FULL TIME GROWER AT HACKHURST FARM (Hailsham, East Sussex)

Seeking applications for an experienced commercial organic grower with the skills to establish and manage a CSA on a 3-acre field within this 96-acre farm. The grower needs experience in agroecological farming, a commitment to CSA values, the ability to work on own initiative and collaboratively as part of a team, and an interest in health and well-being. Broader land management skills and/or livestock experience welcome. To apply, please email Rebecca Kriese: rebecca@hackhurstfarm.uk with covering letter and CV.

Job Description for Organic Grower at Hackhurst Farm, East Sussex

Vision and Overview
Rebecca and Sascha Kriese came to Hackhurst Farm in February 2021 and, after a year of observing the land, they are now seeking other team members to develop this farm into a thriving, community-focused, regenerative enterprise.

This 96-acre farm comprises of a farmhouse, a 3-bedroom bungalow, a Sussex barn surrounded by a courtyard of outbuildings soon to be renovated, a large agricultural barn, permanent pasture fields, woodland, several ponds and well-established hedgerows.

Our personal vision is to support people to step into their sovereignty in all aspects of their lives… to bring people back into connection with nature… with soil as the source of their food… and with their own inner wisdom, so they can live healthier and more community-conscious lives. We are committed to working in collaboration with the land and its natural intelligence to realise this vision.

In the coming year the Sussex Barn will be restored into a space for hosting educational workshops that focus on health, sustainable living and regenerative farming; and how the interrelation between them offers whole-health solutions to global challenges. The buildings around the barn will support these activities by providing an office, toilet facilities and a kitchen/dining area. The kitchen will offer organic meals from produce predominantly grown on site and will host cooking workshops that demonstrate how healthy soil produces nutritious food for health-enhancing meals. The remaining rooms will provide clinical practice space for individual healthcare consultations (Ayurvedic medicine) and hands-on treatments. The studio and another guest room will cater for guests staying for retreats.

We envisage the activities within the courtyard to complement the overall running of the farm, which will focus on food production alongside soil regeneration, wildlife conversation, biodiversity enhancement and nature connection (e.g. bushcraft, tree-planting activities for communities of local school children, etc.).

Application requirements
To help us realise this vision, we are seeking applications for a commercial organic grower with a minimum of 3 years commercial growing experience and an understanding of permaculture design and agroecological farming. This person will be responsible for visioning and establishing the vegetable growing area within a 3-acre field. They will also need an understanding of setting up and running a CSA partnership in order to manage the site accordingly.

The role will be responsible for the planning, production and delivery of CSA vegetables, and working together with the event kitchen chef to supply the vegetables, fruits and herbs required to offer organic seasonal meals to the guests.

This role will involve:

• managing and delivering on the growing cycle, including planning, crop production and delivery of vegetables for onsite collection
• building soil fertility
• ordering supplies (seed orders, new equipment, sundries etc.) in accordance with the farm budget and maintaining existing equipment in good working order
• ensuring Health and Safety practices are in place and being followed and documented
• attending meetings with other partners of Hackhurst Farm to feed into the overall visioning of the farm (we will adopt a self-management system called Holacracy to run the overall business)
• reporting to CSA partnership members
• running a weekly volunteer session with community members
• weekly harvesting and watering
• reviewing finances and identifying areas for investment and budgeting.

In addition to skills in organic and agro-ecological farming principles, the grower will also need to have:

• passion for listening and learning from the land, so that the food grown is done so in collaboration with nature
• the desire for creating a more diverse, inclusive and accessible food system.
• leadership and professional communication skills in order to inspire and lead the team of volunteers
• organisational skills; time management and ability to prioritise
• ability to work on own initiative and collaboratively as part of the overall team
• effective judgment to make sound and responsible decisions and remain grounded under stress
• flexibility and a willingness to adapt to changing situations and to learn new skills
• passion for creating a more diverse, inclusive and accessible food system.
• experience with budgeting, finance and farm administration
• comprehensive knowledge of health and safety practices
• a full UK driving licence.

There will be scope for developing skills and incorporating other enterprises into the farm. Broader land management skills and/or livestock experience are welcome. Once renovations to the farmhouse have been completed there would be the option to live onsite in the bungalow.

Rebecca and Sascha recognise the lack of diversity within agriculture. We welcome all applications for this role and actively encourage BAME and LGBTQI+ to apply.

Please apply by email to Rebecca Kriese: rebecca@hackhurstfarm.uk with a covering letter and CV.