Employment Opportunities

  • Start Date: ASAP

    Length of term: 3 month provisional contract, then 9 months with option to extend

    Description: Ridgewood Ranch is an expansive 5,000 acre ranch with several hundred inhabitants in two neighborhoods. The ranch is operated and maintained by the Golden Rule Association, a non profit organization dedicated to service and stewardship both within and outside of the ranch. The Golden Rule Association is known for our work in agriculture, education, housing, charitable donation, and community building. Employees and Members of this organization are supported by an exciting team that works together and cares for one another. This position would be integrated into the work of the whole community!

    The Real Property Committee oversees the departments pertaining to the infrastructure and property including Grounds, Construction, Maintenance, Automotive and Water Systems.

    This position would work with the Real Property Committee and Department Heads to support ongoing needs for organization, upkeep, and hands-on work to keep operations running smoothly.

    Responsibilities may include: 

    • Working with and supporting our head of water systems

    • Supporting the construction team with various projects as needed

    • Creating and maintaining organizational systems in storage and tool rooms

    • Maintaining equipment or vehicles

    • Grounds maintenance, potentially including

    The right person for this job would not need to be skilled or experienced in any or all of these areas. Training and support would take place and we would tailor the position to the skills and interests of the individual. 

    Skills required:

    • Ability to safely lift 50+ pounds

    • Experience using a variety of tools

    • Ability to do task-oriented work independently and efficiently

    • Clear communication

    • Adaptability

    Ideal candidate has additional skills in one or more of these areas:

    • Automotive

    • Plumbing

    • Water distribution and treatment systems

    • Construction

    • Landscaping or grounds/tree work

    • Experience operating heavy equipment

    This position is a full-time hourly position with affordable housing on-site if available. Ideally this person would be interested in the community aspect of the ranch, with an intention of learning more about the Golden Rule Association and the values we strive to live by.

    To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to goldenruleRPC@gmail.com and we will be in touch.

    Compensation:

    • $17.42-$22/hour depending on experience for 40 hours/week

    • 1 hour of PTO for every 20 hours worked

    • Housing in an apartment or room in a shared house if available at affordable housing rates

  • Golden Rule Gardens is a farm located in Willits, CA on the 5,000 acre Ridgewood Ranch. It is a project of the Non-Profit, The Golden Rule Association.

    The farm grows food for a 40-member CSA, Farmstand, on-site communal dining hall, and the MendoLake Food Hub. The farm is split into two sites (The Buttercup Field and The Golden Rule Field) and run by two managers.

    The Buttercup Field primarily focuses on intensively managed crops like cut greens, herbs, flowers, peas, and cherry tomatoes. Buttercup is managed by-hand, using Biodynamic and organic principles. Buttercup also provides all of its own soil fertility by using cover crops and compost curated on the farm.

    The Golden Rule Field offers a wide diversity of crops and approaches to production. It employs the use of a tractor for longer growing season crops like corn, potatoes, winter squash, and sweet potatoes. Additionally, a wide diversity of cucurbits, solums, asters, alliums, umbells, amaranths, and brassicas are grown using “minimal-till,” intensive market garden methods. This field also includes perennial grapes, blackberries, and raspberries.

    This position will fulfill duties at both sites (~70% at GR field, 30% at Buttercup), offering an opportunity to experience a wide array of farming scales, techniques, and tools.

    The Golden Rule Association is a member-run community with around 120 on-site residents that hosts several agricultural operations. We operate a community dining hall where meals are prepared and shared several times a week, as well as other fun community activities! Employees are welcome to participate in the broader community at Ridgewood Ranch!

    Shared housing is available for this position. Possibility of non shared housing.

    Position: Farm Crew Member

    Location: Golden Rule Gardens at Ridgewood Ranch: Willits, California

    Commitment: Full-time (40 hours/week), May 1st through November 30th

    Compensation: $17.42/Hour, housing available but not included in compensation

    Qualifications:

    • Strong communication skills

    • Interest in farming

    • Ability to lift 50 lbs repeatedly

    • Ability to work outside daily, including in inclement weather (heat, smoke, rain, etc.)

    • Ability to work both independently and in a team environment (strongly encouraged)

    • Willingness to be flexible, work long hours, and apply oneself where needed

    Responsibilities:

    General farm work including, but not limited to: seeding, planting, weeding, bed prep, harvesting, washing/packing, irrigation, and general farm maintenance.

    Opportunities:

    Learn Biodynamic and bio-intensive principles/ practices, as well as crop planning, marketing, and farm-management. Exhibiting qualified candidates can also learn to operate heavy equipment (tractors, excavators, backhoes).

    Interested parties: Please email a Cover Letter and Resume to goldenrulegardenscsa@gmail.com