Garden Assistant

Job Title: Garden Assistant

Sector: Food Security

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Part-Time

Open to Expatriates: Not Applicable

Location: Sacramento, CA USA

Job Description

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. One aspect of the IRC is to provide assistance to refugees resettling in the US. Since opening its doors, the IRC in Sacramento has assisted more than 15,000 refuges, asylees, survivors of human trafficking, and other vulnerable populations across Sacramento and has had a crucial impact on the development of vibrant and thriving communities in which they live. IRC’s New Roots program is designed to assist refugees to improve their food security by reestablishing their ties to the land, celebrating their heritage, and nourishing themselves and their neighbors by planting strong roots in their new communities. Through community gardening, nutrition education, and school gardens and education, New Roots provides refugees and their families with the tools and training they need to grow healthy and affordable food and become self-sufficient. Across a network stretching from New York to Oakland, refugees are revitalizing urban spaces, sharing their farming know-how with their new neighbors and providing healthy, fresh food to their families and communities.

JOB OVERVIEW:
Through the New Roots Program, IRC provides refugees and immigrants with the opportunity to become more food secure through gardening and nutrition education. IRC provides community gardens for refugee families to garden and works in local elementary schools with a high proportion of refugee and immigrant children to teach nutrition and garden based lessons. The goal of New Roots programming is to provide families and students with the tools and resources they need to become more food secure. The Garden Assistant is primarily responsible for providing hands on maintenance of New Roots’ community gardens and school gardens and assisting the Education and Outreach Specialist to facilitate classes as needed. This is a part time position and reports to the New Roots Program Manager but works closely with both the Farm Coordinator and the Education and Outreach Specialist and will work at sites in Sacramento County including Arden Arcade, Carmichael and Elk Grove.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
Maintaining the community gardens in good condition by weeding, mowing grass as needed, using weed eater , and keeping walkways clear. . Collecting any litter on the gardens to keep it in good, presentable condition

Maintaining the school gardens in good condition by periodically checking on the weeds, irrigation system and pest issues and bringing issues to the attention of the Program Manager

Making small repairs in the water system in the gardens as needed in coordination with the Farm Coordinator

Maintaining the IRC demonstration plots in each garden by weeding, watering, applying mulch, and harvesting

Working with the gardeners to support their plots as needed

Trimming fruit trees and ensuring they are being watered where applicable

Working with volunteers and interns to complete any of the above projects, as coordinated with rest of New Roots team and Volunteer Coordinator

Assisting the Education and Outreach Specialist to facilitate garden lessons in schools as needed

Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engages as a member of the team

Comply with all policies, procedures and protocols of the agency

Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

No specific education is required for this position however the candidate should have a minimum of 2 years of direct experience performing similar duties which may include: previous work in a garden, or on a farm or experience maintaining parks or other landscaping experience, etc.… Students working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture/Horticulture or Environmental Sciences, Community Development, Communications, or related field or who have recently completed a degree are also welcome to apply;

Demonstrated understanding of gardening skills and community garden operations; demonstrated experience maintaining and repairing farm and garden equipment is desirable

Strong organizational skills including: multi-tasking, prioritizing, planning, and effective time management

Strong communication skills, ability to communicate with limited-English speakers and community partners;

Fluency in written and spoken English, with bilingual ability strongly preferred in one of our client’s languages including Dari, Pashto, Russian or Ukrainian

Ability to safely lift light loads (35 lbs.) and physically demonstrate use of garden techniques and

Working Environment:
This position is based in the Sacramento, CA and will work mostly in the community at local schools and community gardens.