WHAT IS GUARDSWELL GROWS…?
Guardswell Grows is a small market garden, based in the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire.
Chemical free, regenerative, soil loving, veg nerds who just want to grow awesome food for lovely people, and look after the world whilst we do it.
Guardswell Grows is part of Guardswell Farm. Based between Kinnaird and Abernyte in Perthshire (PH149QZ), is a hilltop farm shared with those who want to step away from hustle and bustle, and throw themselves into a life a little slower, and a little cheerier. We love relaxed and fun events and weddings- packed full of family and friends, old vases filled with contorted branches, plates piled high with locally grown food and munching on midnight pizza from the wood oven. We have accommodation to suit the modern world escapee- 3 huts and 3 houses (sleeping 30 in total)- perfect for those who fancy themselves running a micro-farm, switching off from their digital dependence and taking a deep breath of Perthshire air.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT GUARDSWELL GROWS?
Guardswell Grows was set up by, and run for two years, by Kirstin Lamotte. After a childhood spent on a herb farm (and with a very green fingered grandfather), plus a few seasons working on an organic farm in Canada- she returned to Scotland, full of excitement and energy, and set up Guardswell Grows as a sister company to Guardswell Farm (run by her sister Anna). Guardswell Grows then spent a couple of seasons with a head grower, before being wound down a little for the last two years (with just Anna doing bits and pieces to keep the Farmstand filled once a week). We are now making little moved to reinvigorate this lovely market garden, and need an extra paid of hands each week to get things up and moving, with the view to having a full time grower in place for 2027. We operate a no-dig system, and whilst not certified, we operate organically.
We feel really passionately about providing nutritious food, grown in a considered way to our local community and our guests on the farm. For the right individual, there may also be opportunities for involvement and learning within our wider farming operation, including pasture raised beef and hogget operations on the farm, and our 3000 fruit tree orchards- and the chance to help develop other areas such as pastured hens and, planning for the future, our micro dairy and woodland pigs.
Guardswell Grows fits in perfectly with the whole ethos of the farm- growing food that is good for people and the environment, as well as teaching our visitors (and beyond) about farming, where their food comes from, and nature. Guardswell Farm also runs Farm lunches, food based events and pop up dinners- so Guardswell Grows is the perfect veggie companion to provide produce for those events.
With all of this in mind- Guardswell Grows isn’t just the market garden at Guardswell any longer. It is the extended remit of the production of plant based foods on the farm and how we share them with our community. Whether that’s looking at the opportunities that exist within our hedgerows for foraged foods that can enhance your produce being made into chutney in the kitchen, or ways to improve the knowledge transfer to our guests
WHAT IS THE JOB… ?
We are looking for someone to help Anna with getting the market garden back on its feet (she had a baby in 2025, so it took a wee pause), and the operation of Guardswell Grows for 2026. What does this mean in reality? Well, as with many market garden jobs, its a lot of physical work- so everything from bed creation, sowing, planting out, compost care, lots of weeding, mulching to harvest and farmstand filling when that time comes around. Our aim for 2026 is to grow enough food to provide nutritious veggies to our guests staying on the farm and to our directly local community via our Farmstand (sold alongside our eggs and meat)- with our 2027 aims to expand our growing futher. We are looking for someone who is up for the challenge- its a lot of physical work and requires efficiency and a “get your head down” mentality.
At the moment, the Pig Field (where we do most of our growing) has had a cover crop over the beds for the last year- so it needs quite a lot of TLC when it comes to getting it back up and on its feet. We are also keen to pop a polytunnel up early this year, so we can get stuck into that too. We do have a number of perenial crops in the Pig Field too.
We are keen to find someone who is very tidy and keen to improve all areas- both in terms of growing and in aesthetic- with particular emphasis on the Guardswell pig field which is viewed and enjoyed by guests staying on site. Guests may come and say hi- so would love a friendly and engaging grower who is keen to spread the word about small scale regenerative farming- perhaps you could show our guests one or two things whilst your working, and help set up volunteer mornings to pass on your knowledge.
The role will require quite a lot of lone working in the Pig Field (which is right next to the main Steading, so you’ll be right in with wider Team Guardswell, lunches etc) as Anna will be working in other areas of the business too, so we are looking for someone who is happy to be set up for the day and get cracking.
BUT WHO ARE YOU…?
Our Grower is organised, self motivated, full of energy, really keen to implement new regenerative growing techniques (or try new ways of growing- hugelkulture?). We are keen to find someone who already has a good basic knowledge of plants, growing, market gardening or gardening in general- and is keen to get their hands in the ground.
They are keen to get stuck in, hit the ground running, happy to muck in where needed, and happy to work in all weathers. Our grower should be passionate about environmental issues, food and farming policy (basics or beyond), local food systems and other forms of ethical farming.
This role would really suit someone who has been working as part of a farm team elsewhere, as part of a Garden team, or has finished college and is looking for some more practical experience. We also feel like this is a great opportunity for the right candidate to learn more about small mixed farming, including agroforestry, orchards, diversified business (we have the event space in the steading and accommodation on the farm), cattle/sheep/goats/hens etc.
WHEN?
2 days a week (we can talk about which days, but a Thursday or Friday, plus one other day is generally a good plan), 16 hours, £13 per hour.
REQUIREMENTS?
- Must have a driving license and their own car
- Ideally havea little experience working on farms/market gardens.
- Self starter, whos up for grafting, and working in all weathers
- A good pair of outdoor boots
- References welcomed.
Reckon you fancy being part of Team Guardswell…? If so, please send something (a diagram, a video, a CV, maybe even a poem- whatever you feel will show us who you are) to...
farm@guardswell.co.uk
Head on over to our website www.guardswell.co.uk, or our Instagram accounts @guardswellgrows/ @guardswellfarm to get more of a feel.
