Job Title: Horticulturist – Team Member for Sustainable Food Production

Location: Bovina Center, NY

Position Type: Seasonal (April through November)

Reports To: Executive Director at The Bovina Center for Sustainability

The Bovina Center for Sustainability is seeking a versatile, high-energy team member to join our regenerative farm and educational center in Bovina, NY. This seasonal position runs from April through November, with strong potential to expand into a year-round position for a candidate capable of filling diverse leadership and operational roles. You will join a team dedicated to exploring sustainable land practices and providing a wide range of public programs, from fresh produce to farm-based educational workshops.

We are seeking a versatile and resourceful Horticulturist to lead our food production efforts. This is a unique "pioneer” position on the team that has a lot of autonomy. You will manage the daily rhythm of our off-grid greenhouse and gardens, overseeing the entire crop lifecycle from seed to harvest. Beyond plant production, you will be expected to participate in creating and delivering some of our educational programs centered around food production. While this position primarily focuses on and around our greenhouse, it does not operate in a silo as we approach managing our farm from a systems perspective. As such, this position will collaborate with the rest of the team to integrate sheep and poultry into food production (e.g., by using composting to build soil fertility).

Growth, Autonomy, & Mission Leadership

Nature of this Role: As the primary person on the ground in our vegetable/fruit production zones, you will independently manage the daily rhythm of the greenhouse and gardens. While you'll work in close partnership with the Executive Director, this role requires high levels of self-discipline and the ability to find joy in autonomous farm work. We are looking for a candidate who is not only a skilled grower but is also passionate about connecting their daily work to our broader educational mission.

The Opportunity for Collaborative Scaling: We aren’t just looking for someone to maintain a garden; we are looking for a program-builder. As you establish our food production systems and prove the viability of our off-grid models, you will work in close partnership with the Executive Director to scale our impact. You will have the opportunity to have a direct impact on:

• Mission-Aligned Expansion: Influence the design of future growing spaces and infrastructure.
• Programmatic Leadership: As production and funding increase, you will lead the transition from a solo operation to a team environment, eventually overseeing the mentorship of seasonal staff, interns, or volunteers.
• Strategic Partnership: You won’t just be executing a task list. You will serve as the technical lead for our horticultural strategy, working alongside the Executive Director to ensure our agricultural work is both productive and philosophically grounded in our mission.

We are looking for an individual who is comfortable starting small and working independently, but who has the heart for nonprofit work and the ambition to grow a program from the soil up.

Key Responsibilities and Roles

• Off-Grid Greenhouse Management: Manually regulate temperature and humidity through passive ventilation, shading, and thermal mass management.
• Food Crop Production: Design and execute a high-yield planting schedule for vegetables, fruits, and herbs suited for the Delaware County climate.
• Horticulture & Greenhouse Management: Lead greenhouse operations, including planning crop rotations, planting, managing, tending, and harvesting.
• Irrigation: Oversee watering schedules without automated systems to ensure efficient water use and plant health. Design and build an automated irrigation system.
• Season Extension: Utilize low-tech methods (cold frames, row covers, mulch) to maximize the growing season in a high-elevation environment.
• Soil Fertility: Manage organic soil amendments, composting, and crop rotation to ensure long-term productivity.
• Site Development: Provide input on the future installation of utilities and infrastructure upgrades to improve production efficiency.
• Distribution & Development: Manage produce supply for clients and actively work to establish new avenues for local food distribution.
• Landscape & Infrastructure: Implement landscaping projects around the greenhouse, including planting hedgerows and maintaining grounds.
• Integrated Systems: Generate compost and collaborate with the team to integrate animal husbandry (including sheep and heritage poultry) with produce production into a closed-loop system.
• Education & Public Engagement: Lead educational moments during events, teaching the public about food origins and sustainable growth. Manage the greenhouse as a dual-purpose production and classroom space.
• Field Operations: Manage food plots and lead small-scale building or repair projects.\

Requirements & Experience

• Proven Production: Multiple years of experience in food production, preferred experience on a large or commercial scale.
• Educational Background: A strong background in Horticulture and a demonstrated ability to teach or speak comfortably in front of diverse groups.
• Landscaping Interest: Experience or a deep interest in landscaping and site aesthetics.
• Problem Solving: A proactive "solution-finder" who tackles challenges with a positive, team-first attitude.
• Physical Capability: Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, remain on your feet all day, and safely lift/carry 50 lbs.

Desired Qualities

• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a farm environment where systems are still being built and refined.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in driving ( or willingness to learn) a tractor and zero-turn mower; comfort with hand/power tools.
• Personal Traits: Friendly, trustworthy, and genuinely passionate about food systems.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work a flexible 40-hour week (primarily M–F, but available for weekend classes and events).

Compensation

• Starting Pay: $17–$20 per hour, based on experience and background.

How to Apply: Please send a resume and a brief note about your farming philosophy to info@tbcfs.org. To see our work in action, visit The Bovina Center for Sustainability website

Job Type: Seasonal

Pay: $17.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: No less than 40 per week

Work Location: In person