Apricot Lane Farms is a 214-acre organic and biodynamic farm looking for a Holistic Livestock Lead. This program utilizes biodynamic and rotational grazing practices. Equally as important to caring for the livestock is caring for the land and soil on which they are raised. The Holistic Livestock Lead oversees all aspects of the daily care, feeding, and life support system maintenance of our diverse collection of animals including cows, sheep, pigs, guard dogs, and horses.
This position will include working with and educating volunteers from our WWOOF program on a daily basis.
-Responsible for any and all livestock needs at Apricot Lane Farms.
-This hourly position is structured as an alternating six-day/week and 5-day/week position (approximately two weeks per month working 6 days and two weeks per month working 5 days), 6:30 AM – 4 PM with a 1/2 hour lunch break. However, farming by nature, requires long hours. Therefore, this position may require early mornings and late nights, and on call duties.
-Performs daily tasks including, but not limited to, tending to the water and food of all animals; sheering sheep; weighing, sorting and tagging animals; moving animals from one area to another; organizing supplies; building & moving electrical fences; monitoring grass levels; cooperating with the pastured poultry team; and mucking stalls.
-Assist and facilitate the vetting of animals, under the direction of the Ag. Director and John Chester.
-May need to perform mowing, fertilizer application, cultivating, spraying, seeding and more in the animal pastures of Apricot Lane as needed.
-Assists in the birth of all animals across the property and may be on call at all hours of the day or night to do so.
-On call as needed to conduct night visits to check on sick animals, nursing animals or animals that are left out in the pastures or orchards.
-Responsible for training and overseeing the work of WWOOFer assistants as related to livestock/pastures.
-Livestock Record Keeping
-Support the farm’s needs outside of all core responsibilities, including, but not limited to, irrigation work, supporting the needs of the orchards, building structures, installing and repairing fencing, tractor operation, running errands and addressing reasonable requests by Farm Management.
-Ability to maintain clear communication with others
-Detail oriented
-ORGANIZED
-Sincere passion for livestock/animals and the land/animals/ecosystem (especially soil!)
-PREFERRED 6 months to a year farm experience with livestock including rotational or planned grazing
-PREFERRED 6 months or more farm experience
-PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED with Holistic Animal Husbandry
-PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED 6 months or more farm experience with Organic Animal Husbandry
-PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED Animal Welfare Certification
-PREFERRED experience with tractor
-Comfortable with MS Office – Word and Excel
-Must live within 30 minutes of the Farm
Please email your resume and your story. Resumes submitted without requested information will not be considered. Please NO phone calls, subcontractors, third party or recruiting agencies. Thank you.