Schoolyard Farm Field Lead

Position Location: South & East Vancouver, BC 

Application Deadline: February 21, 2023

Location: East and South Vancouver secondary schools sites. Both sites are transit accessible.

Dates: May 15 through Sept 1; some flexibility in dates in possible

Hours: Full-time. Hours are typically M-F between 8:00 and 5:00; exact hours depending on seasonal demands. 

Wage: $17-$19.50, DOE. If the BC minimum wage increases, starting rate will also increase.

Note: Position is dependent on funding, which may change the number of hours or length of position.

Job Duties

Together with the Farm Manager, the Field Leads will

• Prepare farm beds, plant (direct seed and transplant), tend, harvest, and prepare a wide variety of crops for sale based on an existing crop plan
  • Crops include greens, root vegetables, squashes, hot crops, peas and beans, herbs, and flowers
• Grow crops using low-impact farming techniques
• Monitor and seek out solutions for crop failures or other farm challenges
• Safely use and maintain farming tools, including hand tools, gas-powered tools, seeders, flame weeders, etc.
• Communicate and coordinate with the education teams to ensure the farms are both productive growing space and safe, engaging learning environments
• Help maintain perennial herbs, flowers, berries, etc. 
• Keep field records

Qualifications 

• 1-2 years experience in gardening, farming or landscaping preferred
• Willingness to learn new skills and techniques
• Enjoy working independently as well as in collaboration with a team
• Strong communication skills
  • Interest or experience teaching is a plus
• Able to give and receive feedback  
• Adaptable and flexible
• Able to meet goals within a limited time frame (harvesting, weeding, etc.)
• Initiative to solve problems, while knowing when to ask for information or help
• Able to carry out a variety of physical tasks that involve bending, squatting, lifting up to 50 lb, and repetitive motion
• Equipped, willing, and able to work outdoors in all weather conditions  
• Type 5 Driver’s License preferred; experience driving large vehicles an asset
• Must pass a criminal record check to be able to work with children and vulnerable populations 
• Must meet Canada Summer Jobs Requirements

Compensation Package

Pay: $17.00-$19.50 per hour, plus 4% in lieu of vacation

Paid Sick Leave

On the job training and professional development workshops

Discount on produce and access to culls

How to Apply

Fresh Roots is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.

To this site, submit a resume, a short cover letter OR video introduction, and names, phone number, and email address information for 3 references who are not friends or family members. At least one reference should be able to speak to your gardening, farming or landscaping experience. 

Your cover letter or video should

• introduce yourself
• share why you want this position and what makes you uniquely qualified
• share what you hope to gain from the position if hired.

Videos should be no more than 3 minutes, and must be shared via a link in the “website, blog, or portfolio” line. Cover letters should be no more than 500 words and must be uploaded as a document. Please note that we are not judging videos based on your video editing skills, and neither videos nor cover letters are preferred. Choose the option that best lets you shine.

We regret that due to the high volume of applicants only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

About Fresh Roots

Our Vision is Good Food For All, which is realized when youth have the skills, capacity, and will to act as food citizens and land stewards, to grow and share healthy food for themselves, their families, and the planet! To make this vision a reality, we cultivate educational farms and programs where students dig into meaningful connections with the land, food, and each other, inspiring communities to build just food systems. Our schoolyard farms site in Vancouver and Coquitlam grow hyper-local produce and serve as outdoor classrooms for over 3000 kids and youth a year. To learn more about Fresh Roots, visit our website. 

About the Good Food Program

The Fresh Roots Good Food Farm Team cares for two ~½ acre farms on secondary school grounds in Vancouver. The farms produce annual vegetables, flowers, and herbs which are sold at our markets and through a CSA, are used by kids and youth in our programs, and contribute to food security programs. We strive to foster growing space that models sustainable ecosystems and acts as the living classroom for our education programs.