Farm & Garden Specialist

Farm and Garden Specialist

Salary & Dates: $4510, Dates for this position are May 31 – August 8

Job Description: Work with Farm and Garden Supervisor to support cultivation of Tawonga’s vegetable and ornamental garden using organic farming practices. Care for goats and chickens, including feeding, watering, mucking, and facilitating humane educational programs with animals and campers. Collaborate with Naturalists (Teva Specialists) to lead engaging farm and garden programming for children ages 8-16, fostering with campers a connection to nature, Jewish values of sustainability and caring for the world, and a connection to food, land and farming. Must be able to navigate over 4-8 miles of uneven terrain to different program areas around camp daily and lift up to 40 lbs. Live in cabin with other staff. Work 8 hours/day outside and provide extra early morning/late night care for animals as needed. Farm and Garden experience preferred.

Job Responsibilities and Qualities

• Assist the Farm and Garden Supervisor in all aspects of managing the farm and garden:

  • Select best crop varieties, planting location, and timing prioritizing kid-friendly produce for direct consumption and useful crops for kitchen use, ready for the months of June-September

  • Build soil fertility; adequately care for all perennials, including fruit trees; manage pests using only organic methods 

  • Maintain high animal welfare

  • Keep tool shed, garden and barn organized and well stocked

  • Keep regular records of garden activities, harvest, and animal health

  • Support Tawonga’s sustainability efforts as related to food, farming and animal welfare

  • Support with design, accessibility, and aesthetic of garden area

• Programming

  • Develop and lead programming focusing on food, farming, Judaism and the food system at Tawonga and beyond with the support of the Farm and Garden Supervisor

  • Work with Garden Kitchen staff to cultivate and harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs needed for their programs.

  • Share the responsibility of leading Mgar and Egar (morning and evening garden work blocks) with the Farm and Garden Supervisor

  • Depending on interest and scheduling, lead programming outside of the farm and garden with support from the Teva Supervisor

• Relationships

  • Build positive relationships with Buildings and Grounds Team, Naturalist/Teva Team, Wilderness Leaders, Garden Kitchen Team, Maintenance Team, and Kitchen Team. Support their work as needed.

  • Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and flexibility, able to meet changing work needs and demands

Qualifications

• Experience working in gardening, farming, and/or animal husbandry required

• 21 preferred

• Ability to work independently and with a team equally effectively.

• Love of the natural world

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Some lifting and carrying up to 40 lbs.

  • Operating equipment (rototiller)

  • Standing, walking, kneeling, digging

  • Working with and moving farm animals

Day in the Life (Morning Shift*)

6:30AM – Wake-up animals, feed chickens, feed and milk goats, deliver milk to garden kitchen

7:30AM - Early breakfast with Maintenance Team

8:00AM – Lead MGar Tikkun (Morning Garden service block) with bunk – planting, watering, weeding, animal care, etc.

9:30AM – Garden and farm work (independent)

12:30PM – Lunch, meet with supervisor and farmhand team.

1:30PM – More garden or farm work (as a team)

2:30PM – Off for the day

*An Afternoon shift will likely be 12:30-8:30, including Dinner at 6pm and animal milking and bedtime. At times, shifts will be split to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Sometimes, Farm and Garden Specialists will assist with milking and bedtime when off, depending on staffing and animal needs.

Salary : $4,510