Garden Production Assistant, Gary Comer Youth Center

Jobs

Jan 292013

Be prepared for your next career move: Foresight Career Innovation Seminar.

Position Summary:
The Garden Production/Site Assistant manages the Gary Comer Youth Center and Make Miracles Grow Foundation (MMGF) gardens to support a full range of educational activities. The key garden site is a 1.75-acre organic site with a fruit orchard, perennial plant production beds, unheated year-round hoop house, and over 5,000 square feet of vegetable beds. This is a full time position.

The Make Miracles Grow Foundation (MMGF), founded in 2010, is dedicated to urban agriculture and youth education on Chicago’s South Side to serve as a model for sustainable urban farming methods and youth career and education development.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Perform maintenance work at the various sites. Maintenance duties include small construction projects, fencing, soil preparation, and other farm related tasks.
Prepare sites for youth programming instructional use.
Assist instructors to use garden sites for outdoor classes.
Manage a schedule of tasks and crew of young adults (ages 16-21) to include planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, packaging and distribution of produce and other related goods and services.
Plant and maintain vegetables, perennials and/or fruits as assigned and as directed in the Garden Manager’s crop plan.
Manage site tasks including tool and machinery use and maintenance, deliveries and site development.
Maintain records, inventory and prepare reports relative to the work.
Assist in other facilities/grounds work in off-peak season.
Provide oversight of staff during on-site sales and potential farmers market days.

Education and Qualifications:

Minimum of Two (2) years demonstrated experience with growing, harvesting, packaging, and selling vegetables. Experience with perennials and/or fruit trees welcome.
Bachelor’s (BA or BS) degree preferred, degree in agriculture, horticulture, plant science and/or field directly related to sustainable agriculture or social enterprise preferred.
Knowledge of youth development and programming principles preferred.
Experience working with young people or volunteer groups as it relates to physical work projects and management.
Reliable self-starter, with good communication skills and ability to prioritize tasks, follow-through and meet deadlines.
Illinois Driver’s License.
Ability and willingness to work early mornings, evenings and weekends.
Ability to lift 50 lbs.
Typical physical demands require full body movement, physical strength and stamina sufficient to regularly utilize tools, equipment and manage physical tasks.
Demonstrated combination of problem solving, social skills and verbal and written communication.
Thorough and attentive to details.
Must demonstrate cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care.