a diversified small farm with seasonal challenges. Soil health, weed management, ecological pest management, and biodiversity are key elements in farm practices. We also offer monthly workshops through the winter, and have a Seed and Grain School scheduled in the fall that will require the help of the Farm Team.
The Home Ranch Farm is a business within the Home Ranch that has been expanding from its origins as a kitchen garden for the guest ranch to the current goals of commercial farming. Recent development includes the installment of 50 garden beds for beauty and production, a four-season greenhouse that utilizes a climate battery for temperature control, and a new high tunnel that will be put into production as a hot house in 2024. In 2024, repairs will be underway in the greenhouse, which will limit the growing opportunities therein, however we will continue to maintain the perennials in the greenhouse, and continue plantings to proceed with our 2024 farm production goals and objectives. The Farm Team will work in the greenhouse and the high tunnels, as well as plant and maintain the garden boxes and field beds, and maintain the orchard.
Job Type: Full time; 32-40 hours/week including weekend work for the Steamboat Farmers Market, and chicken and duck details. Due to the market and harvest schedules, days off need to be approved a minimum of 2 weeks in advance.
Position 1: May 20 to August 18 (end date negotiable)
Position 2: May 20 to November 1
Compensation and Benefits:
- $18-$22 per hour, depending on experience
- Reduced rate housing (rustic cabin) available
- Staff beef, eggs, and vegetables as available
How to Apply:
- Please send a letter of interest and resume by the end of March to LeeAnn@HomeRanch.com. Please include your availability, and/or which position you are seeking based on the schedule above.
