ketayak community kistikana (a program of CHEP Good Food) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is seeking an Urban Agriculture Site Coordinator!
ABOUT ketayak community kistikana (a program of CHEP Good Food)
ketayak community kistikana (Elders Community Garden in northern Michif language) is the urban agriculture education and demonstration site of CHEP Good Food, located in the core neighbourhoods of Saskatoon, SK (Treaty 6 Territory and home of the Metis Nation). CHEP Good Food Inc., a non-profit that works with children, families and communities to improve access to good food and promote food security.
CHEP Good Food’s urban agriculture program has several components:
- Ketayak community kistikana (elder’s community garden): growing and learning site. This garden is a former lawn bowling site in Victoria Park, bordering the core neighbourhoods of King George and Riversdale. The site hosts various programs, and grows food, flowers and herbs that are used in CHEP’s programming, and are sold and gifted in the community.
- The askîy project internship is both a part-time summer job and a learning experience. Interns assist with growing food, support the garden day camp, work with volunteers, and participate in workshops, mentorships, excursions, cultural activities.
- Sprouts Garden Day Camps: We host 2 weeks of day camp for children 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 years to join us and get back to nature! Campers can expect to help in the garden with weeding, watering, harvesting, and using ingredients from the garden to prepare delicious, nutritious meals for lunch. We will also engage with other community groups for workshops and crafts.
- Workshop Series: This season, we’ll be hosting a regular workshop series on garden-related topics open to the community, with hands-on opportunities to learn in the garden space
- Educational Opportunities: We welcome school and community groups for garden tours and focused learning opportunities based on their interests.
- Volunteer and Community Engagement: This is a community project that thrives with community involvement. During the gardening season we have weekly drop-in volunteer nights, and other regular volunteer opportunities. We welcome groups, families and individuals.
The work is human-powered; hand tools and drip irrigation are used. Produce is distributed throughout the community in a number of ways, including CHEP’s Sprouts Day Camp and other cooking and food literacy program, CHEP community markets, local businesses and caterers, and abundance is gifted to volunteers and community members.
As a program of CHEP Good Food, the askîy project shares the vision for community food sovereignty, where:
- Everyone has assured access to adequate, appropriate and personally acceptable food in a way that promotes health, respect and dignity
- People are able to earn a living wage by growing, producing, processing, handling, retailing and serving food
- The quality of land, air, and water is maintained and enhanced for future generations
Food is celebrated as central to community and cultural integrity.
DESIRED QUALITIES
- Horticulture knowledge and experience
- Initiative and energy – ability to see what needs to be done and willingness to take on all tasks necessary for success. Ability to work with little supervision.
- Excellent interpersonal skills – ability to get along with diverse people, positive listening skills, good team player, sense of humour.
- Enjoyment of outdoor physical work; ability to adapt to changing conditions
- Good organizational skills
- Systems thinking
- Mechanically/technically inclined
- Experience working with diverse groups of people
- Problem solving – Remain positive and focused in challenging moments and able to find solutions
- Successful applicant will need to have a police record check and clean driver’s license abstract
Other Requirements:
- Legally allowed to work in Canada
- Able to work effectively and safely and maintain a positive outlook in all types of weather, including hot sun, cold temperatures, mud, and rain
- Able to safely perform tasks that require repeated motions including bending, squatting, and kneeling.
- Occasional evening/weekend work as scheduled.
- Able to work with people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Irrigation Management: setting up irrigation system (with existing infrastructure), communicating with City of Saskatoon, ensuring its proper function and adjusting for weather conditions and crop needs.
- Soil Health Management: coordinating a soil health management plan: adding compost (ordering or harvesting onsite), planting and managing cover crops, coordinating mulch, crop rotation planning.
- Weed Management: monitoring weed growth and coordinating the timely management of weeds.
- Pest Management: monitoring insects and diseases and coordinating a timely response.
- Food Production: Carrying out planting plans in cooperation with other urban ag staff. Site coordinator will hold a general understanding of garden areas: ex pollinator garden, Sprouts camp area, four directions demonstration, food production spaces, perennial plantings, etc.
- General Site Maintenance: Coordinating garbage and hazardous waste removal, ensuring proper opening and closing procedures are being followed, ensuring the site is kept tidy and welcoming, noting and ensuring repairs are made to any damage or vandalism that occurs at the site.
- Food Distribution Coordination: Carrying out the produce distribution plan:
– Communicate with urban ag team about what crops are ready to be harvested.
– Scheduling of harvests to utilize volunteer and intern participation
– Communication with Food Purchaser and Community Market Coordinator regarding the timing and quantity of produce available for market.
– Work with urban ag team to develop periodic pop-up sales opportunities
– Inventory management – Maintains a log of produce that is in storage
– Sales – when applicable: Communication, inventory, advertising, invoicing, record keeping - Liaison with Space on H: Urban ag staff are in the space most frequently and by default, end up liaising regarding a variety of things, and representing the Space on H in the community.
- Supply inventory: keeping track of supplies that are needed and coordinating purchases.
- Tool maintenance: keeping frequently used tools maintained and in working order: wheelbarrow tires pumped, hoes sharpened, etc
- Donation management: takes responsibility for offers of donations (supplies, plants, etc), responding to donors in a timely manner, coordinating pick-ups if applicable, dispense with unused donations
- Record-keeping: maintaining a records system that reflects project goals.
POSITION DETAILS
Term: Seasonal – April to September (some flexibility in start and end dates is possible)
Hours per week: 35 hours/ week
Wage: $18/hour; wage increase available after successful 6-week probation period.
TO APPLY
Please send resume highlighting skills and experience, including two current references, and cover letter to urbanag@chep.org.
Only candidates short-listed for the position will be contacted. Questions about the position or eligibility can be sent to urbanag@chep.org
Deadline to apply: Open until filled
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 ketayak community kistikana (a program of CHEP Good Food)
Website: https://www.chep.org/community/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHEPGoodFood
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/chepgoodfood
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