Tumbleweed FaRM-FULL FOR 2024
POSITION: 2 APPRENTICESHIPS
FULL TIME (40 hrs/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: 5/1 - 10/27
LOCATION: Parkdale (Portland Chapter, Columbia River Gorge)
ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED
VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes.
ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Preferred.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English.
Taylor and Andrea Bemis have owned and operated Tumbleweed Farm since 2012. We learned how to farm on Taylor’s family’s 60 acre organic vegetable and fruit farm in Massachusetts. We started out on our own on leased land up the road from us, then purchased this land in 2013 and have been farming here ever since. Our strongest farming value is to add more to the soil than we are taking. Our goal is to continue to produce/sell more on the same amount of land each year. We strive to achieve this by improving our strategies, infrastructure and equipment to make things easier, simpler, smoother and faster. Off the farm our interests include raising two wonderful girls, cooking, skiing, trail running, golf, pond hockey and whackin’ a few beers whenever the opportunity presents itself.
We are on a 6 acre parcel on the North side of Mount Hood. We cultivate 2.5 acres of that. We have one propagation house and 2 unheated hoop houses (20x96 and 30x96). The East Fork irrigation canal is our Eastern property line and our irrigation source. We are a 6 minute drive to Parkdale and a 15 minute drive to Hood River. Lots of recreational opportunities nearby. The Mount Hood Parkdale community is fun, welcoming and supportive.
We grow a diverse array of vegetables (along with melons and strawberries) for our 140 share CSA and the Hood River Farmers Market. Though we have not pursued certification we grow organically and are committed to a zero spray policy. For pest control we use row cover and crop rotation. For soil health we incorporate 150 yards of compost and 6 tons of chicken manure every Spring. For field prep we use a spader and rototiller behind a 23 horse power tractor. For final bed prep/stale bedding we use a BCS 853 with a power harrow. For weed control we use scuffle hoes, trapezoid hoes and tractor mounted basket weeders, finger weeders and sweeps. We do 75% overhead irrigation, 25% drip. Our farm crew is typically made of four members on harvest days and 2-3 on other days.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
The primary tasks our crew members are responsible for are propagation, planting, deploying row cover, hoeing/weeding, harvesting, washing, packing and the farmers market. Irrigation, some BCS work, flame weeding and direct seeding are tasks that can be explored. Additional duties arise throughout the season including thinning carrots/beets and cleaning garlic and onions.
Start and end dates are flexible within 2-3 weeks. The work day is generally 7-4 with a one hour lunch break. The focus of work is on quality initially and speed once quality is understood. Crew members are expected to be able to carry and stack heavy crates. Time off is ideally avoided but is allowed for crucial circumstances.
We will be working alongside the crew a lot of the time but not always. We always include the crew in the full picture of what is going on and what is happening to the field before and after the crew’s roles. There is always time to ask/answer questions and to accompany the pre-harvest field walks.
QUALIFICATIONS
We are most excited by applicants who are enthusiastic about farming and motivated to work hard and fast. Previous farming experience is not required. Previous experience working in fast-paced and sometimes stressful situations is preferred.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
Compensation is $15/hr plus any and all produce you’d like to bring home.
On-farm housing offered for both Apprentices in a 2 bedroom ADU on 4th Ave in downtown Parkdale. It’s a 7 minute drive from the farm (5 miles away), and an extremely short walk to the grocery store, laundromat, coffee shop, and restaurants. For employees of the farm rent is $300/room, utilities included.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Anyone willing to put forth their best effort is welcome here. We stay in constant communication with crew members directly as well as our crew leader about how everyone is getting along and will address issues as they arise. We have employed a crew for five seasons now and have found farming to be a great uniter.
Taylor, Andrea, and kids