Summer Job on Ecological Farm (CLSHF 182) — 15-week

Job title: Summer Job on Ecological Farm, Pictou County  

Reports to: Farm Owner/Operators, Keltie Butler & Michael Coolican 

Job location: 1999 Millsville Road, Millsville, NS (Scotsburn, Pictou County) 

Wage: $16.30/hr

Hours: 35 hours per week (15-week internship) 

Start Date: Expected May 15, 2023 

Employment Hiring 

Clean is committed to Employment Equity and our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative at all job levels. The Clean Leadership Program welcomes applications from qualified self-identifying First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, Visible Minority Groups, Persons with Disabilities, Newcomers, and 2SLGBTQIA+ applicants. If you are a member of one of the equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on our registration form. 

About the Clean Leadership Summer Internship Program 

The Clean Leadership Summer Internship program helps grow the clean economy by matching interns (age 15-30) with employers for 9- and 15-week summer work placements. Participating interns will receive paid hands-on experience, mentorship opportunities, take part in a professional development conference and training, while supporting local environmental projects.  

Program Requirements 

• Must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, person who has been granted refugee status in Canada or legally entitled to work in Canada;  
• Must be between the ages of 15 and 30 years old (inclusive) at the start of internship; 
• From and/or will be residing in Nova Scotia for the duration of the internship; 
• Must not be an immediate family member of host employer; 

About the host employer 

Small Holdings Farm is a small-scale vegetable and flower farm in Pictou County, selling primarily direct to consumers at the New Glasgow Farmers’ Market and through an on-farm CSA program (Community Support Agriculture). The farm is owned and operated by Keltie Butler and Michael Coolican and the 2023 farm season will be its 7th year in operation. The farm practices ecological farming methods including minimal tillage/no-till practices, and operates without the use of any pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. With the help of community donations, the farm provides 20 CSA memberships to local families facing food insecurity.

Summary of position  

The host employer for this Summer Internship position through the Clean Leadership program will be Small Holdings Farm. In this position, your day-to-day responsibilities will include planting, weeding, harvesting, and general care for the crops (vegetable and flowers) using hand tools, as well as packing orders and setting up for our weekly on-farm market. Work will be physical (including lots of bending and kneeling as well as some lifting and shovelling) and will be entirely outdoors in all kinds of weather. The successful candidate must enjoy working outside and being active. 

Duties and Responsibilities  

Responsibilities centre around working in the field and greenhouses, as well as the wash station and pack-shed, doing day-to-day farm work both independently and in a team.  

Tasks include: 

• Seedling production and care  
• Bed preparation (i.e., compost application, raking, weeding) 
• Seeding and transplanting crops 
• Weeding/cultivating using various hand tools 
• Crop care such as pruning tomatoes, deadheading flowers, etc
• Watering in the greenhouses
• Harvesting vegetables, and Port-harvest handling (ie washing and bagging or bunching vegetables), as well as;
• Cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing equipment and materials. 

*Note that harvesting will amount to a significant portion of the weekly work.* 

Requirements/Qualifications 

• Have an aptitude for safe work practices and the ability to multi-task in a busy work environment; 
• Be able to work productively as part of a team while responding to feedback; 
• Demonstrated interest in future employment in the environmental or clean sector is considered an asset;
• Must enjoy physical work and working outdoors in all types of weather; 
• Be in good physical condition; 
• Must be both efficient and hardworking; 
• Possess strong communication skills; 
• Be motivated to continually improve/get better and more efficient at a task;
• Have good attention to detail; 
• Is excited to learn new skills; 
• Can work both independently and as a team; 
• Are passionate about sustainable agriculture and food production. 

Working Conditions
This job takes place almost entirely outdoors. Dressing for the work and the weather is essential.  

Physical Requirements
This job is physical, requiring bending, squatting, lifting, standing, kneeling, etc. Eating well and drinking plenty of water is important self-care for this type of work.