Farm and Garden Coordinator

6-8 months, March-October

This is a volunteer role but may include options for Canadians or those with a certified work permit and then compensation would dependent on Experience. Food and Accommodation included.

We are looking for someone who is an experienced and competent organic gardener who can co-create and maintain a holistic/permaculture garden management plan and put it into action.  Ideally, folks will have experience in facilitating, educating, delegating, and leading others in the garden with an attitude of excitement for the plants and the activities at hand.  Anyone helping within this role must have good communication skills, self-motivation, the ability to work alone and in a group, good conflict resolution skills and openness to sustainable living practices through living in a learning community.  Skills of additional benefit to the position:  background in botany; Permaculture/ecological design & application; landscape design, installation & management of irrigation and infrastructure; community development and an interest in intentional, sustainable living.

We host many volunteers who assist in the farm, often teach school groups, and hope for pure love flowing through the foods/land we share. Being highly organized and focused on safety and project management is important.  An emphasis is placed on obtaining as much food from the land as possible and storing/preserving as much as we can bring in (including huge amounts of gleaning).

Role activities and responsibilities (not limited to):

• Managing annual vegetable production in our raised-bed gardens and greenhouses (for CSA and OUR kitchen)
• Managing perennial food production in our developing orchards, food forests, and perennial systems
• Expanding food production by designing and developing new garden and food forest areas as well as improving upon the designs of existing areas and systems
• Assist with Livestock Management (jersey, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens/ducks).
• Co-creating & implementing a garden management plan based upon organic philosophies and methods and ‘OUR Food Manifesto.’
• Garden data recording & monitoring: i.e. weather keeping, planting charts, watering schedules, etc.
• Facilitating/leading students & volunteers in organized hands-on garden-related projects: Permaculture Design & Organic Food Production Skillbuilder program.
• Participate in student feedback/assessments
• Curriculum Co-development with program coordinator/supervisor and education program if inclined.
• Working with the on-site cook in developing available produce schedules.
• Work with the continuance of “Farm Status.”
• Continue to establish nursery & garden expansion.

As part of OUR ECOVILLAGE’s committed ground team, you will be able to access some of our guest programs and a wide number of OUR courses.  We are working to create this position as part of the Internship framework for the Global Ecovillage Network. We will be piloting how to build in as many different training components of skills for living/working in a cooperative, collective, community lifestyle.  This is a high-value learning opportunity for a volunteer and some years it may be possible to offer Canadians or those with certified work visas a role with compensation depending on experience.  We work together in the village to share tasks and manage all the elements of a large demonstration site and intentional community that hosts lots of incredible learning programs (K-12, Universities/Colleges, building industry, regulatory authorities).  We aim to be a highly professional that still maintains a creative edge while being as zero waste as possible.  This is a 6-month role, but this could potentially turn into a longer position if Canadian and depending on your fit in the role/village as we will be shortlisting for a business partner.