Job Opening: Garden Assistant Manager

SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Eco Terreno Vineyards (ETV) leadership team, assist with duties required to grow and maintain the company’s Biodynamic garden and farmscape programs. Key responsibilities will entail: capacity to engage in ways to prototype and build out the existing/planned production gardens , orchards and insectaries, growing the potential of these areas as value-added product for direct-to-consumer sales, incorporate food crops into the vineyard and property, initiate propagation and planting of perennial native plants to increase biodiversity of wine farm, manage sales to diverse markets and sales outlets (including but limited to: CSA boxes, Farmers Markets, grocery stores and restaurants), and enrich current garden and farmscaping spaces.

GARDENS, INSECTARIES, FARMSCAPE ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure all garden and farmscape operations are completed in accordance with direction from ETV leadership
• Create and implement with supporting documents an annual/seasonal crop seeding and succession planting plan
• Develop, and implement, on-going budgets for production and perennial gardens including infrastructure
• Implement and oversee capital development projects relating to garden and farmscape areas (e.g., planting new spaces, building garden infrastructure)
• Integrate, coordinate and lead garden programs with all wine farm programs and practices
• Collaboration with the chefs regarding vision to develop our culinary garden program
• Using biodynamic and regenerative principles; develop and track fertility plans, understand disease and pest pressures and develop and implement plans, accordingly
• Familiarity with standards and practices for organic, regenerative, and biodynamic certification for consideration and implementation of all growing/processing related actions. Maintain all records, and participate in process as needed, for current and future certifications
• Interface with the guests about farm practices (giving tours, talks, workshops etc.)
• In collaboration with marketing, hospitality and culinary teams create and develop value-added products from farmscape
• Maintain, map and catalog of all perennial plants in the gardens, insectaries, and orchards within the property, in collaboration with ETV Leadership team
• Implement perennial propagation schedule to increase the biodiversity on the wine farm
• Manage and update garden budget
• Collaborate with all seasonal biodynamic activities
• Participate and assist in vineyard program work as needed/directed
• Plan and grow monthly CSA box program
• Prepare and attend weekly local Farmers Markets
• Interact and add local accounts

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Education/Experience: BS in a Plant Science-related field (preferred) & comprehensive gardening experience; 4+ years (required)
• Familiarity with biodynamics, regenerative, organic and perma-culture practices in the field and greenhouse (preferred)
• Working knowledge of a regenerative farm growing system, including the distribution and transportation of produce (preferred)
• Working knowledge of diverse plantings and integrated cropping/planting systems, plant physiology, morphology, and water relations. Basic knowledge of soils, soil chemistry, plant nutrition, and pest management (required)
• Strong observational skills
• The ability to work and contribute as a team member
• Willingness to work and grow in all capacities that a growing wine farm requires
• A healthy dose of humor, resourcefulness, and creativity
• Other: Must possess a valid driver’s license and meet the company’s automobile insurance requirements

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Fluent in English (required) and Spanish (preferred). Strong oral communication skills. Ability to read and interpret documents such as work order documents and scripts and to write routine report/spreadsheets and correspondences.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Intermediate Skills: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

• Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook (or equivalent programs), and agriculture database experience (preferred)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, climb stairs, talk, hear, taste and smell. Must possess vision, hearing and sufficient digital manipulation skills to utilize a farming equipment. The employee is frequently required to climb and balance, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee must be able to frequently lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Most duties will be performed outdoors, including garden and vineyard facilities.