AY CBWS Sharing Our Roots Farm Assistant (WS-NST3)

Job Title: Sharing Our Roots Farm Assistant (WS-NST3)

Classification: Student Employee (non-exempt)

Name and Address of Employer: St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057

If the position requires the student to work off campus, provide the name and address here:

Sharing Our Roots Farm, 4905 315th St. W., Northfield, MN 55057

Department Name: Community Based Work Study / America Reads

Unit Number (5 digits): 10-13001 / 10-13000

Length of Position: See Employment Authorization

Contact Person/Supervisor: Sharing Our Roots Farm Manager

Wage Range: $15.50/hour

Description of the Position: (Purpose of the Position):

- Support the Farm Manager and Cohort Manager with on-farm projects, including land and infrastructure improvements, field/garden management, maintenance, farmer support, and other tasks.

- Build familiarity with common land sharing models, regenerative agricultural practices, food sovereignty, land access, and land restoration work.

- Build relationships with regional food systems community, including SOR farmers and staff

- Develop skills in farming, physical labor, and food systems

Transferable Skills:

Communication: Work with a supervisor and collaborate with other staff and farmers. Communicate professionally with community partners, volunteers, customers and other student workers via phone, and in email.

- Community and Belonging: So much of what we do at Sharing Our Roots is based in relationship and community. This will strengthen your ability to work cross culturally, and see firsthand how important a rich community is to help support our work.

Critical Thinking: Farming inherently has a lot of problem solving involved. While you’ll receive plenty of support from staff, there will also be times where you’ll be empowered to solve puzzles by yourself as best you can.

Duties and Responsibilities:

- Provide project and field support to the Farm Manager and Commons Cohort Manager at Sharing Our Roots as needed . Projects may include painting signs, cleaning/maintaining shared spaces, supporting student projects, engaging with farmers during training/feedback sessions, preparing for on-farm events, or supporting Commons Cohort farmers.

- Assist in day-to-day farm site maintenance (mowing, weeding, irrigation, planting, harvesting) and infrastructure improvement projects (building tables, benches, greenhouses maintenance, etc.)

- Support staff for events (site prep, clean up, and answering questions from visitors)

- Occasional support with our other programs of Community Gardens or Natural Lands

Other Requirements:

- Must be able to work at minimum four hours per week on-site (preferably consecutive in one or two shifts)

- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds

- Experience with sustainable agriculture, landscaping, food systems or food justice preferred

- Experience with hand tools, lawn mowers and/or weed wackers preferred

- Demonstrated work ethic with ability to multitask, do manual labor in varied weather conditions, and be goal oriented in completing tasks

- Team player who is also able to work independently and manage their own schedule

- Must have reliable transportation to and from the farm

- Proficiency in Swahili, Arabic, or Spanish preferred, but not required

- Ability to comply with our food and physical safety standards

Physical and Environmental Factors:

This position requires crouching, kneeling/crawling, stooping, twisting/pivoting, climbing/balancing, reaching overhead, grasping/handling, pushing/pulling, lifting objects up to 50 lbs., operating hand tools, and operating equipment or machinery to perform the essential functions. It also requires exposure to loud noise, respiratory factors, chemicals, vibrations, wet or humid conditions indoors, extreme cold, extreme heat, and proximity hazards, as well as rare exposure to heights or cramped quarters to perform the essential functions. Protective equipment is required to perform some essential functions. Candidates must possess the ability to safely perform the physical work required of all duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Schedule/Location:

Hours: Approximately 5 hours/week

Time frame: Academic year, starting in September 2026.

Updated: 9/1/26

This job description is for general information purposes. It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position. This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.