Chewonki Foundation is seeking a Farm Crew Leader to join our team! We’re looking for an individual who is excited to combine their passion for agriculture with their enthusiasm for teaching and leadership, and who is ready to tackle new challenges.

• • Location: Wiscasset, Maine (On Campus, in-person, Residential)
    • This is a residential position, housing included.
  • Reports to: Farm and Woodlot Manager
  • Permanent Position: Anticipated start date October, 2024
  • Schedule:  Full Time (including some weekends and evenings; residential position)
  • Salary: $42,000 - $45,000 (depending on experience)
  • Benefits: Housing, meals, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, 403B retirement plan, and access to professional development funds. 

Position Summary:

The farm is a vital part of life on Chewonki neck. Farm duties include garden and pasture management, animal husbandry, and sustainable forestry operations. The Farm Crew Leader will aid in balancing the dual focus of the Chewonki farm, maximizing both production and education on the farm and in the woods. Additionally, the Farm Crew Leader fulfills certain off-farm, residential education responsibilities to support the Maine Coast Semester.  The farm crew, composed of the Manager, Farm Crew Leader, Year-Long Apprentice, and Summer Farm Workers, cooperates and shares overlapping responsibilities to manage the farm.  All farm crew members are committed to making mission-driven decisions and acting as facilitators of Chewonki’s food system in addition to responding to on-farm emergencies and incidents. Chewonki recognizes and celebrates the farm’s historical context and prizes the flexibility to grow and adapt systems based in that context. 

Key Duties: 

• Assist with the managing the three primary production focuses of the Chewonki farm:
• Small-scale, diversified, organic food production.
• Low-impact forestry.
• Pasture and livestock management.
• Perform routine repairs on equipment, fences, and buildings.
• Perform residential duties and supporting functions for Maine Coast Semester during the school year, including: 
• Participate in a rotating residential education duty schedule on weekends in support of the Maine Coast Semester. Weekend duties include ~4 on-duty weekends each semester. 
• Attend meetings as needed.
• Work with other Chewonki programs beyond Maine Coast Semester (Camp Chewonki and Outdoor Classroom) on various work projects, chores, and lessons seasonally.
• Assist in overseeing Farm Apprentices and Summer Farm Staff.
• Help with maintenance and care of pasture.
• Steward and maintain tools and buildings (mechanized and otherwise).

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must pass a Criminal Background Check including Motor Vehicle Record.
  • Valid Driver’s License approved by Chewonki’s insurance carrier.
• Attend required onboarding and training sessions (in-person/on campus).
• At least two years of farming experience on a diversified farm.
• Interest in education-based, diversified farming.
• Experience working with youth.
• Previous supervisory experience, preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with different kinds of people.
• Experience with organic food production.
• Previous experience or a willingness to develop skills in the following areas:
  • Organic food production in tillage and reduced tillage systems.
  • Knowledge of animal husbandry and pasture management, preferably including cattle, sheep, pigs, and/or poultry.
  • Low impact forestry.
  • Operating a manual transmission tractor as well as chainsaws and other gas powered equipment such as a BCS walk behind tractor and weed whackers.
  • Fiber arts.
• Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing.
• Ability to oversee a work crew, as well as manage projects individually.
• Ability to live and work in a small community.

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lb at a time.
• Must be able to work in an active, outdoor environment in all weather conditions.

About Chewonki Foundation

Chewonki inspires transformative growth, teaches appreciation and stewardship of the natural world, and challenges people to build thriving, sustainable communities throughout their lives. Chewonki serves children ages 8­-18 in summer, semester, and school­-year programs; and provides training opportunities for educators and other outdoor professionals. Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki is comprised of approximately 42 students and 16 faculty members, and is a unique semester-length school program of the Chewonki Foundation. As a residential school, it is designed to offer high school juniors and seniors the chance to be part of a vibrant community located on a 400-acre saltwater peninsula in Mid-coast Maine

Connections working at Chewonki Foundation