Farmer: Paige Witherington
Contact by email at info@serenbefarms.com or phone at (770) 463-9319
Serenbe Farms is an intensive 5-acre certified organic diversified farm located in Palmetto, GA, just 30 miles south of Atlanta, GA. We grow over 50 different vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs in over 300 different varieties. We have laying hens, laying ducks, a shiitake mushroom operation, honeybees, a blueberry orchard, and fruit trees.
We market our goods through an 80+ member CSA program, the local Serenbe restaurants, and our own Serenbe Farmers Market.
Serenbe Farms is a part of the Serenbe community, a unique sustainable village consisting of 75% preserved green space, Earth Craft homes, restaurants, shops, artists, a bakeshop, and an equestrian center. The village of Serenbe lies in the heart of 40,000 protected acres of the newly formed city of Chattahoochee Hill Country. More on the community can be found on Serenbe's website.
As a part of the Serenbe agricultural phase, we operate within the principles of biodynamic agriculture, a holistic and spiritual approach to sustainable farming. The farm is strictly organic with an additional emphasis on growing spiritually enlivened food, educating the next generation and building community through the arts.
Most of our food goes to our CSA program. CSA (community supported agriculture) is a mutually beneficial relationship between the farm and local consumers, where members receive fresh, organic produce weekly throughout the growing season in exchange for ensuring the farmer a living wage and providing production costs up front. The CSA members learn about organic agriculture and get to share in the risks and rewards of our hard work.
This will be the third season for our Serenbe Farmers Market held in the village green in the community from late April until late November. Many other local vendors, both farmers, artists, and bakers set up at our market where we also host extra activities, including live music and chef demos.
Serenbe is home to three restaurants, The Hil, The Farmhouse, and The Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop. Each of these restaurants features our seasonal produce in their menus.
The Serenbe Farms assistant manager position is highly diversified. Tasks will include, but are not limited to:
*Educational director: creating curriculum for at least eight 2-hour summer farm programs for kids, managing and overseeing summer kids programs, liaison between Hill Country Montessori and farm manager for weekly visits (when needed)
*Serenbe Market manager: coordinating vendors for market participation, expanding farmers market through press and advertising, coordinating special events for market: music, chef demos, etc. (there will be a budget at our disposal)
*General farm work: help with infrastructure work in the winter and fall including building, creating, and working with the flow of systems on the farm; planting, harvesting, and weeding help in the spring and summer; also irrigation, greenhouse, and livestock chores as needed
*CSA newsletters and bookkeeping: Formatting CSA newsletters (written by farmers and apprentices), proofreading and uploading onto the net, sending out to CSA members, collecting and keeping up with CSA member dues, reminding members when payments are due
*Livestock: Management of rotation, feed orders, sales, and possible livestock additions to the farm
*Web: Updating events, newsletters, and market information on existing website (experience helpful but not necessary)
*Agritourism: hosting and managing seasonal events on the farm (at least one per season) and coordinating CSA potlucks, help with farm tours, team building exercises, and school visits when needed
*Restaurant liaison: Harvest, packing, and delivery of restaurant orders (mostly in the Serenbe community)
*Compost management: assistance with the procurement of compostables, turning and monitoring compost, expanding and maintaining our existing vermiculture systems
*Additional opportunities: value added processed goods (with fruits, vegetables, or medicinal herbs), biodiesel sales, and meat production can be added to above duties with profit sharing available
The assistant manager will make a salary of $18,000/year. Housing, farm produce, and workers compensation is included. The Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop also provides the farmers with a monthly food stipend. Farm housing is a four-bedroom house with a large kitchen, lounge, dining area, and screened porch, and a large yard for recreation (to be shared with farm interns during 8 months of the year). Utilities and Internet are included. The house is approximately 1/3 of a mile from the farm, a pleasant walk or bike ride. Vacation time is two weeks. The farm manager must approve of vacation scheduling ahead of time.
You must have 2 years organic farming experience. Experience with kids and education is a must. Computer experience is needed, especially with Excel, word processing, and email communication. Because of the nature of this job and it’s constant communication with customers, market vendors, and community members, quality people skills are needed. Also desired is experience with farmers markets, whether as a participant or a manager. Web experience is an added bonus.
In addition to all the traits that we’re looking for in a farm intern (see our apprenticeship description), we also want someone who is a self-starter with great ideas and initiative. One that takes ownership over all they do and that has great amounts of energy to see projects to completion will be an ideal candidate. You must be able to work in a group, manage others and take instruction from the farm manager. An eye for efficiency is necessary.
Much of your time will be spent working alone on the above projects, so you must know how to manage your own time and how to ask for help when you need it. The first month or so will be working directly with the farm manager as an orientation period. We expect that you will have a good idea of how a successful farm will run, but you will also be exposed to more information, farm tours, and lessons on farm management. This is a great position for someone that has excellent people skills and is interested in managing an organic farm, but may not yet have the skill set to acquire a head manager position. Depending on the success of the assistant manager, promotions and raises are available for the following year.
This yearly position starts January 2nd, 2008. The first month will be a trial period to ensure that the farm manager and the assistant manager work well together. The work schedule will vary according to season, but the winter and early spring months will be shorter days, up to 30-40 hours per week. As the summer approaches, hours will increase, up to 45 hours a week and the hours will peak in the summer time up to 55 hours per week. In the fall, the hours taper off again and we usually work up to 40 hours a week. The breakdown of hours of work will be about 45% independent office or fieldwork and 55% working with the team on the farm. You will be expected to manage the farm when the farm manager is away up to 3 weeks during the season.
This assistant manager position will help you to learn the management techniques of a successful working farm. You’ll be expected to lead and to follow. In addition to the criteria listed for your position above, you will also be exposed to “hands on” learning. The more questions you ask and the more initiative you show, the more responsibility and knowledge you will be entrusted with. The assistant manager will be a partner with the farm manager in many circumstances, but will also work with and manage the apprentices. The curriculum that the apprentices go by throughout the season will also be available for the assistant manager, as will the opportunity to visit the extensive farm library to garner more knowledge.
The emphasis that Serenbe Farms has on composting, proper soil management, cover cropping, and crop rotations will govern many of our decisions on the farm and will provide extra experience for the assistant manager.
We are involved in the state organic association, Georgia Organics and will have opportunities to visit other local farms.
Our farm is directly located in the 900-acre Serenbe community, with over 600 acres of marked hiking and biking trails, complete with dense forest, streams, wetlands, and waterfalls. The area's quiet and manicured backcountry roads offer excellent biking and running routes too. There are a couple of local swimming holes to refresh on a hot day. The farm is located about 40 minutes from Atlanta, the capitol of Georgia, where many recreational and cultural opportunities abound. Serenbe hosts many fun seasonal events and there are other local festivals to attend.
If you feel qualified for this position, please supply us with the following information as soon as possible. After we review your information, we'll contact you for a follow up interview, then we will set up a farm visit. Positions will be chosen by December 1st 2007.
1. General questions
a. Please describe your prior farm experiences.
b. Why are you interested in this particular position?
c. Please attest to your experience with: (examples are helpful)
*Kids and education
*Computer experience
*Communication abilities
*Farmers markets
*Website maintenance
*Farm infrastructure and planning (irrigation, building, greenhouse, livestock, etc.)
*Management (on farm and off farm)
*Tractor work
d. What skills will you bring to the farm?
e. Are you conditioned to work in any outdoor environment? Have you experienced the Southeast’s summer heat and humidity?
f. What sort of physical shape are you in?
g. Any special considerations we should know about (diet, health)?
h. Do you have any other related work experiences or skills? (example: education, carpentry, cooking)
2. Please include a resume
3. Please provide 3 work related references (at least 2 farm related) and 1 additional personal reference (not of relation to you).
Thanks for your interest in this great opportunity at Serenbe.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Paige Witherington, Farm Manager
info@serenbefarms.com
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Phone: 770-463-9319 
