2022 Farm Crew Barn Portrait

Employment

Food Hub Co-manager
Start date: February/March 2025
$18-20/hr DOE, full time
On farm housing available starting December 2024. More details in the application.
Download application here: (pdf) + (docx)

Lead Grower
Start date: February/March 2025
$18-20/hr DOE, full time
On farm housing available starting December 2024. More details in the application.
Download application here: (coming soon)

Farm Crew
Start date: March/April 2025
$18-19/hr DOE, full time through end of November
Shorter summer stints possible. More details in the application.
Download application here: (coming soon)

Our hiring process: applications will be reviewed within 1 week.* We will schedule a zoom video interview, or in-person interview that should take between 30-60 minutes, which includes time for you to ask questions as well.

Employees who return for multiple seasons will receive opportunities to increase/ refine responsibilities matching their commitment to the farm.

Hayshaker Farm is a small-scale, mix-powered vegetable growing operation based in the SE Washington state. 2024 marks our tenth season. The business is owned and operated on leased land by Chandler Briggs.

We farm on 8 irrigated acres, growing diversified vegetables and fruit for local families, grocery stores and restaurants. We sell mostly through our online market called the Walla Walla Food Hub. We feature our produce but carry many other producers’ goods from across the region. The food hub is managed by the farmers and is a regular part of the work here.

Our farm is partly draft horse-powered, thanks to the help of our fuzzy teammates, Dusty, Juni, Jane, Ruby and Gus and sometimes other helpful visiting horses. In addition to the compost they help create daily, they help us plow, disc, harrow, cultimulch, cultivate, spread compost, pull loads and harvest crops. We also use a BCS for tilling the salad field and flail mowing. We have a small tractor for pallet forks, bucket and a rotary mower. We are 4 miles from downtown Walla Walla and part of a fantastic local community. It is a thriving college-town city of 40,000+, with excellent outdoor activities, restaurants, bakeries, breweries, music, theater, lectures and wine production.

Applicants should desire to work on a small-scale, high production vegetable farm and local food hub. Ideally all candidates have the ability to lift 50+ pounds regularly and work 7+ hour days, sometimes in the rain and wind, and often in a hot, dry, sunny environment. Ideal candidates love food, cooking, being outside, warm weather, and sunshine. Previous farming experience is not required for all positions, and pay varies depending on the extent of your experience and what position you apply for. See each position for specifics.

If the physical work in field work is too much for you, but you have interest in joining our team, please reach out to inquire about opportunities in bookkeeping, store management and customer service.

We are a crew of 4-8 people depending on the time of year. Some work is independent, and some is in a team. You will need to be able to work with others, listen and follow directions well. During the hottest time of the summer, we usually start at 6am but in the shoulder season we have a later start time that varies depending on work load and weather. Our goal is to work efficiently and with efficacy. We believe in time for you to regenerate, explore and enjoy time off the farm so you will get two consecutive days off—for most of the crew that is Saturday/Sunday. We share weekend chores of irrigation & feeding. We aim to keep everyone under 40 hrs/week but pay overtime of 1.5x when it happens, and aim to keep winter work to 20 hours+/week. We believe in maintaining adequate work/life balance for everyone on the farm.

Our teams of draft horses power many of our implements. These job positions are not crafted to teach you how to work horses, but you will be working with them at times, when we harvest some crops, or cultivate. Previous experience with horses is not necessary, but a respect for these gentle giants is required.

What you can expect from us:

  • 17 years of farming experience in ownership, and nearly 44 years experience in the whole current crew

  • Approaching relationships with care, love, curiosity and compassion

  • Investment in tools, equipment and improvements

  • Flexibility for time off

  • Focus on work/life balance, through communication and time spent

  • Understanding that no one is perfect

  • Desire to feed all community members, regardless of income level

  • Some farm mottos we have posted around the place: “Have fun and be safe,” “Every Farm Needs a Team,” and “Eat the Rainbow”

Housing: we are able to help find a room or house for rent if you are moving from out of town. There is no housing available on the farm. We have a network of friends and reach out to them when we make a new hire. Everyone who has moved here from out of town has found housing before arriving.

Food: all farm seconds and some items we grow are available for the crew. Wholesale cost on other products sold in our farm store. Meals are on your own, with some shared lunches.

Paid Worker’s Compensation: covered with LNI state program

Paid Sick Leave: offered with all positions; one hour earned for every 40 hours worked; more info

Paid Family Medical Leave: new program in WA state began Jan 1, 2020 more info

Our farm is close to town, and it is bike- and bus-friendly. Having your own vehicle is not required. Having a valid driver's license, and the ability to drive manual, are helpful, but not required.

We are excited to share our eighth season at Hayshaker Farm & WW Food Hub with hard-working, positive and fun individuals. We grow and sell lots of food on this land and we would love your help in helping get it onto the tables of our customers.

To apply, please email info@hayshakerfarm.com with the specific job application and resume. Thank you for your interest!