Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society in Coquitlam, BC is seeking a Millside Centre Farm Coordinator!
ABOUT Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society
In partnership with School District 43 and the Indigenous Education Department, Fresh Roots (FR) has been developing and maintaining an outdoor education center at Millside Centre that includes 7 acres of forest, a salmon bearing stream, an orchard, a native plant nursery, and a market garden.
In addition to overseeing the site with the Millside Centre Youth Program Coordinator (YPC), the Farm Coordinator will lead a small, on-site CSA (up to 10 shares) & Market (10 weeks) with youth. The production area totals about .25 acres and includes a greenhouse and outdoor nursery.
FR aims to contribute to thriving, biodiverse ecologies and treats our sites as holistic systems that include youth and education. Farming practices are organic but not certified.
DESIRED QUALITIES
Qualifications
We recognize that applicants from oppressed groups, including folks who are Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) may be hesitant to apply for positions where they don’t perfectly meet the listed qualifications. If you are excited about the job description, believe you could learn to perform the essential responsibilities and can meet the essential qualifications, we encourage you to apply!
Essential Qualifications
- Must pass a criminal record check for working with youth and vulnerable populations
- This position is funded in part through federal youth employment grants; in order to qualify for this funding the applicant must be less than 30 years old, and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or have refugee status.
- Motivation to lead large teams of peers and youth (ie. 30 participants).
- Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions for up to 9 hours a day and lift and carry 40+ pounds.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in market, retail or customer service settings
- 2+ years experience in outdoor program coordination (ie. outdoor summer camp, outdoor recreation, sports teams/training, etc)
- 2+ seasons working on a farm, market garden, or in landscaping
- Experience and/or training (formal or informal) to work with youth with diverse backgrounds and learning capacities/modalities
- Experience living in or working with Indigenous and BIPOC communities, especially the Kwikwetlem First Nation.
- Ability to speak additional languages. Languages spoken in the communities we serve include English, Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, French, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Iranian, Persian, Spanish, Tagalog, Russian, and Punjabi.
POSITION TASKS
Responsibilities
- Operate the Millside Centre Schoolyard Farm, Orchard & Forest as a site for food production, youth learning, and native plant cultivation.
- Lead & Record the Harvest: train youth in harvesting and processing vegetables and orchard fruit for CSA, Market, & School Food Programs
- Communicate with CSA subscribers through the newsletter. Track what goes into the CSA and solicit feedback at the end of the season. Update market product inventory and tracking.
- With the YPC, train and Support SOYL Youth & Facilitators at the weekly, on-site market stand.
- Work with and support youth on the farm from several programs (ie. Suwa’lkh’s leadership program, SOYL, and FR Camp).
- Save seeds, propagate, and tend to native plants for replanting, sharing with the community, and sale at our Annual Native Plant Sale.
- With the YPC, lead youth in forest restoration work and maintenance of existing learning sites.
- Maintain and harvest from the orchard trees (training will be provided).
- Maintain infrastructure and farm tools.
- Ensure the tidiness of the site so it is safe, accessible and welcoming.
POSITION DETAILS
Term: Mid-March to end of October.
Hours per week: Full-time (37.5 hrs/week on average). Expect more hours July-August and less in spring and fall.
Schedule: Monday – Friday. Hours typically fall between 8am-5:30 pm. Must be available to work until 7pm on Thursdays mid-June through August.
Wage: Pay Rate: $21-24, depends on experience
Benefits: include supplemental medical, dental, and vision coverage (after 3 months), paid vacation and sick time, and ongoing professional development opportunities.
TO APPLY
Fresh Roots is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.
Please apply through our posting linked below, on BambooHR. Submit a resume/description of past experience and your choice of: a short cover letter (500 words max) uploaded as a document, OR an introduction video (3 minutes max) linked in the “website, blog, or portfolio” line of the application form.
Your cover letter or video should introduce yourself and share why you are a good fit for this position. Please let your passion and personality shine!
Please note that we are not judging videos based on your video editing skills, and neither videos nor cover letters are preferred. Choose the option that is best for you.
We regret that due to the high volume of applicants only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
Deadline to apply: January 22, 2025
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
Please note that Young Agrarians does not have the capacity to pre-screen job opportunities. Please screen your potential employer to ensure that you are entering into a fair exchange that meets your needs and expectations. Try asking the farm for references of past workers, or ask people in the community if you are unsure.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society
Website: freshroots.bamboohr.com/careers/81
Facebook: facebook.com/freshrootsfarms
Instagram: @freshrootsfarms
View more Farm Jobs and Internships on our Job Board