Farmer

Farmhand/Assistant to Farm Manager at Institute of Soil & Soul | Long Grove, Illinois

Overview

The Institute of Soil and Soul is seeking an experienced Farm Hand to work alongside our Farm Manager in the daily care and operation of our regenerative organic farm for the 2027 season (April 1-November)

Soil and Soul is a 8.5 acre nonprofit regenerative organic farm located in Long Grove, IL guided by Jewish values. We give back to the community through donating 99% of the food we grow to local food pantries, hands-on education, and opportunities to gather and care for the land.

We are looking for someone with a few years of hands-on farming experience, particularly in vegetable production, and a background or interest in orchard management, composting, and pasture-raised poultry. The ideal candidate is dependable, hardworking, attentive to detail, and comfortable taking direction while working independently on assigned tasks.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Farm Manager with daily farm operations, following established priorities, schedules, and quality standards.
• Support vegetable production through bed preparation, seeding, transplanting, cultivation, irrigation, harvesting, and crop turnover.
• Wash, pack, weigh, and properly store produce for distribution to food pantry partners.
• Assist with orchard care, including mulching, irrigation, pruning, fertility applications, harvesting, and monitoring for pests and disease.
• Help manage compost systems, including collecting materials, building and turning piles, monitoring conditions, and applying finished compost.
• Care for pasture-raised poultry, including feeding, watering, moving mobile shelters and fencing, maintaining clean housing, and monitoring animal well-being.
• Operate and maintain farm equipment, including a BCS walk-behind tractor, mower attachments, seeders, irrigation equipment, and hand tools.
• Keep beds, paths, tools, and work areas orderly through regular cultivation and preventive maintenance.
• Report crop conditions, equipment issues, supply needs, and animal health concerns promptly to the Farm Manager.
• Assist with harvest records and other basic farm documentation.
• Work respectfully alongside staff, volunteers, and program participants, helping demonstrate farm tasks when needed.
• Follow safe equipment operation, produce handling, and animal care practices.

Qualifications

• Approximately two or more seasons of hands-on farming experience, with a strong foundation in vegetable production.
• Experience in one or more additional areas: orchard management, composting, regenerative soil management, or pasture-raised poultry.
• Ability to complete assigned tasks efficiently and carefully, with consistent attention to quality.
• Reliability, punctuality, and a strong work ethic.
• Clear communication and willingness to receive feedback, ask questions, and follow the Farm Manager’s direction.
• Ability to work independently after instruction and contribute positively to a small team.
• Experience using farm hand tools and small agricultural equipment; familiarity with a BCS walk-behind tractor is a plus.
• Comfort working outdoors in changing weather and performing physically demanding tasks, including bending, kneeling, carrying supplies, and moving harvested produce, with reasonable accommodation where needed.
• Interest in regenerative organic agriculture, food access, and the mission of Soil & Soul. Jewish identity or prior knowledge of Jewish agriculture is not required.

Working Relationships

This position reports to the Farm Manager and provides dependable support across the farm’s production and maintenance needs. We are looking for someone who takes pride in supporting a shared work plan, communicates when challenges arise, and helps ensure that tasks are completed on time and to a high standard.

An Inclusive Workplace

Soil & Soul is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, faiths, and identities. You do not need to be Jewish or have prior knowledge of Jewish traditions to work here. We ask that all team members bring respect for different cultures, openness to learning, and a commitment to working together in a welcoming environment.

Position Details

• Location: Long Grove, Illinois
• Season: April 1 through November
• Compensation: $22 or $25 per hour, depending on experience and fit for the role.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and a brief introduction describing your farming experience, relevant skills, and interest in working with Soil & Soul to [email protected]. Please include your availability and two professional references. Applicants who do not submit a brief introduction describing their experience will not be considered.

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person