Employment
Packing Shed Co-manager - one position open
Start date: flexible, May/June 2023
$18-20/hr DOE, 30-40 hours, Monday - Friday, if overtime (40 hrs) = time+half
Download application here: (PDF) + (DOCX)
Farm Crew - one position open
Start date: June 2023
$16/hr, 30-40 hours, Monday - Friday + if overtime (40 hrs) = time+half
Download application here: (PDF) + (DOCX)
Fall Harvest Flex Crew - positions open later this summer
Start date: September 2023
$16/hr, flexible 10-40 hours, Monday - Friday, no overtime
Ideal days are Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Fridays for bulk crop harvest
To apply: email us a resume/cover letter
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, draft powered vegetable growing operation based in the SE Washington state. 2023 marks our ninth 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 almost exclusively through our online market called the Walla Walla Food Hub. We feature out 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.
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 car is not required but helpful. Having a valid driver's license, and the ability to drive manual, are helpful, but not required.
We are excited to share our seventh 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!
