Lux Organics Looking for Gardener at Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Full Time

Introduction

Lux Organics is a certified organic market garden (OFNZ) on one hectare in the village of Ngongotaha, Rotorua. It was founded in 2016 by Jenny Lux and Richard Gillies and has completed seven successful growing seasons. Lux Organics has on average a 45 household vege box membership programme (i.e. Community Supported Agriculture) and sells an equivalent amount of produce to a local organic co-operative with its own shop, as well as servicing the busy Rotorua hospitality sector. Produce is delivered by electric van and the sales operations are carried out from Monday to Friday (no weekend markets). We prioritise having weekends off, with only a small amount of regular harvesting and watering tasks to carry out on Saturdays and Sundays.

We are seeking two gardeners for 20-25 hours per week each, or one gardener working full-time for 40 to 45 hours per week for a fixed-term of approximately 9 months, commencing mid-August 2023 and concluding in mid-May 2024. There may be a possibility of a permanent contract at that point. The employee(s) will occupy shared accommodation on site. On site employees taking the job together need to be able to live and work together, so really only suits best friends or a partnership.

Skills, Competencies and Qualities Sought

Successful applicant(s) will be able to fulfil the following:

•                Interested in and passionate about organic market gardening

•                Relevant work/volunteer experience

•                Physically fit and able to carry out some challenging physical garden work, such as kneeling, bending, pushing, carrying and lifting

•                Comfortable with operating sharp tools, including power tools

•                A commitment to health and safety

•                Numerate and literate, including some knowledge or experience of spreadsheets

•                Reliable and conscientious, with good attention to detail

•                A good communicator

•                Full NZ driver licence

Gardener Duties

•                Garden bed preparation, including but not limited to crop removal, crop mulching, weeding, addition and incorporation of soil amendments

•                Planting and sowing of crops, by hand or with appropriate sowing equipment

•                Crop protection measures, such as installation of crop covers and greenhouses, application of organic sprays and release of biological control agents

•                Watering of greenhouse trays and pots, greenhouse crops and outdoor beds, where these are not covered by automated irrigation

•                Installation and maintenance of irrigation lines

•                Building, turning and monitoring of compost piles

•                Harvesting and rinsing of produce

•                Measuring and packing of produce

•                Delivery of produce

•                Pruning and tree care

•                General maintenance of pasture paths and headlands around the production gardens, including mowing and weed-eating

•                Maintenance and cleaning of tools and facilities, e.g. tool cleaning and oiling, cleaning of surfaces in chiller, produce rinsing area and greenhouses, washing of greenhouse films and fabrics

•                Generating, sending and printing of invoices for customers

•                Verbal and written communication with customers regarding orders

•                Identifying hazards and managing health and safety in the workplace

•                Other duties as specified by the employer in the undertaking of market gardening work