Organic Garden Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Organic Garden Manager

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Summary
We are seeking a reliable and passionate garden manager to take the lead on the agricultural side of our operation. Our ideal candidate will have a natural talent for plants (a "green thumb") and will be well suited to the physical demands of working on hills, doing lots of walking, and working primarily with hand tools. Your main objective will be to raise a diverse array of fruits, vegetables, grains (e.g., corn, sorghum), and animal feed in sufficient quantities to provide for the estate's residents, guests, staff, and livestock using sustainable and regenerative organic practices.

The estate is over 300 acres, but only 1-2 acres are irrigated and designated for cultivation. Most of the rest of the land is either left wild (permaculture zone 5) or is being used as grazing land for the sheep. Because relatively little land is available for crops, it's important that what you plant is managed with attentive care to maximize yields. We have collected several years of empirical data on what grows well here, best practice cultivation techniques given our climate and soil type, and general seasonal patterns. Our director will help you get up to speed on what we know, but there won't be the time or resources for complete on-the-job training in the basics of horticulture. We're not expecting extensive professional agricultural experience (though that would be ideal), but you do need to be a good enough gardener to understand what's going on and what needs to be done. A capable individual gardener should have no trouble managing 1-2 acres by hand.

Production Expectations
Output is what matters; not effort. Crops that grow well here include common vegetables like cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, beets, leafy greens, squash; staples such as corn, beans, sweet potatoes; various tropical fruits including dragon fruit, passion fruit, pineapple, and many others. The chickens rely almost entirely on corn and beans, so we need an uninterrupted supply of both. For human consumption, we need about 5-10 pounds of vegetables per week, a steady supply of whatever fruit is in season, 2-3 large harvests of sweet potatoes per year, and as much overall variety as possible. Effective planning and scheduling will be necessary to ensure that we have a continuous supply of produce and animal feed throughout the year without any dead periods where we have nothing to eat. Some crops, like sweet potatoes, store exceptionally well. Others crops, like tomatoes or carrots, must be consumed within a few days of harvest. You'll need to be able to plan your planting and harvesting schedules accordingly. We don't want to end up with 500 pounds of carrots in one week and then have nothing to eat for the rest of the month.

We've established a fairly successful array of crops that do well in this environment. However, gardening always involves a degree of research and experimentation. About 10% of your efforts should be put towards experimenting with new crops and new techniques. Through ongoing experimentation, we've been able to greatly increase yields and variety.

Any ability to assist with the livestock is also a huge plus. We'd like to double our sheep and chicken flocks within the next year and possibly add dairy goats.

Daily Routine
We expect a minimum of 40 hours of efficiently deployed time per week. The work day starts promptly at 07:00am, Monday - Friday. Punctuality is important. In this climate, our early morning hours and the 1-2 hours before sunset are the most productive times of the day. Afternoon thunderstorms or blazing afternoon heat are common, so we need to make the most effective use of good weather when we have it. As long as you are showing up on time and reaching reasonable production goals, scheduling throughout the afternoon is flexible and is frequently dictated by weather. Anything more than 40hrs in a week is considered overtime and pays 1.5x base wage.

This is a very physically demanding job. A typical week may involve breaking ground, preparing soil, planting seeds, weeding, watering, moving compost, harvesting crops, and moving electric fence lines. You'll be out in the sun and the rain, surrounded by bees, wasps, and fire ants. You'll need to be comfortable working in the dirt, close to nature. There are other garden staff, but we're looking for someone who can lead by example in a management role.

Lifestyle
The main focus of our operation is on demonstrating healthy, self-sufficient living. Life here is very easy in certain ways but also very difficult in others. For example, all our facilities rely entirely on solar power. That means there may be times when its too cloudy and the power goes out. All our water comes from natural springs. That means we're responsible for all the infrastructure required to keep the water flowing. There are no outside services we can call for help when something breaks. It's paradise for some, but it could be a nightmare for others. If you're already somewhat health-conscious and self-reliant, you'll fit in well. If you're addicted to cell phones and soft drinks, or if you need help assembling Ikea furniture, you probably won't like it here.

Above all, we're looking for someone with the right attitude and personality -- someone reliable, punctual, dependable, detail oriented, with a strong work ethic and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. We need a team player who can operate independently with minimal instruction or supervision, who can recognize and anticipate what needs to be done and do it, and who is consistently looking for ways to add value without being micromanaged.

Compensation
Pay is computed hourly and paid weekly via direct deposit. We're offering $25-30/hr + overtime depending on experience and/or demonstration of productivity. On-site housing with utilities is included. This can be a short term, seasonal, or long-term position anywhere from a few weeks to permanent. We're very flexible. Let's talk about what you're looking for and what works best for you.

Location:
We are recruiting from off-island, but we are located in Puerto Rico on a 300 acre estate in the central mountains. Fluency in English and authorization to work in the USA is required.

No drugs, alcohol, or smoking.