TRAINEE GROWER VACACNY at RAGMANS LANE MARKET GARDEN in GLOUCESTER
Ragmans Lane Market Garden is a thriving small vegetable-growing business run by two young growers, now entering our third growing season. We are based in Gloucestershire’s beautiful Forest of Dean and supply produce to local shops, restaurants and online retail customers. Our emphasis is on growing high-value crops and obtaining large yields from a relatively small area, while working in a manner that protects and enhances the soil. We are also committed to getting more people involved in market gardening, and are therefore excited to be looking for an energetic and motivated trainee grower to join our small team this season.
This informal but comprehensive traineeship will run from mid-March until mid-October. The trainee will work closely with us, and receive thorough practical training in the various aspects of running a small-scale market garden, including crop planning, cultivation, plant propagation, harvesting, weed management, fertility building and marketing. We will provide the successful candidate with a room in a shared house next to the market garden, with food and bills paid for by us, and can also offer a living allowance of £25/week.
This is a full-time position of approximately 8 hours work per day. We are looking for someone who is hard-working yet easy-going, and enthusiastic about working and communicating effectively as part of a wider team (which will also include WWOOFers in the summer months). The ideal candidate will be seriously interested in developing organic growing skills. They will be able to use their own initiative, but also prepared to work according to our system to maintain high quality standards. As the communal spaces of the house and most meals are shared by the whole team, we are looking for someone who is happy to participate in shared living, while also being comfortable in their own company. While not essential, a driving licence and a willingness to make occasional deliveries would also be desirable.
Although we have gained a lot of useful experience from here and elsewhere, we are both still learning the art of growing, so the trainee position is as much an opportunity to learn alongside us as it is to learn from us. To apply for the role, please send an e-mail to ragmanslanemarketgarden@gmail.com explaining why you would like to be our trainee and why you think you would be right for the role, including details of any relevant experience that you have. The deadline for applications is the 15th of February, and interviews will take place during the week starting the 22nd of February.
Please feel free to forward this to anyone who you think might be interested. For further info, please use the above e-mail address or call Jon on 07503217680.