Job Vacancy: Community Food Grower

Job Description:

Custom Food Lab is looking for a Community Food Grower to join our Locavore Growing Project. Working in our Locavore Community Garden at Martello Primary School, where we are building a community garden from scratch, focussing on food growing.

We practice No-Dig, Wildlife friendly, Permaculture growing methods. And our motto is ‘Don’t kill the weeds-eat them!’

Your responsibilities will include: –

  • Developing and maintaining the garden in good order using a forest gardening approach (including managing a small monthly budget)
  • Occasionally overseeing contractors during building work in the garden
  • Undertaking training
  • Organising volunteer groups
  • Helping to provide volunteers with training (you will be given appropriate training to do this)
  • General Maintenance in the garden:
    • Strimming
    • Hedge cutting/Pruning from ground and using ladders
    • Woodland path maintenance
    • Basic DIY (for maintenance of sheds, pergola etc.) Some woodwork and other materials construction for garden creations (building mud kitchen / hedgehog house)
    • Digging / Planting trees, shrubs and vegetables / Harvesting / Seed Collection / Propagation / Ethical Pest Control / Organic Fertiliser Application / Selective Weeding and watering
  • Working closely with our existing Community Food Grower, who is also creating growing spaces in local Care Home gardens
  • Coordinating with Custom Food Lab’s wider art and research programmes
  • Upholding Custom’s Health and Safety and safeguarding policies
  • Any other reasonable tasks requested by the Locavore Community Coordinator

Requirements:

  • Knowledge of gardening and plants including growing vegetables and recognising some native wildflowers.
  • Previous experience of working with garden and DIY tools
  • Able to complete physical tasks safely such as manual handling and digging.
  • Having own vehicle would be an advantage for collecting local donations to the community garden.

Desirable characteristics:

As this is a community project, having a community spirit is desirable to this role. When working alongside our volunteers, you will be expected to be positive, encouraging and professional at all times. This role will consist of working in a team and also working independently.

We are looking for someone who is trustworthy and reliable, self motivated and focused, who loves to be outdoors and has a keen interest in wildlife and nature.

Salary:

  • £10 per hour.

Other Information:

  • Part time, 2 days a week (spread over 3 or 4 days) – potential for growth dependant on funding
  • Hours/days flexible, to be agreed with Locavore Community Coordinator
  • 3 month probationary period, continuing contract subject to funding.
  • This is an outdoor role, the applicant must be prepared to work in all weather conditions. Protective safety wear will be provided and shelter is available.
  • Must be willing to undertake DBS check and safeguarding/ Health and Safety training as part of onboarding procedures. As well as adhering to our ethical working practices.
  • Covid safe working procedures are in place.

Experience:

  • We are not looking for any specific experience or training, as this job itself covers a wide range of skills. Any relevant experience will be taken into account.

Application deadline: 30th September 2020

Please email to hello@customfoodlab.org

Please apply with CV and a letter explaining why you are suitable for this role. Please also provide 2 referees for references should your application be successful.

Applicants must be able bodied as this is a physically demanding role. We can however consider and support those with learning or mental health difficulties as long as the applicant is able to work with hand tools safely and competently and follow instructions.

This role is subject to a DBS check, so please notify us in your application if there are any criminal convictions or cautions we need to be aware of.