Blue Star Farm is a Certified Naturally Grown vegetable farm. We farm year-round on 7 acres, have two 30x96 high tunnels, a 34x144 and several 100ft caterpillar tunnels that we grow in year round. We have two locations, our home farm and a rented field operation in Stuyvesant. We sell through a farmer’s market in Hudson, NY (11 months of the year) and through wholesale channels (all year) that include restaurants, food coops and a distributor. We have been in business since 2010 and we enjoy growing just about everything!
FIELD MANAGER - (FULL TIME YEAR ROUND)
Blue Star Farm is seeking a field manager immediately. This is a multi-year position for the person with the right experience and attitude. This full time, year round position ranges between 45-55 hours a week at peak season, and 20-30 hours a week during slower months. We are looking for a self motivated individual with a strong interest in field production, the ability to work independently as well as manage a small crew, and communicate/cooperate with others to determine crop marketability, harvest, and production scheduling.
Oversight and Responsibilities:
- Field preparation with tractor, familiarity and experience with chisel plow, disc, perfecta, and tiller.
- Familiarity/experience with BCS tractor and implements
- Crop monitoring including product availability, identifying pests, disease and other issues
- Following a planting schedule and rotation schedule with cover crops
- Planting, trellising, pruning, weeding and harvesting of crops for wholesale and retail accounts, prioritizing crew labor to meet those demands
- Setting up irrigation, maintaining pumps and fertigation
- Maintenance and small construction projects
- Teaching and leading small crews in standard operation procedures and quality control issues
- Record keeping
Skills Preferred for position:
- 3+ years on a commercial vegetable operation with management experience as part of that
- At least 2 seasons of tractor and field prep experience
- High tunnel/winter growing experience
- Ability to organize a crew and prepare tools/tasks in advance of crew availability
- Ability and understanding of working efficiently and quickly individually and motivating a crew to do so as well.
- Bi-lingual in Spanish a plus
- A sense of humor
- Keen observation and ability to communicate well
Compensation
- $19-25/hour, depending on experience, salary option is possible alternatively
- Paid "health" days (accumulated) 5 days total, (NYS 1 hour for every 30 hours worked up to 5 days)
- Paid vacation time outside of peak season, (accumulated), 5 days after completion of 1st season
- Year end bonus, dependent on your performance and the farm's success
- Farm vegetables
Email is the best way to reach us initially. Please send your resume and 2-3 references to start the conversation!
Home phone: 518-610-8034, Cell: 917-842-4338, email: [email protected]
FIELD CREW MEMBER
Blue Star Farm is seeking two field crew members for the 2024 season. This could be a multi-year position for the right person. There is the possibility of joining our staff in the winter months with part-time hours during the off-peak season.
Skills and Background:
- One to two years experience on a vegetable farm
- Strong teamwork and communication skills, positive attitude, sense of humor, patience and an ability to switch gears.
- Keen observational skills, discipline to finish tasks to the fullest level of quality while understanding how to prioritize.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Excellent health and physical stamina, ability to lift 50lb crates.
- Spanish is a plus.
Responsibilities:
Candidate will be involved in all daily aspects of vegetable operation:
- Greenhouse seeding
- Trellising tomatoes
- Transplanting, weeding, crop protections with row covers and caterpillar tunnels.
- Harvesting
- Washing and Packing for different market channels including wholesale deliveries and market harvests.
- Set-up of field irrigation.
- Farmers’ market work is possible
Compensation:
Commitment: April/May through November; time may be available after November
Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, extra hours available on the weekend.
Compensation: Hourly position, $15-$19/hour, depending upon experience.
We do not have on-farm housing but can assist you in finding housing in the area.
Applicants must have one-two years of experience, and love to move quickly!
Email a resume and 2-3 references and let us know what inspires you to be in this field.
A phone interview and in-person interview will be required, and a paid half work day, minimally.
Email is the best way to reach us initially. Please send your resume and 2-3 references to start the conversation!
Home phone: 518-610-8034
Cell: 917-842-4338,
email: [email protected]