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GARDEN ASSISTANT

The Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee is a grassroots organization dedicated since 2008 to creating healthy and vibrant communities by implementing public space enhancement projects and empowering women by providing opportunities of engagement and integration  through capacity-building, education, entrepreneurship and civic participation in Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood. Projects have included the rejuvenation of the local RV Burgess Park , North America’s first ever outdoor Tandoor Oven , running the Friday Night Community Market, Youth Ravine Stewardship Program, the Community Gardens, and most recently, pivoting during the pandemic to create the Neighbours in Need program delivering hot culturally appropriate meals made at the Park Cafe.

DESCRIPTION

RATE OF PAY: $15/hr (35 hours a week for 8 weeks)

NUMBER OF POSITIONS:1

START DATE: June 13,2022 

END DATE: Aug 5,2022 

DEADLINE TO APPLY: June 8,2022 at 5:00pm

 

PRIMARY FUNCTION

The General Farm Worker/Garden Assistant will be responsible in supporting the Garden Coordinator for all the activities of Thorncliffe Family Garden and Thorncliffe Container Garden and play an important role in RV Burgess Park maintenance, COVID safe on site and on-line community engagement in the park through out this summer.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

The General Farm Worker/Garden Assistant is responsible for the following:

  • Assist the Thorncliffe Park Family Garden and  the Thorncliffe Container Garden

  • Plant, cultivate and harvest crops, and maintain and repair the equipment.

  • Assist the garden members and volunteers

  • Provide on-site gardening support for community gardeners with gardening tasks such as planting, watering, weeding, composting, harvesting, mulching, turning over the soil etc.

  • Planting and maintenance of the general garden areas and park cafe gardens.

  • Support the Coordinator in collaborating with garden leaders and organizers to create and build a network of community members to volunteer and sustain community gardens. 

  • Assist the schools and teachers for the garden visits. 

  • Assist in planning and developing our weekly drop-in children programs(Tuesdays) with the Coordinator

  • Establish and maintain participant tracking and other data collection systems.

  • Follow all Toronto Public Health guidelines for COVID-19. Provide PPE and maintain social distancing during the program. 

  • Encourage participants to participate in the clean up of the garden & the park.

  • Make sure that the gardeners adhere to their responsibilities

  • Develop  logistics and planning of volunteer work days, harvest parties, garden opening events with the Coordinator

  • Encourage gardeners to collect, weigh and track garden food production

  • Assist in creating and implementing a plan to track garden activities and outcomes.

  • Contributing to the long range planning for the garden and food production following all plans for safety and risk management.

  • Outline the necessary tasks for garden maintenance of common areas including compost area, paths, borders, common gardens.

  • Help in maintaining supplies, equipment and general tidiness of the garden area and storage shed

  • Assist in creating an outreach plan with the Coordinator to increase participation

  • Attend regular meetings with the TPWC’s Program Manager and provide regular feed back including immediate reporting of arising issues or problems

  • Fulfill related administrative duties as needed including data entry, social media, community outreach, reporting on activities

  • Assist in creating a garden newsletter, maintain, and keep record of current inventory of tools & equipment

  • Maintain accurate time sheets

  • Responsible for RV Burgess Park maintenance, community engagement in the park

  • Adapt to a flexible working schedule that includes some late evenings and weekends

  • Support other TPWC initiatives and programs as needed, including the Community Market, Park Café, Meal program ,Events and Festivals.

QUALIFICATIONS 

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  • Basic knowledge of agriculture and gardening required (advanced knowledge a plus)

  • Must have interest and experience in gardening, community organizing and coordinating events

  • Must have experience working in diverse, multicultural communities

  • Willingness and ability to work outside in challenging conditions (heat, rain, cold)

  • Available to work weekends and evenings as needed

  • Comfortable working outside in all weather and capable of lifting 40 pounds

  • Comfortable with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

  • College or university students preferred but not required.

This position is funded by Canada Summer Jobs, and the successful applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of employment

  • be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment and have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

  • Was registered as a full-time student during the preceding academic year and intends to return to school on a full-time basis during the next academic year

  • be a student in a secondary, post-secondary, vocational or technical program

  • be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations

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Application process: Only candidates chosen for an interview will be contacted.

Applications should be sent  as a single attachment (combining resume and cover letter) to info@tpwomenscomm.org by 5:00 pm on Wednesday June 8,2022 If you have any questions about the application process, please direct them to the same address.

 

For more information about Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee, visit www.tpwomenscomm.org

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