Employment at Cattail Organics

Employment Overview

Background:
Be a part of our small, dedicated and hardworking farm crew growing organic produce and feeding our community!

We strive to grow high quality food efficiently, to train people interested in agricultural careers and to feed a diversity of eaters in our community including CSA and farmers market customers, chefs and retail establishments and food banks and schools.

Cattail Organics is located in Athens Wisconsin Cattail Organics is close to Northwoods camping, hiking, and small cites including Wausau, Medford, Marshfield and Stevens Point. We are located in an area with growing opportunities in local/organic food with affordable agricultural land and strong infrastructure for new farmers. Our area offers other employment opportunities for off-season/winter employment including well paid food and manufacturing factory work, retail and food service.

About us:
Cattail Organics Farm is a certified organic vegetable in Athens WI. We grow a wide variety of veggies, flowers and herbs (plus maple syrup and fruit) which are sold to restaurants, farmers markets, schools, grocery stores and our CSA program in and around North Central Wisconsin. We are also members of a statewide Cooperative and serve the broader region through larger wholesale orders with this co-op.

We sell produce year round with a focus on season extension using unheated tunnels in spring and fall, highest quality roots. We have over 20 years individual experience and expertise in many areas including reduced tillage systems, mechanized and hand tool based production, year round production in a far north environment and much more! We are looking to new farm team members as our farm and employment opportunities grow and our farmer roles and management evolve.

Hiring Timeline 

We offer positions with opportunities for advancement, raises and movement into managerial positions with gained experience. We also offer direct comprehensive management training with the Wisconsin Organic Vegetable Manager Apprenticeship for second year (and beyond) employees.

We continue to take job applications throughout the year and hire when opportunities to work with great employees arise but most hiring is done in winter and spring before the growing season.

Pay ranges from $15-$22/hour  wage based on position and experience. Raises are given in accordance with both increased responsibility and number of years on the job. Base pay for all employees at full training (2 years completed) is $17 and managerial jobs are $18+. Other benefits include end of the season bonuses (.50-$1 per hour worked), paid conferences and learning opportunities for returning employees, paid PTO after 6 months of employment.

TO APPLY READ BELOW, EXPLORE JOB OPENINGS AND FILL OUT THE JOB APPLICATION HERE

 

High tunnel, transplant and greenhouse specialist $17-$20 starting pay depending on experience 

 

Minimum 36 hours per week, 40-45 hours/week desired Main Season April-November

10-20 hours/week depending on season December-March 

 

Paid Leave after 6 months 

Retirement contributions 

Gear Stipened 

Short-term housing for those relocating available at no cost. Longer term housing with rent/utilities on site possible for the right person. 

 

This is a position with some future managerial responsibilities and significant growth opportunities for the right individual. We expect extensive training in the first year while this individual works with farm management to understand current systems and build more resilient ones. 

 

This person will help manage 1 acre of high tunnels, engage with succession plantings in tunnels and the fields especially for greens and transplanted crops, and begin training in the greenhouse systems management in the first season. Opportunities for building out greenhouse plant sale business for shared profit in the future or other micro enterprises. 

 

This position will include up to 15-20 of field work during specific seasons including harvesting, weeding, packshed orders or helping with tasks as part of the larger farm team.

 

• Experience with walk behind tractors desired but not required
• Ability to lift 50lbs or more on occasion
• Experience operating cultivating or other tractors desired 
• Experience with trellising systems 
• Ability to work in heat and cold
• Desire to work with complex planting calendar systems, succession plantings and manage high tunnels for profitability
• Ability to work with farm owners/managers and small farm team
• Strong communication and learning skills

 

Packshed Specialist and Manager in Training ($17-$20)

Minimum 36 hours per week up to 40-45 hours/week:  Main Season (April-November)

20 hours a week off minimum off season December-March 

 

Paid Leave after 6 months

Retirement contributions 

Gear Stipened 

Short-term housing for those relocating available at no cost. Longer term housing with rent/utilities on site possible for the right person.

 

This is a position with some initial managerial responsibilities and significant growth opportunities for the right individual. We expect extensive training in the first year while this individual works with farm management to understand systems. 

This individual should have experience in farm systems management, several years of farm experience, or work in a related field. This job requires the ability to lift 40-50lbs repetitively, to use ladders, to bend, stoop and kneel. 

This position takes place mostly in or around the packing shed but will include up to 15-20 of field work like harvesting, weeding or helping with larger tasks as part of the larger farm team.

 

• Attention to detail
• Record keeping
• Familiarity with different vegetable types
• Ability to lead and communicate well 
• Ability to set and keep a fast pace to meet deadlines 
• Basic computer skills and use of google suite for records, lists and orders
• Ability to Multitask 

 

 

Qualifications necessary:

• Able to work within a changing and fast-paced environment
• Pass basic background check as needed for vehicle operation
• If operating machinery or trucks cleanish driving record – we work with our farm vehicle insurance agent to determine this so minor infractions are usually ok.

Additional Qualities:

• Passion and interest in working/learning about small-scale, organic vegetable, herb and flower production
• Self-starter, self-disciplined, goal orientated
• Comfortable with a woman led farm and female managers
• Comfortable with kids and a family working environment
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member
• Be in good physical condition, work in all weather conditions, and able to lift 50 lbs
• Ability to work in a potentially challenging environment and be adaptable
• Have transportation and be punctual
• Interested and willing to ask questions
• Attention to detail, experience building efficient systems, and record-keeping
• Outstanding communication (oral) skills; share and accept  feedback in a team environment