Vegetable Grower

Harris Family Farm Foundation (HFFF) seeks a seasonal, part-time Assistant Grower for 2026. This is an hourly position with potential for growth that will start on May 4 or as soon as possible afterwards once a job offer is made and accepted. The position will continue through October of 2026, at which point the possibility of resuming in early 2027 will be discussed. Hours may vary as the season progresses, starting at an average of 20 hours per week and potentially increasing to 25.

HFFF is a nonprofit donation & education farm in Galien, Michigan that works to support the dietary health of underserved communities by sustainably growing and donating fruits and vegetables, offering educational programming to children and adults, and supporting organizations engaged in related work. Our farm is a beautiful, peaceful place to work and includes a small fruit orchard, a large “market”/demonstration garden with about 50 raised beds, and a small indoor growing area for microgreens and other leafy greens. Everything that we grow is donated to local food pantries, senior centers and other organizations that serve people in need - it's a deeply rewarding project to be a part of!

During the 2026 growing season, the Assistant Grower will be primarily engaged in fresh produce cultivation at HFFF’s small farm in Galien, working under the supervision of the Farm & Program Manager and the Lead Grower. Responsibilities will include:

• Seeding, transplanting, caring for, harvesting and processing a wide range of fruit and vegetable crops

• Identifying and organically addressing crop pests and diseases
• Keeping propagation, harvest, application, and donation logs up to date
• Maintaining and improving on-site composting efforts
• Assisting with construction and maintenance of raised & in-ground beds, temporary season extension structures, irrigation systems, paths, and other farm infrastructure
• Delivering produce to donation outlets, building relationships with the organizations and clients we work with, and participating in mobile food pantries
• Occasionally assisting with oversight of garden volunteers

• Helping with elements of our education & community outreach work, including site preparation for workshops

Qualifications:

• Experience growing a wide range of vegetables and fruits, preferably using organic methods, with at least one growing season of home garden or small farm experience - raised bed gardening, season extension, indoor microgreen production and fruit orchard experience are big pluses
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, close attention to detail, excellent verbal and written communication skills, eagerness to develop new skills, good sense of humor
• Deep commitment to sustainable food production, healthy living, and helping those in need
• Willingness to work long hours outdoors and in all weather conditions
• Ability to regularly lift up to 50 lbs - bending, kneeling, crouching, standing and lifting for long periods of time is a big part of the job
• Comfortable using Google Sheets & Docs, Word, Excel, and other online tools
• No tobacco use on or off the job (to prevent tobacco mosaic virus in our soil), up to date with vaccinations and boosters against COVID-19 and other commonly vaccinated illnesses, and happy to properly wear well-fitted and effective face masks such as N95s and KN95s - primarily in indoor settings - when required
• Comfortable with squishing bugs and slugs!
• Valid driver’s license

This is a small operation in which each team member is an essential piece of the puzzle, so reliability and a strong commitment to the organization’s mission are essential. There is potential for this position to expand along with our growing capacity and programming over the next few years, so we are especially keen to find a candidate interested in a career in sustainable agriculture.

Compensation starts at $17.50/hour.

To apply, please email a résumé, cover letter and 3-4 professional references to [email protected].

harrisfamilyfarmfoundation.org

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.50 per hour

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• vegetable growing: 1 year (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Galien, MI 49113 (Required)

Work Location: In person