Deeply Rooted Ranch Farmer
Category: Agricultural
Job Type: Full Time
Job Duration: Permanent
Job Compensation Type: Fixed Salary with Medical and Dental Benefits
Contact Name: Amy Milliron
Contact Email: info@deeplyrootedranch.com
Location: Deeply Rooted Ranch at 5255 Ganske Road, Burton, Texas 77835
Remote: No
Deadline to Apply: Rolling applications are accepted until the position is filled
Deeply Rooted Ranch focuses on growing and raising nutrient-dense food while sharing regenerative experiences and educational opportunities to nurture learning, land, and community.
Inspired and trained by Holistic Management International and The Savory Institute, our team utilizes a holistic decision-making matrix when managing our goals for our land, our quality of life, and how we would like to serve our community. Healthy soil is at the center of everything we do. When the soil is healthy, the forage is healthy and that forage converts to nutrient-dense food for the livestock and the humans. Healthy soil equals healthy humans. In turn, the outcomes of our decisions also positively contribute to the reversal of climate change.
Common practices utilized on our ranch include low- and no-till land preparation techniques, the avoidance of synthetic chemical herbicides and pesticides, keeping the soil covered with cover crops as needed, rotating livestock via our holistic planned grazing plan utilizing temporary and semi-permanent fencing, promoting perennial, living root systems in our pastures and our gardens, increasing biodiversity through conservation efforts, and celebrating and experimenting with team members innovations and ideas to prepare us for what the future has in store.
Our land was purchased in August 2022, and since then, we have acquired our breeding flock of ~70 sheep with plans to sell lamb to our community and local restaurants. We have started the first four hives in our apiary with plans to expand. Our market garden allows us to focus on the seasonal growth of annuals and perennials, both inside a hoop house as well as in rows. Our plants are started in our incredible climate-controlled greenhouse on site. We currently sell our farm boxes of produce to individuals and restaurants and look forward to building even more relationships with our community through the sales of our food. We will be adding laying chickens to sell eggs and broiler chickens to be sold whole and parted to our community soon as well. Construction on our ~2,200 sq ft commercial kitchen will be complete in just a few months allowing us to teach culinary classes, create value-added items from our harvests, and cater camps, retreats, weddings, and other educational programs on the ranch.
The ranch hosts two other businesses on site. DRR Processing is a small USDA-inspected poultry processing business that provides the much-needed service of processing the poultry from our ranch for sale to the public while also servicing local farmers and ranchers desperately needing processing services in our region. This facility also doubles as an educational site for those interested in learning about poultry processing.
Additionally, the nonprofit Fearless Farmers hosts on-ranch immersive programs as part of their larger training programs available to educators, farmers and ranchers, and community members who enjoy increasing ecological literacy in youth and adults.
It is crucial to our mission that all team members celebrate and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as representatives of Deeply Rooted Ranch.
Deeply Rooted Ranch honors the dignity of all people. We are all nature. Just as nature cannot thrive without diversity, everyones uniqueness belongs. We support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, citizenship and immigration status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. We create an environment of allyship where you can be fearlessly you.
To achieve our mission, Deeply Rooted Ranch:
Provides nutrient-dense food to the local community
Educates children, youth, and adults through camps, classes, family days, and tours
Hosts immersive outdoor experiences like farm-to-table dinners, weddings, and retreats
Connects with like-minded organizations to build partnerships that are important when serving our community
Deeply Rooted Ranch Farmer Job Summary:
The Deeply Rooted Ranch Farmer will report to the Ranch Operations Manager, while participating in tasks with other team members related to livestock care and tending to the market garden. The role of the Farmer is to (1) facilitate the smooth operation of our farm, including cultivation, harvest, and production, under the guidance of the Ranch Operations Manager, (2) manage crop rotations, harvests, and distribution of the Deeply Rooted Ranch Farm Boxes, and (3) care for livestock. The Farmer is committed to soil stewardship and regenerative agriculture and is willing to utilize the regenerative practices employed by Deeply Rooted Ranch. On the job training will be provided to this end, but the Farmer should already have a fundamental understanding of either or both – – market garden processes and/or livestock care. Market garden processes include (1) an understanding of annual and perennial crops that grow well in zones 8a-9b, (2) plant cultivation and harvest and post-harvesting processing best practices, (3) ecological systems, and (4) basic irrigation. Livestock care processes include (1) an understanding of animal husbandry related to egg laying chickens, broiler chickens, turkeys, ducks, and sheep. Beekeeping experience is a plus, and if you have no experience, there must be a willingness to learn from the Ranch Operations Manager. Experience driving tractors or vehicles with manual transmissions is recommended. The goal for the Farmer is to grow with Deeply Rooted Ranch as we scale up production on the farm. The Farmer will work closely with DRR Processing to coordinate the processing of poultry raised on-site. The Farmer is well-organized, detail-oriented, self-sufficient, and can take direction. The Farmer is willing to participate in capturing photographs and videos, as well as be photographed and recorded for advertising and education. Compensation and hours available will be based on the level of experience. We are a strictly non-smoking farm.
The Deeply Rooted Ranch Farmer is responsible for:
Complying with all national, state, and local child and adult safety laws.
Completing and submitting all reports on time to comply with standard operating procedures and with national, state, and local laws.
Attending staff meetings that occur once weekly at minimum.
Attending Farmers Market Booths and Vendor Booths with the team as needed.
Remaining up-to-date on CPR and First Aid Certifications.
Participating in professional development opportunities provided by Deeply Rooted Ranch.
Aligning with Deeply Rooted Ranch’s mission, vision, and values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, lifelong experiential learning, access to nature, and social-emotional learning.
Contributing to a positive, productive workplace through open communication, problem-solving, a sense of humor, and dedication to achieving Deeply Rooted Ranchs holistic goals.
Required Qualifications:
Minimum Education: high school diploma
Experience: 1+ years of farming with a focus on market gardens or livestock care or both
FBI Background check required.
Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions for extended periods of time.
Must be able to lift 50 lbs regularly
Valid drivers license required.
Compensation:
From $35,000-$40,000/year
Benefits:
Paid time off.
Paid professional development.
Medical and dental insurance policy offered.
Job Types: Full Time, Part Time
Pay: $35,000.00 – $40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off
Schedule:
Day shift
Monday to Friday
Weekends as needed
Ability to commute/relocate:
Burton, TX 77835: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Experience:
Farming: 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person