Csj Market Garden

CSJ Market Garden & Community Engagement Trainees

Black Creek Community Farm is an 8-acre farm in the heart of Jane and Finch neighbourhood in Toronto. We are a not-for-profit organization and a leader in Toronto’s dynamic urban agriculture and community food sector. We serve and enrich our community through a thriving farm, healthy food, as well as hands-on training and learning experiences. Our focus is to inspire the next generation by providing leadership in food justice and supporting diverse and social ecosystems.
This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program, which requires that the applicants: - Be between 15-30 years of age (inclusive)
- Be Canadian Citizens, permanent residents, or persons on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations

**Main Tasks**:
Market Garden Trainee
The Market Garden Trainee will primarily help the Market Garden team with all aspects of vegetable production and sales. As needed, they will also support other initiatives at the community farm related to community events, farm programming and education for all ages, fundraising, outreach, farm site care, and general farm chores. The following are the main areas of work and in any given week, the Trainee can expect to rotate through these areas of work.

**Tasks and Responsibilities**:

- Support the Market Garden team with a wide range of field tasks related to the growing and maintenance of our crops including seeding, seedling care, planting, weeding, pruning, trellising, field prep, composting, greenhouse work; setting up field materials or infrastructure; and cleaning and organizational tasks.
- Work collaboratively with the market garden team to harvest vegetables for sale via our weekly “Harvest Share” program, on-site farm stand, and wholesale customers
- Perform routine tasks including harvesting, weighing, washing and packaging vegetables - involves physical labour and working outdoors in all weather conditions
- Engage with “Harvest Share” (a vegetable subscription program) members weekly and facilitate their pick up and manage market sales on site.
- Run shifts at the on-site farm stand which includes handling cash, merchandising products, and delivering friendly customer serviceSupport the wider staff team in running community events and workshops, such as Farm Festival, and Community Planting Day
- Work alongside, share knowledge, and teach learned agriculture skills to volunteers and other community members, in collaboration with other staff
- Planning, administration, and communications: Depending on skill-sets and interests, Market Garden Assistants will be involved with a range of administrative tasks to help us with our weekly planning. Tasks may include data entry, social media, community outreach, and various coordination tasks.
- Participate in regular team meetings and offer feedback on ongoing farm work on site

Community Engagement Trainee
The Community Engagement Trainee will help the Programs team facilitate educational programming for the community through various projects based on the farm: Farm Education, Urban Harvest, Farm Park, and seniors’ programming. Support a wide range of field tasks including planting native perennials, orchard care, invasive species removal, weeding, trail maintenance, lawn mowing, caring for the chickens, and infrastructure maintenance (bake oven, greenhouses). As needed, they will also support other initiatives at the community farm related to community events, vegetable production, fundraising, outreach, farm site care, and general farm chores. The following are the main areas of work and in any given week, the Trainee can expect to rotate through these areas of work.

**Tasks and & Responsibilities**:

- Implement Farm Education curriculum and facilitate urban agriculture workshops with kids, youth and seniors from the community on-site, remotely, and/or virtually
- Be prepared to work outside in ALL weather conditions including rain, sun and heat. Due to COVID-19, education programming will be customized to the state of public access to the farm depending on Toronto Public Health guidelines.
- Utilize digital technology and social media to engage kids, youth and seniors from the community in programming
- Support staff in implementing scheduled activities including nature crafts, gardening, cooking, and environmental stewardship programming.
- Work collaboratively with staff to supervise community members participating in programs, offer safety training, and ensure participants feel safe and respected
- Support program delivery including cooking and gardening workshops, and working alongside community residents to volunteer on the farm
- Support the maintenance of the food forest, medicine wheel garden, community garden, other themed gardens, chicken coop, bake oven and periphery areas on the far