Job Opening: Bi-lingual Garden Education Coordinator

[New Haven Land Trust]

Position Description

Garden Education Coordinator, New Haven Land Trust

Our Mission

The New Haven Land Trust is a 35-year old non-profit. Our mission is to engage people in stewardship and cultivation of the land for a healthier community and environment. Our main focus is maintaining our 6 nature preserves and 50 community gardens. We also facilitate educational workshops and activities on our properties.

 

History

Over the past few years NHLT has developed two new programs, for which we are seeking help facilitating.

 

Growing Entrepeneurs:

The focus of Growing Entrepreneurs is to create employment opportunities for New Haven youth, and to help them develop entrepreneurial thinking and job readiness skills. We do this by operating a small market garden, and selling the produce to restaurants and community members. The youth are involved with all aspects of the enterprise, learning pertinent skills along the way. 

 

Incubator Garden:

The Incubator Garden Program (IGP) is a joint program between New Haven Land Trust and New Haven Farms. The Incubator Garden Program is a continuation from New Haven Farms’ Farm Based Wellness Program (FBWP), serving as years 2 and beyond for successful graduates of the FBWP. Families at risk for chronic diet related illness are originally referred by their healthcare provider to the FBWP, in which they attend weekly nutrition classes, cooking demonstrations, and garden education as well as take home fresh produce from June through September. Graduates from the FBWP are able to begin growing their own produce each receiving their own garden plot with the Incubator Garden Program. Weekly garden classes are available to the gardeners in which the coordinator will provide support and advice according to the seasonal needs of the garden. The IGP follows the growing season, teaching members initially how to prepare their plots for planting, followed by seeding, transplanting, through proper harvest techniques, trellising, and effective pest and disease control.

 

Position Description and Responsibilities

NHLT is seeking a unique individual with a combination of very specific skills.  The Garden Education Coordinator will split their time between the Incubator Garden and the Growing Entrepreneurs.

 

Responsibilities for Growing Entrepreneurs include leading the youth in all activities related to the market garden. This includes seedling propagation, transplanting, direct seeding, cultivation, irrigation, harvest, packing, sales, delivery, etc. They will be responsible for daily instruction on tasks, followed by supervision and feedback. As well as weekly educational components about some higher level aspect of the business (i.e. crop planning, marketing/sales, data analysis etc.)

 

Responsibilities for the Incubator Garden program include holding weekly “office hours” at two garden sites, to support gardeners increasing their growing skills and to help gardeners troubleshoot any issues that may arise with their garden plots. Ensure sufficient communication is maintained with Incubator Garden families as to maintain a well kept, positive and productive garden for all families involved. The Coordinator will also be required to organize monthly workshops that delve deeper into a specific gardening topic (i.e. pest management, disease ID, composting, soil structure, etc.)

 

Work Commitment                                                                    

The Garden Education Coordinator will work 24 hours per week and will report directly to the Community Garden Manager. The position is year round, but work hours may be more intensive during the summer season, and will likely include a lot of evening and weekend hours. The Land Trust has the long-term intention of transitioning this position into full time pending availability of funding.

 

Compensation

$16/hour.

 

Ideal Skills and Qualities

The Garden Education Coordinator must demonstrate the following skills, experience, and expertise:

 

Strong communication and interpersonal skills: This includes oral and writing skills and an ability to relate to and communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and styles. Experience running meetings, giving presentations and resolving conflict is desired.

 

Bi-lingual in English and Spanish: The Coordinator must be able to communicate proficiently and effectively in English and Spanish.

 

Experience working with youth: The coordinator should have experience working with young people (particularly high school-aged children) from diverse backgrounds and experience.

 

 

Proficiency in gardening: The coordinator must have experience and knowledge of gardening. Ideal candidates will be able to explain to garden novices how to garden productively, troubleshoot problems and lead basic gardening workshops. We are looking for a candidate who has a strong level of comfort in gardening and an ability to teach others. Experience with gardening curriculum is a plus.

 

Valid drivers license: Required.

 

Physical ability: Must be able to do garden-related manual labor tasks such as shoveling soil, putting together raised garden beds, ability to lift up to 50lbs.

 

Work ethic: Candidates must be highly reliable with a keen sense of responsibility. They must bring a can-do attitude to their work, with a creative approach to solving problems. They must have an ability to multi-task and work well under pressure.

 

Please send cover letter and resume by March 3, 2017 to [e-mail]. Please include “Garden Education Coordinator” in the subject line.