Part-Time Ecological Farm Crew

Tantré Farm is hiring for the Part-Time Ecological Farm Crew position in Chelsea, MI. This hands-on role supports the operation's day-to-day production and care work. Reliable execution and early communication matter because the work directly affects plants, animals, equipment, coworkers, customers, or the surrounding property. What you will do • Seed, transplant, cultivate, irrigate, harvest, wash, pack, and store crops according to the farm's plan and food-safety procedures. • Use and care for assigned hand tools, wash-pack equipment, carts, and field equipment within training. • Monitor crops and communicate pest, disease, water, weather, quality, or harvest-timing concerns promptly. • Prepare soil, plant, cultivate, manage cover crops, and harvest the farm's broad mix of vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, flowers, and fruit under the day's crop and weather priorities. • Wash, pack, and organize produce for the CSA and farmers' markets, and help with marketing, loading, farm-event preparation, or animal chores when those assignments are part of the day's plan. • Participate in hands-on learning about ecological production while taking responsibility for repetitive field tasks, shared tools, harvest quality, clear crew communication, and the timely completion of customer commitments. How the work fits together Farm priorities follow crop condition, weather, harvest commitments, and customer orders. The crew checks urgent irrigation and harvest needs first, then moves through field production, post-harvest handling, accurate packing, storage, and cleanup. Each employee's work affects both crop life and the quality customers receive. At Tantré Farm, the employer also makes these role-specific priorities clear: Prepare soil, plant, cultivate, manage cover crops, and harvest the farm's broad mix of vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, flowers, and fruit under the day's crop and weather priorities. Wash, pack, and organize produce for the CSA and farmers' markets, and help with marketing, loading, farm-event preparation, or animal chores when those assignments are part of the day's plan. Participate in hands-on learning about ecological production while taking responsibility for repetitive field tasks, shared tools, harvest quality, clear crew communication, and the timely completion of customer commitments. What the employer is looking for • A self-motivated, cooperative, respectful approach and positive work ethic are required; gardening or farming experience is preferred, but the farm also values initiative, reliability, practical skills, and sincere interest in sustainable agriculture. • Ability to complete long, active outdoor shifts, repeat physical crop tasks with care, work productively with a close crew, and commit to at least three months of the April-through-November season. • Dependable attendance, direct communication, and willingness to follow the employer's safety, quality, and customer- or production-care procedures. • Ability to complete the role's active, in-person work and to ask for instruction before using unfamiliar tools, equipment, products, or animal-handling methods. Schedule, conditions, and compensation Part-time positions are available without housing during the farm's April-through-November season, and current openings extend through Thanksgiving. The farm can discuss available workdays and length of commitment with applicants able to stay at least three months. Part-time crew receive an hourly wage based on experience and performance, generally beginning around the applicable minimum wage, plus a home-cooked farm lunch. A specific dollar rate, guaranteed weekly hours, and fixed daily schedule are settled with the farm rather than listed in advance. The employer does not publish a numeric wage range on this page, so no compensation has been estimated. Applicants should confirm the final hours, overtime treatment, starting assignment, travel or reporting point, supplied equipment, and benefit eligibility directly with the employer before accepting an offer. This is an in-person agricultural production position with a small operation. Daily priorities can change with weather, plant or animal condition, equipment availability, customer schedules, and the season. The successful person should arrive ready to work, communicate early when a task or condition is unclear, follow the employer's safety and quality procedures, and leave tools, vehicles, production areas, and job sites secure and ready for the next shift. Applicants should expect active work that may include long periods of standing or walking, bending, lifting, repetitive hand tasks, noise, dust, mud, pollen, heat, cold, rain, or work around moving equipment. The exact physical demands differ by assignment. Candidates should discuss any accommodation needs with the employer and confirm the final schedule, overtime treatment, training period, travel expectations, and benefit eligibility before accepting an offer. Only compensation and benefits expressly published by the employer are included here; unpublished terms have not been estimated. How to apply Download and complete the part-time application from Tantré Farm's Jobs/Internships page, then email it to info@tantrefarm.com. If no reply arrives within one week, call or text Deb at 734-385-6748 and leave a message.