Work with us!
Thank you for your interest!
We are seeking a couple of enthusiastic & hard-working folks to join our crew this season. We are hiring for:
Farm Crew (flexible start & end dates: roughly March through mid November)
Blueberry Harvesting Crew (mid-July - early September)
see job descriptions at the bottom of the page
Thank you for your interest in joining our crew! Please fill out the info below. We will be in touch!
Stellar J Farm Crew
Stellar J Farm is a 33-acre organic farm on Chimacum Creek, 2.5 miles south of downtown Chimacum. The farm is operated by Janet, Jeff and a small team of fabulous farmers who are enthusiastic and passionate about growing nutritious vegetables and (arguably) the best blueberries in the world. We also have a small tree fruit orchard, and raspberry and strawberry patches. We incorporate chickens into our farming operation to increase soil fertility, and decrease weed and pest pressure. The farm is a patchwork of small vegetable plots, pastures, fallow land, orchards and a 9-acre riparian restoration zone. Total crop production area includes about 2 acres of mixed vegetables plus 6 high tunnels, 4 acres of blueberries and about 1 acre of fruit trees and other mixed berries. We vend at the Port Townsend Farmers Market, run a 100 member CSA, and sell a small selection of products to the PT Co-op and the Chimacum Corner Farmstand and a couple of local eateries. We are committed to land stewardship practices that enhance the quality of habitat, soil, water and community. We approach farming with an ethic of curiosity, learning and growing. Our production and practices evolve as we continue to learn, reflect and adapt. We love what we do. We understand farming is hard work and we think having fun while doing it is key to sustainability.
The Basics of the Position:
Seasonal, part-time or full-time position available.
Start date: Employment could beginning as soon as March - October
Summer positions are also available: June - September
3-5 days per week, 3 days per week minimum
Must include: Tuesdays and Fridays
Spring and Fall: 7 – 8 hours per day; Summer: 8 - 9 hours per day
Compensation: $16.75 per hr starting + DOE (and lots of veggies & fruit); Paid sick leave (1 hour per 40 hours worked)
On-farm housing may be available but not guaranteed
Responsibilities: Farm days are a mix of annual vegetable production activities in the veggie fields, propagation house and greenhouses, and harvesting, washing and packing produce for CSA and farmers markets. Farm work is a combination of varied and repetitive activities depending on the day and task list
Primary tasks: Seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting and packing vegetables; pruning, mulching and other perennial crop maintenance; harvesting and packing berries; egg washing and packing; general farm maintenance and cleaning
OPTIONAL: Farmers Market Staff: Saturdays. Create aesthetically appealing displays, engage with customers, educate about products and the farm, conduct transactions rapidly and with accuracy. Market staff must be able to lift and load quickly and safely, possess engaging customer service skills and have comfort with numbers and rapid transactions
Expectations:
Work independently and with our small crew to grow exceptional produce and steward the land with care
Be energetic, have a positive attitude and a great work ethic
Exercise a commitment to the challenge of communicating effectively, kindly, and with humility
Take direction, ask for help/clarification, and give/accept constructive feedback on work and technique
Be engaged with your work, with the crew and with the farm
Work towards achieving speediness, efficiency and quality
Make observations and bring suggestions and feedback back to the crew
Assist in maintaining farm records
Be able to work outside in all kinds of weather, repeatedly kneel, bend, hunch and lift and carry 40 pounds
Complete other duties as requested
Desired Experience:
Working on a team or collaboratively with others
Physical, outdoor and/or repetitive work
Experience with time-management and attention to efficiency
One or more seasons of farm work preferred but not required
Blueberry Harvest Crew
Highlights: flexible schedule, 10-40 hours per week available, piece-work pay (the more you pick, the more you make)
Contact: Janet Aubin janet@stellarjfarm.com 360.821.2226
Job Location: 142 Barn Swallow Road, Chimacum, WA 98325
Dates of Employment: Picking shifts available from roughly July 20th - end of August
Berry Picking Specifics
Berry picking is a fun job, but it is difficult and it is not for everyone. It requires independence, commitment and attention to detail. It is an outdoor job and requires working in the sun, as well as the dew and occasional light rain (we cancel work for heavy rain because the berries will not hold). Berry picking is paid by the bucket (piece rate). The more you pick, the more you make, as long as you maintain quality. Last season pickers made up to $27/hour, $18 average. It takes focus and speed to make this rate.
Details:
Pay: Piece rate (by the 1 gallon bucket) $7 per bucket (filled to the inside line, approx. 5 pounds).
Pay Periods: Pay periods end on the last day of each month. Paychecks will be available within 3 days of the ending date. Please provide an address for the final season check to be mailed to as well as the year-end tax info.
Dates of employment: Berry season varies from year to year. We hope to start picking this year around July 20th and continue until the last week of August. This may change depending on the weather and the condition of the berries.
Schedule and schedule changes:
-Picking shifts are available Monday through Saturday. Some opportunities for additional Sunday shifts may be available during peak season (first 2 weeks of August).
-Pickers must commit to a minimum of 4 hours or per week to be considered for the position.
-Pickers must commit to a weekly schedule and notify Janet by Sunday pm of changes to the following week’s schedule.
-Pickers are expected to arrive at a set time for any training shifts. After training, pickers can work with Janet to establish start and end times that work with their transportation needs and individual schedules
-If a last-minute change to a schedule is needed, please contact Janet by cell phone: 360-821-2226 (call or text).
Daily tasks:
1. WASH YOUR HANDS for at least 20 seconds! Before every picking shift, after using the restroom, after a break, every time and anytime you stopped picking and resume picking. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE TERMINATION! Hand washing sink is located next to the field entrance.
2. Sign in/out on picking sheet in the Crew Tent. Record number of buckets picked. At the end of the day we compare our numbers.
3. Pick berries!
Buckets: Crew buckets are BLUE. Clean buckets are located in the Crew Tent. Mark each bucket with provided name tags, place full buckets in the shade of a bush, and carry your buckets back to the Crew Tent at least every 2 hours if no one has come to collect them.
Pick in designated rows. Alert a manager if you need a new spot.
Attention to detail and quality: Pick only blue, ripe berries. Watch for pink shoulders! If you accidentally pick unripe berries, don’t put these in your bucket. Put only high quality berries into the bucket. Failure to pick high enough quality buckets will result in losing the job. Picking too many unripe berries and wasting them will also result in losing the job.
Speed: Pickers must work quickly to achieve the picking rate (2.5 buckets per hour)
Support: Check in with a manager if you have any concerns or questions at any point! This is an independent job but we are here to support you! If you ever encounter something you feel is unsafe, please let someone know immediately!
Other considerations:
Headphones: You can listen to music or other audio while picking blueberries on your own device with headphones. Please note we do not listen to headphones while doing other field work. Phones: Texting or talking on your phone while picking is highly discouraged as it will slow you down.
Taking berries home: You can pick 1 bucket per week worked (as long as you have worked for 10 + hours) to take home. Please take your berries home in another container. Our picking buckets cannot leave the farm. You can pick additional berries at U-pick price, at the end of your shift or on any other day we are open for U-pick.
Hand washing, again! Hands must be washed thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before picking and after any breaks before resuming picking and always after using the restroom.
Weather cancelations: Wet berries do not hold in the cooler and we may need to cancel picking days for weather during the season. We will notify you as soon as possible, but occasionally we may have to cancel during a shift.
Allergies: We have bees, hornets and yellow jackets in the field. We also eat a lot of peanuts on the farm, grow and process grain and have a lot of pollen. If you are allergic, please let Janet know and bring any needed supplies.
Illness: Do not come into work if you are feeling unwell. It is crucial that you do not work around food if you are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea. This is critically important for Food Safety! If you develop any of these symptoms while at work, you will need to leave your shift and contact Janet before returning to your next shift.
Gear: Please bring a hat, sunscreen, appropriate clothing, water bottle and lunch or snacks with you every day. You may wear shorts and sturdy sandals (not flip-flops). You need something to clip your bucket onto. This can be a belt, a fanny pack, a belt loop, a sash or strap. Janet can show you examples and brainstorm what is most comfortable for you.
Nos: No Smoking and No visiting dogs at Stellar J Farm.
DRIVE SLOWLY: Please drive VERY SLOWLY on our dirt road. The road is dusty, there are lots of kids and animals and it’s just plain courteous to the folks who live here.
Meal and rest breaks: you can take a break whenever you need, and please do. It can get hot in the field and you want to make sure you’re staying hydrated! You get a 10 min paid break per 4 hrs worked. You may also take unpaid meal breaks for 30 mins (or longer). Please write meal breaks on the time sheet.