2022 Opening:
Seasonal Field Harvest Assistant at Forsythe Farms
*We are happy to support this position as a credit bearing internship if desired for a University of Montana student
$14/hour
Location: Forsythe Farms
2 acre Lavender and Elderberry Farm
On-Site Supervisor: Sara Forsythe Owner
About Forsythe Farms
Forsythe Farms is an experimental 2 acre lavender and elderberry urban farm in Frenchtown, Montana. Its primary focus is to grow and harvest quality lavender and elderberry. We sell wholesale to producers, artists, and other companies to make value added products. Forsythe Farms grows 6 varieties of lavender and 2 varieties of elderberry. We have over 200 lavender plants and 10 elderberry trees.
Develop skills related to urban farm management and field care. Use knowledge learned in the classroom and apply it to a new and developing lavender and berry urban farm in Frenchtown, Montana by documenting its initial success rates of new plants of lavender, elderberry, and haskaps cultivated at the Western Agricultural Research Center in Corvallis, MT and other locally sourced strains.
Flexible Schedule
Part Time
May, June, July, August 2022
roughly 20 hours a week, flexible
Qualifications:
Basic knowledge of farm tools and maintenance
Excellent opportunity for a person enrolled in an agricultural field or environmental science program at U of M
Site: Forsythe Farms, 15731 Lefler Lane, Frenchtown Montana 59834
Office, shop, tools, and private parking on a 2 acre farm
Organized work area located in the shop.
Ability to work independently and keep a daily log of work performed
Lavender and Elderberry Farm Field Harvest Assistant
Job tasks vary depending on the season, weather, and research needs:
- Collecting data, photos, and info on lavender varieties and their success in growth, creating a binder of information for further production and research
- Harvesting lavender and hanging to dry
- Pruning, grafting, and fertilizing lavender
- Controlling weeds and pests
- Managing irrigation
- Packaging fresh lavender for distribution and delivering to locations
- Taking photos and creating and log of bloom times and row health
- Soil ph testing
- Planting and care of new elderberry and haskap plants, documenting their care and wellbeing and growth, collecting data, photos, and binder of research
Essential functions:
- Working independently as well as part of a team
- Using research from the Western Agricultural Research Center to guide growing of lavender and berries.
- Repeated stooping, bending, crouching, kneeling, and reaching high and low
- Remaining standing or seated and stationary for long periods
- Walking to different parts of the property and in sometimes muddy fields
- Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 lbs across the length of a field
- Using hand tools such as shovels, rakes, and hoes, and power tools such as weed whackers, drills
- Being exposed to extreme weather conditions (e.g., cold, heat, and sunshine—supervisory staff do their best schedule field work during the coolest parts of the day in midsummer and assign indoor tasks during inclement weather)
- Occasionally be available for early morning or evening work to accomplish time or weather sensitive tasks
- Be willing to apply herbicides and fertilizers as needed using appropriate PPE
- Operating hand held electric tiller
- Posting once a week on social media for followers
To apply, please send in a resume, cover letter, and list of three references to:
forsythefarmsmt@gmail.com
In your cover letter, please answer the following questions:
1. Why do you want this position and how is it a good fit for you and for us?
2. What do you want to get out of working at Forsythe Farms?