FoodShare Toronto

Bendale Market Garden -

Farm Manager

• Deadline for applications: May 2, 2011

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FoodShare is looking for a farm manager to run the Bendale Market Garden, a school-based market garden at Bendale Business and Technical School in Scarborough, Ontario (please see background section below for more details on the Market Garden). The farm manager will generate his or her income from produce sales. There is no guaranteed income for this position. This is an opportunity for a farmer/ educator to have access to land, tools, seeds, and labour and to build experience running a teaching farm in an urban context. FoodShare would be open to one candidate filling both the Farm Manager and Youth Engagement Facilitator position, which does include a guaranteed hourly wage. We are open to creative proposals for this position.

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Detailed job description:

• Create and manage the farm plan (crop planning; logistics of production, harvest, and distribution; documentation; strategy)
• Grow food in a mix-vegetable market garden
• Oversee the daily operations of the Focus on Youth students, farm interns, volunteers
• Communicate with CSA and market customers
• Liaises with FoodShare staff support person and Bendale staff for educational programming and overall strategy for farm plan
• Generate your own salary through sales of produce through CSA shares and at market
• Maintain the Market Garden so that it looks good
• Act as a spokesperson for the Market Garden and FoodShare in the community, with the school, and with the broader public

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Qualifications and skills:

• Farm management experience (preferably small-scale, organic, direct marketing: CSA and markets)
• Exceptional people management skills (good at delegating tasks, helping people feel valued)
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Business or farm planning experience
• Experience and comfort working with youth
• Willingness to do hard physical labour outside in all weather conditions
• Computer proficiency (ability to use excel spreadsheets for planning, write clear emails)
• Knowledge of and experience working with diverse communities
• Background in education and community development an asset
• Ability to speak multiple languages an asset
• Knowledge of the Dorset Park/ Scarborough community an asset
• Background in permaculture an asset
• Holding a valid Ontario Drivers License an asset
• Police check clearance (to be able to work with students)

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Hours and Compensation:

• Set your own hours, generate your own income
• The supplies, space, and labour described below
• Support from FoodShare in building relationships with the school, markets, CSA customers
• Support from FoodShare and Bendale Horticulture department with the farm

planning and monitoring process

• As much produce as you want to eat personally
• Most of your seeds and seedlings

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Duration:

• From the beginning of May, and running through to November (negotiable). There may be a possibility for paid winter employment doing environmental educational programming. There would be a possibility for renewal of the farm manager position for 2012 growing season.

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How to apply:

• Please email your resume and a brief proposal for how you would generate income and support the educational and food access mandates of the farm to:
• Ian Hepburn-Aley at ian@foodshare.net].
• This is a new model for FoodShare. We are open to creative ways of structuring this position. If you are interested and have questions please call (416)363-6441 x241.
• Please do not contact Bendale BTI directly. Please note: this is a FoodShare job - not a Toronto District School Board job.

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• Deadline for applications: May 2, 2011, 5 PM

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Content last modified on April 20, 2011, at 01:51 PM EST