Assistant Manager, Garden

Cloverdale CA

Description

Companies, like great wines, are not just produced; rather they are carefully cultivated. We are seeking passionate individuals to join our team at Eco Terreno where we employ our experience in winemaking with time honored traditions in a healthy respect for the land. With 140-acres of Biodynamically and organically certified land, planted primarily to vineyards in Alexander Valley near Cloverdale, we are one of the leading wine farms in Northern California. We believe our choices are opportunities to directly impact our future. We embrace the challenges and strive to nurture our planet and its inhabitants. By committing to being part of the solution, as opposed to part of the problem, we hope to inspire others to do the same. It may not be the most profitable or quickest path to success, but it is the most responsible and caring. We are confident small steps create greater strides and are grateful to share our journey with you. As a company we echo the holistic habitat of our farm and thoughtfully embrace intention in everything we do. The caring hands that tend our fruit and the participants in our journey to share our wine with you, are valued as friends and family. By extending strong living wages and benefits to our team, which are far above industry standards, we are authentic in our purpose and our passion. SUMMARY • Under the direction of the Eco Terreno Vineyards (ETV) leadership team, assist with duties required to grow and maintain the company’s Biodynamic garden and farmscape programs. Key responsibilities will entail: capacity to engage in ways to prototype and build out the existing/planned production gardens, orchards and insectaries, growing the potential of these areas as value-added product for future direct-to-consumer sales, incorporate food crops into the vineyard and property, initiate propagation and planting of perennial native plants to increase biodiversity of wine farm, oversee and manage wine farm team, and enrich current garden and farmscaping spaces. • Integrate Eco Terreno’s conceptual understanding of food gardens, insectaries and farmscape development for a healthy wine farm GARDENS, INSECTARIES, FARMSCAPE ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Ensure all garden and farmscape operations are completed in accordance with direction from ETV leadership • Create and implement with supporting documents an annual/seasonal crop seeding and succession planting plan • Develop, and implement, on-going budgets for production and perennial gardens including infrastructure • Implement and oversee capital development projects relating to garden and farmscape areas (e.g., planting new spaces, building garden infrastructure) • Integrate, coordinate and lead garden programs with all wine farm programs and practices • Through collaboration with the chef regarding vision to develop our culinary garden program • Using biodynamic and regenerative principles; develop and track fertility plans, understand disease and pest pressures and develop and implement plans, accordingly • Familiarity with standards and practices for organic, regenerative, and biodynamic certification for consideration and implementation of all growing/processing related actions. Maintain all records, and participate in process as needed, for current and future certifications • Interface with the guests about farm practices (giving tours, talks, workshops etc.) • In collaboration with marketing, hospitality and culinary teams create and develop value-added products from farmscape • Maintain, map and catalog of all perennial plants in the gardens, insectaries, and orchards within the property, in collaboration with ETV Leadership team • Implement perennial propagation schedule to increase the biodiversity on the wine farm • Collaborate with all seasonal biodynamic activities • Participate and assist in winefarm program work as needed/directed JOB REQUIREMENTS • Education/Experience: BS in a Plant Science-related field preferred • Comprehensive gardening experience; 4+ years required • Familiarity with biodynamics, regenerative, organic and perma-culture practices in the field and greenhouse preferred • Working knowledge of a regenerative farm growing system, including the distribution and transportation of produce preferred • Working knowledge of diverse plantings and integrated cropping/planting systems, plant physiology, morphology, and water relations. Basic knowledge of soils, soil chemistry, plant nutrition, and pest management required • Forklift certificate preferred • Ability to work and contribute as a team member • Willingness to work and grow in all capacities that a growing wine farm requires • Must possess a valid driver’s license and meet the company’s automobile insurance requirements