Organic Vegetable & Flower Farm Crew

Star Light Gardens is hiring full-time and part-time crew members for its 2026 season in Durham and Middlefield, Connecticut. Owners Jenny and Joel operate a four-season organic vegetable and cut-flower market garden with an emphasis on regenerative land care, local food, and hands-on production. Crew members take part in the work required to move crops from seed to field and ultimately to customers at area farmers markets. Farm production responsibilities • Seed crops and care for young plants as they move through propagation and transplanting • Prepare for planting, set transplants, weed, and complete routine crop-maintenance work • Harvest vegetables and flowers carefully while meeting the farm's quality and pace expectations • Sort, organize, and prepare crops and supplies for market days • Help with cut-flower work as production and harvest needs change • Keep tools and work areas organized and contribute to general field cleanup • Move between repetitive individual tasks and coordinated crew projects throughout the day Market opportunities Farm crew members with interest and availability may also help at the farm's Friday and Saturday markets. Market work involves loading, setup on a tight schedule, lifting and arranging produce, keeping displays stocked, handling multiple customer needs, and representing the farm with warm, attentive service. Friday markets are in Madison and Middlefield, and Saturday markets are in New Haven. Who will do well here Previous farm experience is welcome but is not required. Star Light Gardens is looking for people who are genuinely interested in learning how a working organic market garden operates. Applicants should be teachable, open to feedback, punctual, dependable, observant, and able to work both independently and alongside the owners and crew. Farming is physical and continues through heat, rain, and other difficult conditions, so resilience and a constructive attitude are important. Reliable transportation is required because work takes place at the Durham and Middlefield properties. Schedule, pay, and benefits The main season runs April through October, with flexible start and end dates. July and August shifts are generally 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; September and October shifts move to 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Full-time staff commit to at least four eight-hour days per week and start at $17–$18 per hour depending on experience. Part-time staff commit to at least two eight-hour days and start at $17 per hour. Paid half-hour lunches, a $50 season-end gear stipend, a performance-based season-end bonus, and free or discounted surplus produce and flowers are included. Full-time crew can also earn two paid personal or sick days after completing the season. Apply directly by emailing the owners. Introduce yourself, explain why you want to farm and what you hope to learn, and include a farm reference if you have prior production-farm experience.