Seasonal Seed & Garlic Farm Worker

Persephone Farm is hiring seasonal workers for its independent farm near Lebanon, Oregon. The farm grows vegetable seed, garlic, and storage crops while caring for a diverse landscape that includes fields, trees, a river corridor, and a native camas-prairie restoration project. This position is designed for an experienced, self-directed farm worker who enjoys outdoor production, practical problem-solving, and learning alongside a farmer with decades of knowledge of the land. Core production work • Seed crops and prepare, water, and maintain starts in the propagation greenhouse • Prepare ground, transplant, cultivate mechanically, and hand-weed crops • Install the irrigation pump and mainline, move lateral pipe, irrigate crops and cover crops, and store the system after the season • Harvest garlic scapes, lift and cure garlic bulbs, and sort garlic for seed and CSA sales • Harvest vegetable and storage crops and pack finished products for sale • Thresh, cure, clean, and organize vegetable seed crops with close attention to quality Seasonal rhythm Spring work centers on propagation, garlic weeding, irrigation setup, mowing, tillage, transplanting, and invasive-weed control. Summer adds regular cultivation, irrigation, pasture and headland mowing, garlic harvest, and collection of camas seed. During late summer and early fall, the crew prepares future garlic ground, cleans and sorts seed and garlic, and continues irrigation and mowing. The later season includes storage-crop harvest, garlic planting and mulching, cover cropping, facilities cleanup, irrigation storage, and camas seeding. Equipment, maintenance, and restoration Workers with suitable experience may operate tractors and implements for mowing, discing, and harrowing. Mechanical ability is valued, and there can be opportunities to help with carpentry, plumbing, specialized tractor work, repairs, equipment maintenance, and facility organization. The camas-prairie restoration project adds native-seed collection, cleaning, and planting to the farm's production work. Applicants should be comfortable learning systems thoroughly and then working independently. Experience and working style The farm is looking for people with prior experience in tasks such as irrigation-pipe handling, pump operation, seeding, transplanting, weeding, tractor work, mowing, tillage, or seed cleaning. Reliability, self-motivation, safe work habits, efficient pacing, attention to instructions, and complete cleanup matter as much as technical skill. Employees are expected to communicate directly, ask questions when instructions are unclear, offer constructive ideas, and treat coworkers respectfully. A genuine commitment to sustainable organic agriculture is important. Schedule, pay, and benefits The 2026 season continues through November 20, with part-time winter work potentially available from December through February. Positions range from 16 to 40 hours per week. Workdays are normally eight hours plus an unpaid lunch, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in spring and fall and 7:00 a.m. in summer. Mondays and Fridays are priorities, other days have some flexibility, and the farm does not work Sundays. Pay is $16–$18.50 per hour based on experience. Employees receive two paid 15-minute breaks during a full workday, Oregon paid sick leave accruing at one hour per 30 hours worked, and free farm produce. Food and lodging are not provided. Returning employees may receive a performance-based raise and increased responsibility. To apply, download and complete the farm's 2026 application, include a resume and two suitable work references, and email the materials directly to liveandlearn@persephonefarmoregon.com. Applicants should state their desired start and end dates and clearly describe relevant farm, irrigation, equipment, repair, and seed-production experience.