JOIN THE WILD IRIS TEAM!

We are a 1-acre diversified flower farm in Ridgefield, CT, located in Fairfield County, about 50 miles north of New York City. Our focus is on growing high-quality, specialty cut flowers in a regenerative and organic manner. We also offer floral design, operate the area’s first flower truck (a pop-up floral studio) and host farm classes/workshops, virtually and in-person. We are farmer-owned and family-run. You can read more about our farm here.

The cut-flower production arm of our business is expanding rapidly. On roughly 1 acre, spread across the farm, we grow an assortment of long-lasting perennial flowers, shrubs, and high-value annual flowers, including winter and spring tulips, lisianthus, peonies, dahlias, lilies, and heirloom chrysanthemums. Outlets currently include two weekly farmers markets (Ridgefield & North Salem), wholesale to florists and retail shops in the tri-state area, our local CSA, seasonal workshops, supplying the flower truck weekly, and custom floral design for events.

Our farm practices all-natural methods, integrating regenerative principles of agriculture as much as possible. All that we do is guided by respect for the land, the animals, our team members and customers. We are a micro operation, and we all share the workload and contribute equally to add beauty and joy to our communities and spread small farm values. Most important to know, behind all the picturesque beauty (and there is a lot of that on a flower farm!), there is also an incredible amount of hard work, grit, mud, sweat, success and failure, and a deep soulful satisfaction in what we do. We’d love for you to join our farm team!

We are looking for one full-time field manager to join the Wild Iris Farming crew starting in January 2025. Our field manager will be responsible for all farming responsibilities and will work closely with owner to complete all farm tasks throughout the year. 

Flower-specific responsibilities: Bed prep & turnover, seed-starting & maintenance, planting, fertilizing, weeding, pruning and dead-heading flowers, irrigation set up & maintenance, harvesting flowers, post-harvest processing, cleaning, preparing and packing flowers for retail/wholesale outlets, farmers market prep, working the farmers market, washing and sterilizing buckets, shears, trays and other equipment/spaces, as needed. Updating our Standard Operating Procedures manual, as needed, with an accurate portrayal of your daily and weekly duties.

Other responsibilities (as needed): Assisting with flower truck prep and event work/floral designing, assisting with on-farm events, set-up and clean-up.

•  This position is paid hourly, $23 an hour, for 40 hours per week + flowers to take home, most weeks. Farming accessories (gloves, protective eyewear, etc.) and equipment will be provided.

•  Early morning working hours and Saturdays (for the markets) are essential, plus some full weekends may be required. This commitment is for 2025 and hopefully beyond! 

•  Employees are responsible for housing and transport to and from work.

•  English language skills required. Also, a love and appreciation of flowers and the outdoors!

•  Please note, no smoking or pets are permitted on the farm, indoors or outdoors.

Farm work is one of the oldest and greatest frontiers for hard-working, quality-minded, honest people, who value working with their hands, on the land, and creating beauty and sustenance with nature. The rewards are many, if you value planting seeds, bulbs, corms and tubers and watching them grow and flourish; and, equally, if you are a keen observer who loves a challenge and can catch problems as they arise, especially in a climate of extreme weather conditions. 

*Please note we are looking for someone with prior farming experience.

You’ll need to value hard physical work and working outside in nature, both in hot and cold weather, rainy and sunny and snowy, and everything in between. Ideally, you’ll be an early riser, waking up before dawn, and starting work with us in the quiet early hours to beat the elements. If you find joy in the untold wonders that nature provides and also have the countenance and cool, quick-thinking to deal with the many real challenges of farming + climate change, you’ll probably really enjoy this job. 

Success in farming requires many things. On the top of the list is a physical and mental capacity to contribute daily to an often rigorous, fast-paced and deeply rewarding agricultural practice. 

Qualities you’ll need: efficiency, the ability to work quickly and thoughtfully, to be organized and attentive to detail, and to be observant and able to flag potential problems in the field and tunnel.

You’ll be working with the essence of living things every day (plants, flowers, animals, bugs and humans) and asked to deal with both repetitive tasks and the unexpected twists and turns presented by our natural environment. Applicants should be self-motivated, reliable and punctual, adaptable, comfortable working solo and with others, eager to learn and take direction, have strong time-management and multi-tasking skills, and be in good physical condition with the ability to perform repetitive tasks such as heavy lifting, grasping, standing, bending, squatting and walking on unsteady ground. 

Previous farming (but not necessarily with flowers) experience is essential to this position. Prior experience in physical or service work is also highly valued here, including restaurant kitchens, bakeries, flower shops, construction, landscaping, carpentry, cleaning, or other physically rigorous work that requires stamina, physical strength, flexibility, measured movement, and attention to detail. Passion for flowers is a big plus. 

You’ll need to value hard physical work and working outside in nature, both in hot and cold weather,If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to Christine at wildirisflowertruck@gmail.comand let us know why you would like to join our team! 

References will be requested for serious candidates and a background check will be required for final applicants. If your qualifications match what we’re looking for, we will contact you to schedule a phone interview, followed by an on-farm paid working trial.