Thanks to Mae Wolfe for the photo of Jon!

No two days are ever the same when you’re working as a Maintenance Manager of Red Dog Farm.

Each morning starts with a hot cup of coffee and a list of things that need attention. Around here, the equipment works just as hard as the people do: the tractors get up early, the irrigation timers don’t clock out, and even the most reliable pipe can crack under pressure. Just last week, I investigated a brake leak on Pumpkin, the orange ’77 flatbed Dodge that’s responsible for transporting bountiful harvests and rolling alongside a hardworking crew, pack-muling gardening tools and bins as they weed and gather.

The maintenance role may not be the most visible part of farm operations, but it’s important and rewarding work. It feels good knowing every small installation or big repair supports such a dedicated team; there’s something satisfying about restoring the momentum of the crew by getting a tractor back out into the field or lifting a gate that keeps dragging. Every second counts because lately the whole farm has been moving at full speed. It’s impressive seeing how much the crew gets done every day, rain or shine.

The farm works as an ecosystem: the community enjoys the bounty, the bounty is nurtured by the farmers, the farmers are supported by the machinery, the machinery is maintained by Jon and me, and our labor is largely supported by the CSA members who enjoy each and every harvest. Every CSA box represents a lot of teamwork, long days, and hardworking people who genuinely care about what they’re doing. Thank you to the Red Dog crew for welcoming me to the team, to the farm for keeping every day exciting, and to the CSA.

~Brice