Biodynamic Farmer and Land Manager

Coleg Plas Dwbl sits on biodynamic farmland at the foot of the Preseli Mountains in the Welsh countryside. The 100-acre location offers a wealth of natural materials that are used in our curriculum crafts. These include clay for pottery, slate and stone, and wool from the sheep. Coleg Plas Dwbl’s signature craft is textiles.  Coleg Plas Dwbl is part of Ruskin Mill Trust.
Established in 1984, Ruskin Mill Trust is an educational charity that operates in England, Scotland and Wales.  We offer exciting outdoor learning environments, utilising practical land and craft activities to support the development of work and life skills in young people with autistic spectrum conditions and other learning differences. Our research-led method, Practical Skills Therapeutic Education, is inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner, John Ruskin and William Morris.
Working with hand, head, heart and place, Ruskin Mill Trust helps individuals to re-imagine their potential.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service.
Enhanced Level Disclosure as well as a medical check, references, evidence of qualifications, plus verification of the right to work in the UK.

Biodynamic Farmer and Land Manager
Salary Range (FTE) £34,721 – £39,284 per annum subject to qualifications and experience
Coleg Plas Dwbl are advertising a Biodynamic Farmer and Land Manager role at our Ty’r Eithin site near Swansea in South Carmarthen.
The Ty’r Eithin is a multi-purpose site that provides outdoor education for SEN students from Coleg Plas Dwbl, grows vegetables, fruit and salad and farms livestock using biodynamic methods. The produce is used in Ruskin Mill Trust kitchens and residential houses.

As well as managing the livestock and land the role will include leading a small land team of land workers,
supporting BD trainees and volunteers as required, building on the good links already forged with the community.  For your application to be successful, it is essential that you have had experience of animal husbandry to at least a small holding level. Our ideal candidate would also be a recognised Biodynamic practitioner with a teaching  qualification, however, on appointment, we are able to put in place a training programme to support your professional development. A requirement of the role would be completing the Trust’s training programme in Biodynamic agriculture if you are not already trained.

The role will involve working with young people who present behaviour that can challenge us. It is important of any application that we understand your past experience of working with special educational needs and challenging behaviour.

In order to ensure sufficient care of the animals you will be expected to relocate within 5 minutes’ drive of the Ty’r Eithin site and you will be provided with accommodation with the expectation that you will feed the
animals at the weekends. You must also accept that animals you raise may be sent to slaughter so the meat can be sold and that you will be expected to use Biodynamic preparations that use animal products

Working at Ruskin Mill Trust is incredibly rewarding and in return, we offer competitive salaries and an
auto-enrolment pension scheme. In addition, staff receive;
• A comprehensive and interactive induction, extensive training and personal development plan
• Free car parking facilities
• A beautiful location to work
• Health cash plan & Employee Assistance Programme via Medicash
• Cycle to work scheme

To Apply:  Applications are through our website www.rmt.org/jobs/  or any enquires can be directed to [email protected]  
Closing date:  Sunday 27^th October 2024

The working address is: Ty’r Eithin Farm, Pontyberem, Llanelli SA15 5BR