Goodfoot Farm
GOODFOOT FARM
1 APPRENTICESHIP
FULL TIME (36-42 hours/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: May-November
$16/HR
LOCATION: Kings Valley/Philomath (Willamette Valley Chapter)
YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 14
PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 2
PRACTICES: Biodynamic, Certified Organic
ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 2 vegetable, 1.5 berries, 0.5 tree fruit, plus forage
Vegetable Production, Fruit, Nursery Stock
ON-FARM HOUSING? No
VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English
Women-Owned/Operated
The farmer and farm philosophy is aligned with biodynamic agriculture and sociocracy. Goodfoot Farm’s goal is to implement an agricultural model that is ecologically sound, socially responsible, and economically viable.
FARM OVERVIEW
Goodfoot Farm is located on the Luckiamute River in Hoskins, 20 miles west of Corvallis. We grow organic and biodynamic vegetables, fruits and berries year-round for farm members, farmers' markets, restaurants and local retail.
Our mission is to provide unconventionally grown food for the people of our local community. To us, unconventionally grown means we take a systems approach in our efforts to balance our food production with our responsibility for our local forest, field and river life and with the health of our planet and people. We work hard to minimum our use of off-farm and petroleum dependent inputs and practice a method of agriculture that strives to emulate a natural system. Fundamental to the success of our production system is the integration of animals for fertility and weed management, our selection of crops and cultivars for pest and disease control and our practice of “farmscaping” which provides habitat for native pollinators and natural predators of pests. In addition to our ecological practices, our goal on the farm is to implement farmer centered practices based on principles of sociocracy and collaboration. It is our belief that human labor is at the heart of ecologically responsible small-scale vegetable growing, and the care we express in our work on the farm and the health of our relationships with our co-workers and the earth is critical to the quality and vitality of the food we produce. .
Production on the farm is both human and tractor powered. A Kubota tractor is used for primary tillage, 2 BCS tractors are used for bed prep and cultivation. Most weeding, planting, and harvesting is people powered. Farm crew (in addition to farm owners) is 1-4 depending on time of year.
Kings Valley is a rural community 30 minutes outside of Corvallis, a college town; farm owners live on the farm. Apprentices will have access to forest and river. There is some farming in the local community; lots of neighboring parcels are in forestry.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
It is our belief and intention that work on a small scale diversified farm is a skilled occupation. Our farmers are integrated into most aspects of the farm production system and are expected to fully engage in their practice of agriculture. Significant time is spent orienting and training farmhands to tasks and practices and they are expected to act with agency and authority in these roles. Farm operations are conducted with a management system called holacracy which supports a high degree of autonomy and ownership.
Training methods include verbal instruction, modeling/demonstration, and written resources. Check-ins and field walks happen regularly.
QUALIFICATIONS
No prior experience necessary, however, Goodfoot has a desire to work with individuals who are seriously exploring farming as an occupation and have an appreciation for production agriculture. A compulsive need to grow food in relationship with the earth is desirable!
Qualifications include a high attention to detail, ability to manage competing priorities, being self-organized, a strategic thinker and systems thinker, having a high degree of professionalism in work and person, excellent communication skills, and an interest in meeting people where they are at.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
$16-$18/hr. DOE, depending on experience. Indiciduals starting at $16/hr have access to free produce from the farm. Most work gear is provided. No on-farm housing is offered. Corvallis is a college town 30 minutes away; other communities are also about 20-30 minutes away. There are limited local, rural opportunities for housing.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
We do not have traditional hierarchical labor systems; the farm operates on principles of sociocracy. We practice collaboration and transparency..
PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS
“I appreciated how available and communicative the mentorship was, and the focus on comprehensive training to inspire confidence and autonomy. I also appreciated the conscious choices around how we practiced farming, and I understood that there was a solid reason for why we did everything the way we did--always with room for experimentation and new ideas.” - 2024
Beth Hoinacki