2014 Orchard and Cidery Worker

We are looking for a full time orchard worker for the 2014 season.  The position would start in April and initially be part time (20-30 hours/week).  May through October would be full time (40+ hours/week) and November and December would be part time again.  There could be work in the winter months for the right candidate.  Salary depends on experience and ability.  The work week during the main part of the season would generally be five days a week Thursday to Monday.

This is a hands on position and the ability to multitask and think on your feet are highly desired.  You will be participating in all aspects of a fruit farm and cidery from nursery work, record keeping, planting, orchard maintenance, harvesting and fermenting.  We have two farm parcels three miles apart and we will be working at both locations some times on the same day.  We would like to have someone in place by the end of February.  Please send a letter of interest and your previous experience to :

 daringdrake@zoom-dsl.com

Here is a general list of the seasonal tasks that need accomplished here at the farm:

April:  seeding transplants, planting new perennial fruit, grafting and propagating fruit, plowing and preparing beds for planting, bottling cider and vinegar, seeding and planting early annual crops, maintaining the orchard by weeding and mowing.
May:  seeding transplants, planting new perennial fruit, plowing and preparing beds for planting, seeding and planting later annual crops, maintaining the orchard by weeding and mowing, maintaining annual beds by weeding and trellis maintenance, placing and monitoring insect traps, picking and maintaining early planted annual crops.
June:  seeding and planting later annual crops, maintaining the orchard by weeding and mowing, maintaining annual beds by weeding and trellis maintenance, placing and monitoring insect traps, picking and maintaining early and later planted annual crops, harvesting perennial fruit plantings.
July:  seeding and planting later annual crops, maintaining the orchard by weeding and mowing, maintaining annual beds by weeding and trellis maintenance, placing and monitoring insect traps, picking and maintaining early and later planted annual crops, harvesting perennial fruit plantings, beginning to press small fruits for fermentation into alcohol,  monitoring fermentation.
August:  seeding and planting later annual crops, maintaining the orchard by weeding and mowing, maintaining annual beds by weeding and trellis maintenance, picking and maintaining later planted annual crops, harvesting perennial fruit plantings, beginning to press small fruits for fermentation into alcohol,  monitoring fermentation.
September:  seeding and planting later annual crops and cover crops, Plowing and preparing beds for planting the following season, maintaining the orchard by weeding and mowing, maintaining annual beds by weeding and trellis maintenance, picking and maintaining later planted annual crops, harvesting perennial fruit plantings, beginning to press tree fruits for fermentation into alcohol,  monitoring fermentation.
October:  Plowing and preparing beds for planting the following season, maintaining the orchard by weeding and mowing, maintaining annual beds by weeding and trellis maintenance, picking and maintaining later planted annual crops, harvesting perennial fruit plantings, press tree fruits for fermentation into alcohol,  monitoring fermentation, planting garlic, orchard cleanup.
November:  picking and maintaining later planted annual crops, harvesting perennial fruit plantings, press tree fruits for fermentation into alcohol,  monitoring fermentation,  orchard cleanup.
December:  press tree fruits for fermentation into alcohol,  monitoring fermentation,  orchard cleanup.

This is a general list of the tasks needed, however we go to farmer’s markets several times a week, have a small farm stand and need to build several small outbuildings and work on the inside of the fermentation barn.  We have flock of ducks for egg production that need care every day.  We will probably have some pigs on pasture this year that will need work.   I could go on …