About Us
Founded in 2018, Hillside Botanicals is a small diversified certified organic herb farm and artisan apothecary rooted in West Brookfield, VT, the unceded ancestral lands of the Abenaki peoples. Our farm currently stewards 7 acres, with approximately 2 acres in active production of herbs. We cultivate over 20 varieties of medicinal herbs for apothecaries, clinical and home herbalists, herbal supplement companies, and our own herbalist-formulated wellness products. Every herb grown here on the farm is one we’ve tended by hand from seed to sale with an intense focus on quality and conscious relationship. We also operate a seasonal plant nursery that offers over 200 varieties of certified organic veggie, herb, and flower starts, as well as a growing collection of perennial fruits and pollinator species that we grow from seed our own planting stock.
Our herbs are at the heart of our growing herbal product line, which includes certified organic teas, tinctures, Fire Cider, herbal body care, and other culinary provisions. Each product is formulated in house and handmade in small batches in our on-farm apothecary. Our product line has an intense bioregional focus, with over 80% of ingredients sourced directly from our farm.
Additionally, we seasonally host workshops and classes on the farm for our local community and visiting groups.
About the Role: Part Time Field Assistant
The Field Assistant role provides an immersive experience in working on a small-scale organic herb farm. We work hard together, in all weather conditions, but we also learn from each other and seek to infuse joy into even the smallest and most repetitive of tasks.
The Field Assistant will work closely with us throughout the growing season, engaging in tasks including:
- Greenhouse tasks (seeding, watering, up-potting etc.)
- Transplanting
- Weeding
- Harvesting
- Drying and post-harvest processing of herbs
- Support with documentation of farm activities for organic certification record-keeping
- Support with general farm organization and upkeep
- Support with our seasonal plant nursery, which may include potting up starts, watering, and some aspects of retail customer service
For those interested, there may be opportunities to support the value-add side of our business including assisting in making and packaging herbal products in our on-farm apothecary or participating in occasional farmers markets in the summer (Saturdays).
The ideal field crew member:
- Is a hard worker who is comfortable with (perhaps even loves!) manual labor, regardless of weather conditions
- Has previous commercial farming experience, ideally at least 2 seasons
- Is able to lift 50 pounds
- Is flexible and patient, able to adapt to changing priorities or objectives as needed
- Is detail-oriented and can remain focused on repetitive tasks
- Is comfortable working alone, as well as in a group
- Values and participates in clear communication
- Is willing to ask questions or seek support to ensure a task/project gets done correctly
- Has a dedicated interest in organic and regenerative agriculture and/or herbs
- Has reliable transportation (we are in a rural area with limited access to public transportation) and a commitment to arriving on time to work
The Details
● Wages start at $16-$17, based on experience
● Position is for 3 days per week on the farm (Weekdays, occasional weekend hours may be discussed)
● Workdays usually begin at 8 am, lasting 8 hours (Estimated 24 hours/week)
● Position will be approximately mid-May through late-October (Start/End Dates to be determined with candidate)
● Candidates are expected to commit to the full farming season. Long trips during the farming season are discouraged, as they can significantly disrupt our season and increase the workload for our tiny team. However, we always work to maintain open communication with our staff and do our best to accommodate their needs while working to minimize the impact of any time off.
● Benefits of this position include:
- Access to organic plant starts, fresh and dried herbs from our farm (when available)
- Discounted products from our apothecary
- Free admission to any workshops and yoga classes taught on the farm
- First-hand instruction on growing, tending, and processing herbs, and the opportunity to expand your farming knowledge and experience.
To Apply:
Please send a resume, brief cover letter, and 2-3 references to [email protected]. Candidates will be invited to participate in a live interview after initial application materials are reviewed.