Employment Opportunities

Come farm with us! We have one position still open for 2024!

Common Thread CSA is a 17-acre vegetable farm in Central New York that grows mixed vegetables using sustainable methods for on farm and delivered CSA, and some wholesale. Operating at this scale, we use a mix of hand and mechanized techniques, offering a wide variety of skills for farmers to learn and hone. We are a family farm with two farmer/owners each with over 20 years of experience growing vegetables for CSA. We enjoy sharing what we know with and learning from our farm crew. Our scale allows motivated employees to learn and practice a wide variety of skills and to move into management positions as they gain experience. We prioritize soil health, using a permanent raised bed tillage system and planting about half the farm to cover crops. We work to make our food accessible to all by running a sponsored share program and donating food to local soup kitchens and food pantries. We work to build a positive and safe workplace and welcome diversity of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age, family status and religion.

Work/Learn Positions

Come learn with us!  We have mentored dozens of future farmers, farm educators, and community food advocates over the 20 years that we have been managing farms.  We love to farm with, learn from and share information with others who have also “caught the farming bug”.  Work/Learn positions are full time, full season (8-10 month) positions on the farm focused on learning a variety of skills necessary for running and managing a farm while working on the farm.  Participants are involved in all aspects of the farm for a full growing season including greenhouse work, transplanting, harvest, wash and pack, weed management, CSA distribution, tractor work, pest control, general farm maintenance and more.   We help employees participating in the work/learn program build agriculture knowledge by setting up biweekly evening education sessions and field trips on topics such as soil management, cover cropping, business planning, weed identification, CSA management and more as well as setting up field trips to other farms in our region.  We pass on information about farmer education events going on in our county and region and make sure that interested apprentices have time off to attend community events that conflict with work time.

We seek work/learn participants who are interested a mutual commitment to building their farming skills both during the workday and by engaging in learning activities outside of the workday, who know that they love doing physical work outdoors, and are curious to learn all aspects vegetable farming.  At least 3 months experience on a vegetable farm and  excellent references, including one farm supervisor is required. The scale of our farm creates a lot of opportunities for motivated participants to learn a wide variety of skills and we love to teach apprentices who are eager to learn.  We encourage work/learn employees who enjoy the farm work to return in positions of greater responsibility in future years.

Field Crew Positions

Field crew members help with greenhouse, harvest, transplanting, packing, and general field work. We look for positive team members who enjoy working outside; are detail oriented; enjoy the athletic challenge of fast paced physical labor; and find joy and meaning in growing healthy food for their local community.  We are looking for crew members with at least 3 months experience on a vegetable farm and excellent references from past supervisors.

Farm Management Positions

We seek farm team members who have at least two seasons of prior experience on vegetable farm(s) similar to our scale, have good communication skills, enjoy working as part of a team, and are excited to help produce healthy veggies for local communities.  While the job descriptions below lay out primary responsibilities, all positions require flexibility in responding to the needs of the farm and all on farm management positions will provide crew leadership for other tasks as time allows.  Applicants who are interested in these positions, but who have less than the required experience are encouraged to start as farm apprentices as a stepping stone to a management position. If applicants have a good amount of experience but can’t commit the time needed for a management position, they are encouraged to apply for field crew where they can have a more flexible schedule but we will consider their prior experience when setting their pay rate and assignments.

  • Harvest Manager: Position filled for 2024. The harvest manager is responsible for leading and supervising the crew during harvest and post-harvest operations. The position works closely with the farm and CSA manager (Wendy) and the wash station manager to ensure that the farm’s produce harvest goals are completed. This includes correct quantity, quality, and post-harvest handling on all produce until it is delivered to the wash station; training the crew in best harvesting and handling methods; and maintaining a positive and safe work environment.
  • Wash and Pack Manager: Position filled for 2024. The wash and pack manager is responsible for processing and recordkeeping for all produce after harvest and supervising crew members when they assist in wash and pack. They work closely with the farm and CSA manager (Wendy) and the harvest manager to ensure that the wash and pack goals are completed. This includes correct quantity, quality, and post-harvest handling on all produce after it is delivered to the wash station; training the crew in best (harvesting and) handling methods; and maintaining a positive and safe work environment.
  • Greenhouse Manager: Position filled for 2024. The greenhouse manager is responsible for greenhouse and hoop house care 6 days/week March-August, supported by the farm managers. This can be a part time, seasonal position or full time paired with other responsibilities such as assistant harvest manager or wash and pack manager.
  • Assistant Harvest Manager: Position filled for 2024. The assistant harvest manager works with the harvest manager and the farm and CSA manager to lead and supervise the crew during harvest and help to complete harvest goals. This position can be paired with other responsibilities such as greenhouse manager, tractor work, and/or leading the crew on non-harvest days.
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