seeking farmhand in austin, texas

Job Opening – Tomato Packing Crew Position in Austin, TX

Johnson’s Backyard Garden is an organic CSA farm located in Austin, TX.  We grow over 30 different types of vegetables year round on 190 acres and sell them through our CSA, at all the Austin farmers markets and to local restaurants and grocery stores in Austin.  We are currently hiring for our tomato packing crew.  This is a seasonal position with full time hours.  We are hiring ASAP.  This position will last until the end of the tomato harvest which is typically at the beginning of August in Austin.  The hours vary but work usually starts early around daylight and 10-11 hour days are normal. The pay is $9.00/hour plus a weekly share of organic vegetables ($33.00 value) and bonus pay of $1.00 per total hours worked for those completing the full season. Duties include washing, sorting and packing tomatoes at our farm location 10 minutes outside of downtown Austin.  We are looking for fast-paced, detail-oriented hard-workers who can work in the heat and maintain a positive attitude.  Successful candidates must be dependable and have reliable transportation. Must be able to lift 50 lbs repeatedly and experience driving a forklift is preferred but not required.  If interested, please send your resume to sonya@jbgorganic.com.

this is the farm

An amazing podcast series from the Texas Young Farmers Coalition! Great listening if you’ve got a rainy day in the greenhouse or some downtime at the end of a long day.

The details:
What: A podcast highlighting farmers – both young and old – from across the great state of Texas. Interviews are long-form, so we have the time to
dive deep into growing food, selling food, food politics, and the spiritual side of it all. Very nice listening while farming in the field.
When: Monthly
Where: http://www.texasyoungfarmers.org/category/podcast/

sales position with estancia beef

POSITION: Regional Sales Manager for the Dallas/Houston area
Download the full position description HERE

THE COMPANY: Estancia Beef sells the highest quality grass-fed beef on the market and is expanding distribution across the US. Consumer demand for truly natural, grass-fed beef is growing quickly and Estancia leads the category. The beef is sold into the top restaurants in the Western US alongside high quality retailers and specialty accounts. Estancia Beef truly is natural: It is produced without the use of feed-lots, growth-promoting antibiotics or hormones. Grass-fed beef has well-documented health benefits and Estancia sets the gold standard for center of the plate quality. Estancia works with a cooperative of 140 ranches in Uruguay following strict protocols and the company is currently developing complementary US production to supply 50% of company sales. Consumer interests, health trends and global beef pricing are all perfectly positioned for Estancia’s success and we expect to grow to $50 million in sales over the next 5 years.

Sales managers at Estancia build regional businesses by converting new retail and restaurant accounts; additionally the person is responsible for managing them successfully. The manager must work closely with chefs and buyers to ensure customer satisfaction and product fit. The manager must also help develop business through new and existing partnerships like distributors, brokers or affiliate programs. The success and growth of the region sit firmly on their shoulders. Beyond sales and distribution, the manager helps manage local marketing efforts, planned events, distribution and logistics, pricing and all aspects of the regional business.

potential land opportunity in texas

This has come to us by way of another organization. The original message is pasted below.  If you’re in Texas, and looking for land, read on! It would take some legwork, but could be well worth your while.

A man named John Shewmaker called me a few weeks ago (out of the blue).   He has 170 acres of land (fronting I-35, 10-12 miles north of Georgetown in Bell County) that he would like to rent at low cost to a co-op or nonprofit on a 50+ year term.  That nonprofit would then partition the land (not legally, but physically) into plots for organic farmers/ demonstration gardens/ farm incubation/ a school farm, and/or to other entities producing or promoting sustainable agriculture.  Currently, the land is mostly pasture; part is producing grain for livestock.  As far as I gathered, the land doesn’t have too much in the way of farm infrastructure or irrigation.

John seems confident in his ability to raise significant money for this project, but is retired and said that he would not be involved in operations.  He spoke flexibly about the terms of this long-term lease and the specific end use of the land, except that he wants it to be used sustainably and benefit as many people as possible.   As a first step, he would like to have a meeting with 4-10 people who may be stakeholders in this project, and see if there is any traction.  This is all the information I have, so please feel free to contact/coordinate with him directly if you’re interested.

I have not visited the land and have no personal experience with John outside of this phone call.  I told him that I would spread the word, based on the merit of his idea.

For more information, please contact John Shewmaker:
202-427-7601
jtshew@yahoo.com

sand creek farm internships

Sand Creek Farm and Dairy is a 170 acre farm located in Cameron, Texas.

We provide raw milk, raw milk cheese, yogurt, kefir, organically (non-certified) grown vegetables, grass fed beef, pastured pork, pastured chicken eggs, pastured broilers and various other products to over two hundred families.  This year we are added three aquaponic greenhouses for the production of vegetables and tilapia.

apprenticeship with cardo’s farm project

Cardo’s Farm Project is a community farm and education center serving the Denton Community by growing healthy food in harmony with the natural environment, and providing opportunities for farm-based education.

 CFP is seeking one long-term agriculture apprentice for four months of the 2013 spring growing season.

The general responsibilities of the apprentice are to work directly under the supervision of the Farm Manager and Project Director, as a member of our farm crew. The gig is physically demanding farm work involving all aspects of our farm’s production. A once in a lifetime chance to live, work and learn on a farm. A farmer-in-training program for those who wish to gain experience with and knowledge of raising chemical-free vegetables, farm-based educational programming, and community building and outreach.



texas young farmer coalition – up and running!

Website and all:  http://www.texasyoungfarmers.org/

Join TXYFC for an evening of delicious brews, good company, and really smart farmers cold talkin’ at our first Young Farmer Mixer! We’re very, very excited to meet fellow young farmers in the Central Texas region, as well as those who are interested in farming, or are simply super into food and its production.

Where: 5012 Eilers Ave. Austin, TX 78751
When: Doors at 6pm. Panel at 7pm. Wind down at 10pm
What: Panel Discussion. Music. Networking. Beer. Fun!
Click here for more information!

texas screening of our land!

Farmer Party & Screening of the new Our Land web series
Presented by The Greenhorns and the Texas Young Farmers Coalition
March 16th 6-9pm
Green Gate Farms, 8310 Canoga Ave. Austin, TX
ourland.tv@gmail.com
http://thegreenhorns.net/SXSW

Join us for a free film screening, discussion panel and farmer mixer over delicious locally-produced food, drink and live music.

seeking farm manager, Texas

Description:
Cardo’s Farm Project is a first year community farm and education center located near Denton,TX-a community eager to jump on the food revolution bandwagon. Currently, one acre is cultivated without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, producing a variety of vegetables for a 25 member CSA, the farmers market, 3 restaurants and the local natural food store.

they’re doin’ it.

They’re composting and they’re earnest. Amanda Austin and Dan Moon met here in the hudson valley on apprenticeships-and even stopped in for dinner with the greenhorns one night. Now, Amanda’s returned to her hometown, recruited Dan to come join her, and they’ve launched a community farm right in the heart of Texas.