Farm Production Manager Salida,

Farm Production Manager job at Mountain Roots. Salida, CO.

Service Site:
Community & School Farm
Address: 1455 Holman Ave, Salida, CO 81201
Start Date: 1/13/25 End Date: 12/14/25

Localizing our food system is one of the most impactful and actionable steps we can take to solve so many of our global problems. Across the central Rocky Mountains and southwestern Colorado, Ameri Corps service with Mountain Roots Healthy Futures Program builds social, economic, and environmental health for rural communities. We work with organizations throughout the region who are leaders in their fields, activating community-driven initiatives including Farm to School, Regenerative Agriculture & Community Gardens, Hunger Solutions (Community Food Security), and other programs in public health, conservation, and the environment.

With Healthy Futures Ameri Corps, you’ll build a bridge from college to career while building and sustaining healthy communities, healthy people, and a healthy environment.

Guidestone Colorado is dedicated to growing a vibrant agricultural future through education, community building and partnerships. Guidestone’s programs provide a continuum of engagement for agricultural learning which enables community members of all ages to participate in meaningful experiences and gain practical skills. Our strategies and programming are founded on the belief that these experiences will ultimately lead to resilient local food systems, healthier youth, adults, and communities, and a vibrant future for local agriculture.

Service Description Farm to School (F2S) Ameri Corps Members are part of a team that serves with Guidestone Colorado Farm to School staff and volunteers to connect the community to the earth and their food, as part of our district-wide Farm to School program, bridging gaps that enable partner organizations to be more efficient and effective at providing healthy food to rural youth.

F2S Members engage youth and community members to build, maintain, and expand farm production through a start-to-finish growing season. Programs include farm field trips, volunteer work days, guest visits, and our weekly summer Community Supported Agriculture farm share program. Members provide outreach and engagement at community events to promote Farm to School and the organization’s programs and mission. Members gain exposure to organic agriculture, crop planning, volunteer engagement, and participate in ongoing professional development.

Guidestone seeks a Farm Production Manager to lead the production at the Community & School Farm (C&S Farm), including starting plants from seeds in our greenhouse, preparing beds in the high tunnels and production fields, leading volunteers to plant, seed, cultivate, and harvest crops, and creating and maintaining a vibrant community farm space. The C&S Farm is a 4-acre parcel owned by the Salida School District.

Guidestone holds a 20-year lease for the Farm to School Program to grow food for school cafeterias, the hospital and community, and lead farm education and community service opportunities on the site. The C&S Farm has a 24’x48’ high tunnel, a 16’x24’ movable high tunnel, and a 42’ diameter dome greenhouse to extend the season, along with a 3⁄4 acre production field, small orchard, and raised beds in the front garden.

In addition, the Farm Production Lead will support local food systems efforts through outreach and engagement with the Chaffee Local Food Coalition.

• Manage and improve infrastructure in all growing spaces at the farm
• In coordination with the Farm to School Director manage crop planning and preparation for spring plant sales
• In coordination with the Farm to School Director evaluate and develop crop planning for food production for the schools, hospital and farmstand
• In coordination with the Farm to School Director oversee farm staff and volunteers
• Maintain harvest records, produce invoices, farm activity log and crop records
• Expand our partnerships with local food systems through engagement with community partners
• Improve our low‑till methods using occultation tarps and cover cropping
• Expand the…