WORKING THEORY FARM
Hillsboro, Oregon
(25 minutes from downtown Portland)
Non-profit Farm Operations Leader
Introductory Letter
Dear fellow farmer,
About a decade ago, I left a career as a public high school teacher with the hope of
leveraging my experience with struggling city kids through the development of a farm-
based education program. I imagined the opportunities for building personal and social
responsibility through the day-to-day work of the farm, trusting youth to steward the care
of crops and livestock alike. I quickly came to understand how little I actually knew
about agriculture, and promptly signed up for year-long apprenticeship on an
educational farm.
If the apprenticeship taught me one thing, it was how much more I had yet to learn, and
I established Working Theory Farm in 2011 to first become a better farmer and then
eventually to invite youth and community volunteers to join in the effort. I landed on a
rocky piece of soil in Vancouver, WA that first season and taught myself how to start a
farm from scratch. I marketed my produce directly to consumers through a one-man
farmer’s market, driving around greater Portland in a step van. I worked 18 hours a day
and, in hindsight, did just about everything the hardest way possible.
In 2013 I found myself in the right place at the right time, and moved the farm to 24
acres of leased land in SE Hillsboro, OR. We are just inside of Portland’s Urban Growth
Boundary, minutes away from the corporate headquarters of Intel, Nike and dozens of
other international corporations. While we have witnessed suburban creep come right
up to the edges of our fields, the farm remains a haven. Although our immediate
community is now best known for growing subdivisions, the soil here is among the most
fertile in the world. Over six seasons working these fields with my hands, shovels and
tractors, I swear that I’ve found more horseshoes than rocks. The water in the creek is
clean and plentiful, and the wildlife abounds. Even the deer, coyote and gophers add
some charm! We have pollinators galore thanks to immense biodiversity between the
forest, the fields, the creek and, honestly, the abundant flower gardens of our new
suburban neighbors.
We have built a strong reputation as a reliable purveyor of organic fruits and vegetables
to Portland’s finest restaurants and grocery stores. We have several acres of annual
veggies, a couple of acres of perennial fruit, and two orchards with fruit trees ranging
from two to 72 years old. We raise hogs, lambs and chickens on pasture, which we
process on farm and sell directly to individual buyers. We have a small roadside stand
where we market veggies, eggs and Halloween pumpkins to our immediate neighbors,
who continue to grow in number. Without any real plan, Working Theory has grown over
these past seven seasons to look exactly like the idyllic, diversified operation folks likely
imagine when they dream of starting a farm.
“But,” you might ask, “what about the youth!?” In truth, I got caught up in the seasonal
iteration, improvement and exploration of farming, and I never came up for air long
enough to reexamine what we are trying to accomplish out here. This year marks an
end of that pattern, and I could not be more excited about what lies ahead this season.
We are partnering with a local juvenile shelter to provide an ongoing collaborative
fieldwork opportunity, which will work in parallel with the shelter’s culinary skills
program. Cohorts of youth aged 12 to 17 will come out to the farm three days a week,
gaining confidence and competence in the farm’s various tasks. The goal is to make the
visits feel not like occasional field trips, but to foster a developing sense of responsibility
and investment in the outcomes.
We are also building additional relationships that will bring corporate volunteer groups to
the farm, providing an exponential increase in the productive labor force, as well as an
opportunity for young people to act as leaders among an audience of adult
professionals, demonstrating their expertise and building soft skills along the way. We
will produce a massive amount of quality food as a consequence of these efforts, the
bulk of which will be donated through the shelter, the Oregon Food Bank, and other
local food distribution hubs. We will continue to sell a portion of the crops and the
shares of meat to support the mission-driven work of the farm.
I could not be more excited to begin this season. Yet, as you surely know, all of this is
going to take quite a lot of doing, and that is where I need some help. This farm really is
a special place and I am hoping to finally use it to its greatest potential this season. It’s
not essential that you possess every bit of experience listed in the job description; any
of those pieces can be taught or learned on the job if necessary. I’m much more
interested in your commitment to the work, your ability to lead and be part of a team,
your interest helping to shape this program, and your character as a human being.
You’ll be my neighbor, too, so kindness is a prerequisite.
In compensation, I am committed to making this a sustainable job in every way
possible. I will pay you fairly for your work, provide year-round on-farm housing and
health benefits. I don’t buy the narrative (that farmers promote, by the way) that the
work of small-scale agriculture somehow necessitates long work days for low wages.
We will work hard, but the hours will be balanced and the rewards just. For my part, I
promise to keep the coffee flowing and the freezer stocked with popsicles. I will do my
best to set you up for success while giving you plenty of room to screw things up (and
then fix them) on your own.
At the very least, I can guarantee that it will never be boring. The work is often
contradictory—somehow both communal and solitary, utterly repetitive until you come
upon something you’re completely unprepared for. We care deeply about the animals
we raise, making every decision with their welfare in mind, yet there is no question of
their fate at the end of the season. Farming is somehow both simple and insanely
complicated, and you’d be in good company doing it here. When you need a break, I
promise you can use my kids’ trampoline -- as long as you offer to jump with them when
they want a turn.
I’m excited to gather a few like-minded folks and build upon the vision together. It’s
going to be a great season and the beginning of a new era at Working Theory. Please
don’t hesitate to reach out if any of this resonates with you.
Non-profit Farm Operations Leader
Job Description
Working Theory Farm is a certified organic diversified farm focused on building confidence and
cultivating lasting life skills for at-risk youth by working the land, providing peer mentorship, and
improving community access to fresh, healthy food.
Situated on 24 acres just inside of Portland’s Urban Growth Boundary, Working Theory was
established in 2011 and has earned a strong reputation among Portland’s chefs and grocery
buyers for producing the highest quality fruit and vegetables. The farm also raises hogs, lambs
and chickens, all entirely on pasture, which we market directly to individual consumers in the
community.
The 2019 season marks a significant change in Working Theory’s mission, focusing on the
opportunity to share in the farm’s labor and the fruit thereof. We are partnering with a number of
community organizations, including a local juvenile shelter, as well as other local businesses.
Food from the farm will support the shelter’s culinary skills program and the efforts of the
Oregon Food Bank, and the remainder will be sold commercially in order to generate revenue in
service of the overall mission.
Job Description:
The Farm Operations Manager will develop and manage all aspects of the Working Theory
Farm production process. Duties include overseeing planting, cultivation and harvest of
produce, livestock management, managing farm staff, and collaborating with community
partners, such as youth programs and corporate volunteer groups who visit and work on the
farm. The ideal candidate has strong agricultural and farm management knowledge and a
passion for using food as a vehicle for positive social change.
Responsibilities:
● Supervise farm staff and volunteer groups
● Oversee maintenance of farm infrastructure and landscape
● Collaborate on development and implementation of crop plan
● Collaborate on development and implementation livestock plan
● Coordinate production with business and community partner needs
● Oversee general field maintenance
● Collaborate with community partners such county juvenile justice programs, Oregon
Food Bank and corporate volunteer teams
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
● Proven ability to be effective with minimal supervision
● Experience working with farm machinery
● Experience implementing organic growing practices
● Working knowledge of farm infrastructure, including fencing and irrigation
● Self-motivated and solution-oriented
● Ability to delegate effectively and use available talent to the best advantage
● Experience working with diverse populations
● Ability to complete repetitive physical work in unpredictable conditions
● Current driver’s license and safe driving record
● Interest in working with at-risk youth
● Passion for broadening access to fresh, healthy food
Working Conditions:
● Exposure to temperature variations and wet conditions
● May walk and work on uneven surfaces
● Requires reaching above and below shoulder height
● Repetitive use of hands with power grasping and fine manipulation
● Repetitive stretching and lifting required
● Iteration of duties
This is a year-round position with significant downtime between November and February. On-
farm, independent housing is provided year-round and health benefits are included. Salary for
this position is commensurate with experience, but will at minimum constitute a sustainable
living wage for the area. The 2019 Farm Operations Manager will be joining Working Theory
Farm at the beginning of its evolution as a social enterprise serving at-risk youth and improving
access to fresh, healthy food. The right candidate will have the opportunity to help shape this
program and grow into new operational or leadership roles. Start date: ASAP.
To apply, please send resume and cover letter to info@workingtheoryfarm.com with the subject
“Farm Operations Manager.” Please apply ASAP. Applications will be considered on a rolling
basis. The deadline to apply is March 1.
