Seasonal Assistant Grower at the Goodery Garden

The Project Goodery is an online Organic grocery marketplace and box scheme based in Norwich. We connect local farmers, ethical businesses and conscious consumers. We are redesigning the local food value chains here in East Anglia to account for the societal and environmental costs that result from our current food system. We are regen, min-til and strive to build our soil’s complexity every day. We deliver with zero emissions and as little waste as possible. We’ve started the Goodery Market Garden because we want to back the next generation of organic farmers.

About the role

We are looking for a seasonal grower to join our team for a fourth growing season. We farm Organically to Soil Association standards on 3 acres, practise minimal tillage and are influenced by Agroecological practises. There are four poly tunnels, a propagation glasshouse and three outdoor growing areas. We grow a wide variety of veg, salads, herbs and edible flowers for our veg box scheme and local restaurants. We are a welcoming farm and the role is open to all regardless of background, gender and sexual preference. This year we are also experimenting with cut flowers and hoping to expand our harvests into the coming years.

The role is physically demanding, requiring the ability to work 7 hours, often in challenging weather conditions. We have ambitious plans to build on the successes of our first three growing seasons and seek someone who is passionate about helping us achieve that vision. The role may also involve work to improve the site, including improving irrigation, putting up polytunnels, and managing fence lines. We are building strong links between the wider Norfolk and Goodery community through volunteer and open days in 2025.

This role is suitable for someone wishing to work as a market gardener or in small-scale food/crop production. It is a fixed-term role but could extend depending on the success and demands of the summer season.

Application deadline: Friday 4th April 2025 – 5pm. Interviews: w/c 7th April 2025. Start Date: 21st April 2025. End Date: late Sept/Oct, weather dependent.

Responsibilities

• Raising plants from seed and all areas of propagation
• Irrigation, ensuring systems are managed and maintained
• Planting and maintaining glasshouse and polytunnel crops, field vegetables, salad leaves, green manures, and companion plants
• Working with the site and crop plans
• Adhering to Soil Association Organic standards and assisting with detailed record-keeping
• Organic weed, pest, and disease management
• Compost management
• Cultivating soils using hand tools and occasionally power machinery
• Harvesting to agreed techniques, ensuring quality control
• Weighing, grading, and packing produce
• Loading and unloading van/walk-in fridge
• Keeping harvest records
• Undertaking other activities in support of Goodery, as appropriate
• Ensuring work of the highest standard and inclusivity
• Supervising and explaining tasks to volunteers if needed
• Contributing to good record-keeping

Requirements

• A passion for sustainable food production and a desire to pursue a livelihood in it
• Some experience of working on a food-growing site through paid or voluntary work
• Ability to work on physically demanding tasks, outdoors, in all weathers
• LGBTIQA+ friendly
• Ability to carry out shared tasks and work within a team
• Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise tasks, and work to deadlines
• Good people skills, friendly, welcoming temperament
• Commitment to, and understanding of, the aims of the Goodery Garden
• Ability to work Mondays rain or shine every week

Qualifications

• At least 1 year’s experience working in a market garden or similar (desirable)
• Knowledge of land management (desirable)
• Clean UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (desirable)
• Experience with basic market gardening tools (desirable)
• Experience of working to Soil Association Organic certification or equivalent (desirable)
• Ability to construct and ‘fix stuff’ (desirable)

Pay

£12.30 per hour

Schedule

7 hours per week. Day to be decided based on experience and availability. There is scope to fine-tune this role to suit your interests.