PRINCIPAL GROWER
Elkstone Farm
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
About Elkstone Farm
Elkstone Farm is a permaculture-inspired farm in the mountains of northwest Colorado, near Steamboat Springs. Its owners were inspired to start the farm by the agricultural heritage of the valley and the desire to improve the health of the land, using organic principles to enable it to be as productive as possible. The farm began operations in 2009 with the construction of a climate battery greenhouse that allowed for production of Mediterranean perennials (think figs, citrus and grapes). Over the ensuing 15 years, our growing operations expanded to include five additional growing areas: 1) a pond garden containing fruit trees, berries, herbs, other perennials, and annual vegetables, 2) three passive-solar hoop houses for annual production, 3) a fruit forest (orchard), 4) a flower garden, and 5) an agroforest using an alley-cropping configuration to grow trees and annual crops. Although not certified organic, we are committed to the exclusive use of organic practices.
The farm also has a commercial kitchen where we create value-added products, teach cooking lessons, and serve dinners. We are driven by our love of the farm-to-table connection and our desire to inspire creative uses of produce to create an excellent dining experience.Our produce and products are sold at our CSA, farm stand,Yampa Valley Foods,, restaurants and specialty stores. Summer farm tours are offered to the general public as well as to educational and non-profit organizations. We offer a series of educational workshops and aim to help the community to bring ecological practices home with them.
Our commitment to nurturing the land endures, as does our desire to share our food and knowledge with our community. Going forward, we aim to integrate science more systematically into our operations and continue to enhance the productivity of our land and what Elkstone Farm has to offer our community.
Visit our website, https://elkstonefarm.com, and search for us on Facebook and Instagram, @elkstonefarm.
Overall responsibility of Principal Grower position
Primary responsibility is oversight and management of annual growing areas: the hoop houses and scattered annual planted areas in the pond garden, ag forest, and fruit forest. You will also assist with work in the greenhouse, flower gardens, and other perennial areas. The goal is to optimize soil health and maximize productivity of plants, using organic practices, as well as optimize efficiency of operation. Elkstone farm is known for its elegance of design and we aim for high standards in each of our products.
Key areas of responsibility
All growing areas
Manage operations of seedhouse, hoophouses, and outdoor annual areas
Manage soil and plant health using organic practices, e.g. cover crops, composting, soil amendments, IPM
Create and implement crop plans
Work with management team to determine best revenue sources from produce- balancing between CSA, farm stand, on site kitchen, food bank, transplant sales, Yanp Valley Foods, and restaurants
Manage weeds and pests with organic methods
Start seeds, prep beds, transplant, manage watering schedule, and prune, as needed
Overseeing mushrooms grow operation
Oversee harvest and wash house operations
Create weekly harvest sheets based on availability of produce in the field
Oversee harvest with assistant growers, ensuring harvest quality
Follow established farm practices of weighing, washing, drying, bunching, and packaging produce
Record all produce harvested
Record amounts of produce going to various end-users
Thoroughly clean wash house and all containers after every harvest and farm market
Grower management
Work with Farm Managers to interview assistant growers and interns, as needed
Identify work and time requirements
Evaluate candidates through interviews, a trial workday, and make recommendations to Owner
Supervise all work of assistant growers and interns
Plan each week’s tasks with farm managers
Coordinate distribution of produce:
Work with chef to determine weekly harvest needs – timing, quantity, etc.
Coordinate CSA program and maintain communication with CSA members throughout the season, including weekly emails of share contents and farm activities
Decide contents of CSA share each week and lead harvest/wash/pack accordingly
Coordinate produce distribution across other sales channels - weekly farmstand, the Yampa Valley Foods store, restaurants, food bank,etc.
Manage weekly farmstand, including training staff on POS system
Maintain clean conditions
Seedhouse
Washhouse
Growers’ office
Administrative
Prepare annual budget for areas of responsibility
Create invoices in Quickbooks for restaurant sales
Develop system for collecting data to determine cost of production of each crop
Long-term: Review and update Best Practices Manual
Maintain records to inform decision-making, e.g.
Winter temperatures and sunlight; dates of first and last frost
Planting and harvest records
Soil amendments
Infestations of pests and diseases, actions taken to address problems, as well as preventative actions taken
Sales and revenues
Participate in team meetings
Research – as needed
Plants
Beneficial insects
Pests
Organic and permaculture practices
Harvest practices
Soil amendment options
Reports to
Farm managers
Consults and works closely with
Owner
Farm Managers
Growers
Chef
Qualifications (necessary skills and experience required)
Experience
Minimum of two years overseeing growing operation of an organic or sustainable produce farm, in addition to several years of prior growing experience
Administrative
Strong record-keeping skills and competency with Word and Excel
Familiarity with Quickbooks a plus
Growing
Knowledge and appreciation of permaculture principles, ability to implement them
Experience growing successfully in high altitude/cold-weather environment
Strong competency in creating annual crop plans
Extensive knowledge of organic practices, e.g. amending soil, utilization of beneficial insects, composting
Some knowledge of irrigation systems helpful
Some experience with BCS walk-behind tractor preferable
Personal
Exceptional integrity
Strong work ethic
Good communicator
Strong interpersonal skills, can accept and give feedback
Collaborative, team-builder leadership style
Organized and meticulous
Physical strength and endurance. Can lift 50 lbs. This is a physical job, working at altitude in the mountains. The growing season is short but the days are long!
Terms of employment
Employment at will
Full time, year round
Weekend work will be required at times
Compensation
Hourly wage commensurate with experience
Please use the form below to inquire about this position and/or upload your resume.
