Farm Site and Farm Store Assistant

Overview

Gardening the Community (gardeningthecommunity.org) is a BIPOC-led urban agriculture project engaged in youth development and advancing racial justice to build healthy and equitable communities. We work with youth to grow food on reclaimed abandoned lots in the Mason Square community of Springfield. We partner with the Springfield Food Policy Council on advocacy campaigns for increased access to healthy food and greater food security for historically marginalized residents. The impact of our work is far beyond growing vegetables. GTC contributes to the local and statewide food and racial justice movements that seek to change the root causes of the poor health and unjust food systems facing communities (especially low- income communities and communities of color across the State. We are creating locally controlled food resources that support our young people, build community and offer sustainable alternatives to Springfield families.

Gardening the Community (gardeningthecommunity.org), a fiscal project of Third Sector New England, Inc (TSNE) (tsne.org).

Responsibilities

The goal of this temporary position is to help fill immediate gaps at GTC farm sites and the farm store staffing coverage while GTC evaluates its long-term needs. This role is responsible for managing the daily operations of the farm sites, farm store and farm stand during assigned shifts, and will also assist with other projects, as needed. Ideally we will hire an individual at up to 35 hours a week, benefits eligible. This position is also open to hiring 2 part-time individuals. The standard weekly hours or those part-time hires would be based on their standard weekly hours. If less than 18.75, the position would not be benefits eligible. 

Essential Functions

Farm Site Assistant

• Greenhouse seeding, watering and general maintenance; 
• Transplanting and direct seeding, hand weeding, hoeing, cultivating, harvesting; 
• Washing and packing, cover cropping, mulching, pruning and trellising, irrigating, compost making, pest and disease control; 
• Field maintenance (cleaning up beds in the spring and fall, mulching, wheelbarrowing, weeding, irrigation, trellising);
• Machine and tool maintenance;
• Basic record keeping and competency with word processing, spreadsheet, and email/calendar software 
• Maintaining crops with row cover, trellising and pruning; 
• Harvesting; 
• Weekend chore rotation (three weekend days per month, one Sunday a month);
• Non-vegetable tasks as needed (cleaning barns, mowing lawns, weed whacking, clean up and maintenance around the farm, tool repair, etc.).

 Farm Store Assistant

• Maintains store and cold storage cleanliness including daily compost, garbage and recycling disposal;
• Helps set up store product layout and culls through produce to make sure it is looking fresh;
• Role models good leadership, customer service, safe food handling, and work ethic for staff;
• Staffs the Farm Store weekly based on assigned schedule (Saturday may be required); 
• Performs general store maintenance (including bathroom); refers issues concerning major repairs to Farm Store Lead and/or Executive Director;
• Drive GTC refrigerated truck and passenger van, as needed.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• High school diploma or GED;
• Minimum of one season work experience on a farm (will train the right candidate);
• Consistently perform quick, efficient, and high-quality work both independently and with the team;
• Proactive working style demonstrating self-accountability and an eagerness to finish the job well;
• Respectfully receive and offer feedback;
• Ability to work Saturdays and occassional Sundays;
• Bilingual, preferred;
• Knowledgeable about GTC;
• Interest in issues relating to local food, food access, and sustainable agriculture;
• Retail experience, preferred;
• Highly detailed oriented;
• Experience in NEON CRM or other database management;
• Knowledgeable of Food Justice and Food Access issues and solutions;
• Experience working in an urban farm or garden setting (with GTC or other similar organization);
• Lived experience with food insecurity, preferred.
• Ability to work mornings, nights and weekends.
• Successful background check;
• Valid Driver’s License and Successful Driver’s License Check, preferred
  • Should the incumbent not have a driver’s license or license check is not successful they will be required to use other method of transportation (Uber/Lift/public transportation, etc) to travel and perform required duties.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Work on a farm site;
• Work in a retail environment;
• Work in a retail farm store environment and in close proximity to other workers;
• Punctual;
• Travel between farm sites;
• Carry out tasks as instructed, possibly without direct supervision and ask for clarification from one’s supervisor;
• Work steadily outdoors in all weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and wind;
• Handle, objects, tools or controls, including but not limited to power equipment, lawn mower, and walk-behind tractor;
• Reach; crouch, kneel, bend, traverse; sit or stand, usually for extended periods of time doing repetitive tasks;
• Occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Lift and/or move crates, materials, hoses, etc. up to 50 pounds on a regular basis;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performedWork will be primarily performed at Gardening the Community farm sites and farm store in Springfield, MA. Work is not eligible for remote work.

Compensation: The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $22/hr.

Schedule: Flexible based on seasonal work  up to 30 hours a week Monday - Saturday, occasionally on Sundays. Ability to work early mornings, late afternoons and Saturdays, occasionally on Sundays. Ideally we will hire an individual at up to 30 hours a week, benefits eligible. This position is also open to hiring 2 part-time individuals. The standard weekly hours or those part-time hires would be based on their standard weekly hours. If less than 18.75, the position would not be benefits eligible.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including the below. NOTE: If hired part-time at less than 18.75 standard weekly, the position would not be benefits eligible.

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, three weeks of vacation, one week of personal holiday, and ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension and Employee-paid 403b plan through TIAA.
• ...and more!

TSNE/GTC strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/GTC prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/GTC celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/GTC's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.

TSNE/GTC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the application and hiring process. If you need an accommodation to apply or participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [email protected]. Requests will be handled confidentially and shared only as needed to evaluate and implement the accommodation.