Farm Assistant

Hidden Villa is a nonprofit educational organization that uses its organic farm, wilderness, and community to teach and  provide opportunities to learn about the environment and social justice. Hidden Villa stretches over 1600 acres of open space in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 40 miles south of San Francisco.  

Our mission is to foster educational experiences that build connections and inspire a deeper appreciation and respect for nature, food, and one another. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Farm Assistant assists the Director of Agriculture and Farm Manager in daily field work on Hidden Villa’s regenerative farm and reports to the Farm Manager. The Farm Assistant works with the Director of Agriculture, the Farm Manager and the other members of the farm team to deliver high quality food and flowers and experiences that connect participants, donors and volunteers to Hidden Villa. This is a one-year position with the option to continue for one subsequent year.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in daily field operations to meet production goals for CSA, donations to Community Services Agency of Mountain View (CSAMV), farmer’s market, HV donor events and other outlets for produce and flowers.
• Assist in the propagation, maintenance, harvest, marketing, and post harvest handling of all farm crops.
• Pending HV’s farmer’s market participation, in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry team and Farm Manager, facilitate HV’s participation in the farmer’s market, including harvesting, packing, pricing and setup; responsible for training farm assistants on market duties.
• Operate a variety of tractors, implements and other vehicles and tools used to maintain property and farm operations.
• Contribute written submission once monthly to the weekly CSA newsletter.
• Coordinate farm tasks and planning, and assist with mentoring seasonal farm assistants.
• Opportunities to lead occasional classes, tours and other educational opportunities for the local community, volunteers and visitors.
• Supervise individual farm volunteers and volunteer groups.
• Participate in departmental and organization wide meetings and communication.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 1-2 years of experience in regenerative agriculture, farming and/or flower growing.
• A personal commitment to the value of sustainability, especially in agricultural practices.
• Comfortable working independently, outdoors, and in physically demanding situations.
• Skilled in communication and able to multi-task with excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to perform and maintain a good attitude under pressure or during stressful situations.
• Ability to prioritize work based on safety needs and programmatic use and to delegate effectively.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive and operate farm vehicles.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements listed are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This includes but is not limited to: harvest, packing, delivery, seeding, planting, weeding, irrigation maintenance, tractor work, and compost building. The Farm Assistant will also assist with communication through the weekly farm newsletter, record keeping and is expected to attend relevant departmental and organizational meetings.

• Physical ability to stand, reach, bend, kneel, stoop, climb, walk, crawl, push, pull, and lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Proficient interpersonal relations and communicative skills in English.
• Able to communicate clearly, effectively and promptly to colleagues, visitors and volunteers.

DESIRABLE SKILLS & INTERESTS:

• Experience operating a tractor.
• Basic understanding of construction, power-tool usage, and utilities (water/electric).
• Interest in experiential learning and an ability to work with diverse groups.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

This position is a full-time, non-exempt position. Due to the nature of project management and farming, work hours will vary throughout the year and hours should be adjusted as appropriate. Occasional weekend and evening work required. The compensation for this position is $23/hour. This position is fully benefited, including paid time off, health insurance and retirement. This position includes onsite shared housing, with a private bedroom. This is a one-year position. While not guaranteed, the Farm Assistant has the opportunity to continue with the position for one subsequent year. This position begins in January 2026, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. More information is available on our website: www.hiddenvilla.org.