Organic Fruit & Vegetable Farm Crew Member

The Buckle Farm is hiring crew members for its 2026 season in Unity, Maine. This small organic fruit-and-vegetable farm grows one acre of mixed vegetables and herbs plus nine acres of wholesale crops, primarily onions, potatoes, broccoli, and winter squash. The farm sells at the Rockland Farmers Market, supplies wholesale buyers around Maine, and is developing a farm stand, so crew members support both diversified market-garden work and larger crop blocks. Planting and crop establishment • Prepare supplies, tools, and work areas for each planting assignment • Help transplant or direct-seed vegetables and herbs according to the farm plan • Handle starts and seed carefully while maintaining an efficient pace • Keep newly planted rows organized and communicate missing plants or field problems • Assist with other soil preparation and crop-establishment work as directed Cultivation and field care Farm crew members cultivate crops using both manual and mechanized methods. Depending on experience and the day's assignment, work may involve hand tools, repetitive weeding, moving field materials, or assisting with tractor-supported systems. Employees should expect priorities to change with weather, weed pressure, crop maturity, and sales needs. Careful work matters because cultivation must remove weeds without damaging the crop that the farm has invested in growing. Harvest and packing Crew members harvest mixed vegetables, herbs, onions, potatoes, broccoli, squash, and other farm products at the quality and maturity required for each outlet. Harvested crops must be handled to prevent bruising, contamination, or unnecessary loss. The team packs produce for the farmers market, wholesale customers, and future farm-stand sales, keeps orders separated, and leaves packing and storage areas ready for the next use. Small-farm teamwork Because the operation uses both hand labor and equipment across ten cropped acres, employees need to listen carefully to verbal and written directions, record daily activities, and communicate well with coworkers. The Buckle Farm wants people who contribute to a safe, positive, and productive work environment. That means arriving prepared, asking questions before making a costly mistake, respecting equipment and crops, and finishing cleanup instead of leaving it for another crew member. Qualifications and physical expectations Previous farming experience is preferred but not required. Applicants must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation to the Unity farm. The job requires lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, repeated bending and walking, and sustained outdoor work through Maine's changing spring, summer, and fall conditions. Candidates should be comfortable with both repetitive production tasks and the variety that comes with a small diversified farm. Schedule, pay, and extras The published season runs from April 13 through December 21, 2026. Full-time crew members generally work 40–50 hours per week, and part-time winter work may be available in January and February 2027. Positions start at $17 per hour. Employees also receive free farm produce. Applicants should confirm the normal workdays, daily start and end times, overtime arrangements, winter-hour availability, and any additional employment terms during the interview. How to apply Email bucklefarm@gmail.com directly to request an interview for the open crew position. Include a concise introduction, resume or work history, availability through December, reliable transportation information, and any relevant experience with vegetable production, physical outdoor work, hand tools, farm equipment, harvesting, packing, markets, or wholesale orders.