[CLOSED] Garden Educator

The Garden Educator will support the growth of the farm and perform daily care of the garden, crops, bushes, and trees, as well as improving the chicken yard in a manner to garden with and for chickens. The Garden Educator will also prepare activities under the direction of the Farm Manager to welcome groups of children and also adults to interact with plants, chickens, and goats. 

Pip and Pickles Farm is an educational farm just outside of Nashville that supports learners at A New Leaf Nashville ranging from preschool to 3rd grade on a 10-acre farm with a production garden, chickens, and goats. The farm team prioritizes the care and keep of the farm and it’s residents, but also facilitates children and family educational experiences in farm spaces.

The Garden Educator will support the growth of the farm and perform daily care of the garden, crops, bushes, and trees, as well as improving the chicken yard in a manner to garden with and for chickens. The Garden Educator will also prepare activities under the direction of the Farm Manager to welcome groups of children and also adults to interact with plants, chickens, and goats.

Responsibilities:

March-May:

• Gain experience throughout the farm with daily farm tasks and needs, and become familiar with farm procedures and programs.
• Take care of the greenhouse and seed start vegetables.
• Participate in the creation of the garden beds, vegetable production, integrated pest management, and irrigation methods.
• Create structures or walls as needed in the garden to support plant growth
• Plant bushes and trees.
• Manage and use compost.
• Develop the sale and shipping of our shiso tea through shopify.
• Assist other educators, teachers, and groups with experiential learning in the garden.

June-October:

• Take over responsibility for some aspects of daily farm function.
• Work with the farm team to complete daily farm tasks and needs.
• Continue to work towards permaculture goals in the gardens by planting and changing the terrain to facilitate water and nutrient retention.
• Monitor and care for garden vegetables and crops as well as the bushes and trees.
• Follow integrated pest management practices to reduce pest load in the garden.
• Keep clear harvest and sale records when assisting with harvest or market.
• Serve as a mentor and knowledge source for the teen “Junior Farm Apprentice” summer program.
• Harvest, clean, and store produce with the  farm team.
• Process and can excess produce as needed.
• Assist with food preparation.
• Assist with weekly farmer’s market offered to program families.

November-February:

• Plant winter vegetables 
• Shape beds for the spring
• Work with the farm team to complete daily farm tasks and needs.
• Assist with monitoring animal health and wellbeing.
• Assist other educators, teachers, and groups with experiential learning on the farm.
• Plan spring seedlings and plantings.
• Maintain the greenhouse.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors in a related field.
• Experience with small-scale sustainable farming (or large-scale gardening)
• Ability to maintain a clean and orderly work environment in all areas of the farm outdoors and indoors.
• Read and assimilate information, and write to communicate information clearly.
• Some experience with chicken or goat care.
• Trained in CPR and First Aid.

Desired Qualifications:

Any combination or number of the following skills or knowledge areas is desirable for this position.

• Sustainable vegetable production
• Integrated pest management
• Experience with CSAs or farmer’s markets
• Canning and food preservation
• Experience in educational programming for preschool and school-aged children
• Volunteer management or mentorship experience
• Small livestock care
• Small livestock training
• Experience mentoring teenage volunteers
• Woodworking, plumbing, and construction

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those required for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:
• Carry and lift at least 50 lbs.
• Occasionally carry and lift up to 80 lbs.
• Ability to work in outdoor conditions throughout the year, especially during peak summer heat and winter frost, as well as on rainy days.