We’re hiring a Garden Coordinator

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Sunflower 5 w Text SMALLThe Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust created the Tom Settlemire Community Garden (TSCG) in 2012 to provide intergenerational organic gardening opportunities, provide locally grown food to alleviate hunger in the community, and offer experiential gardening education. The Garden is located on prime farmland on the eastern edge of Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust’s signature 321-acre property on Pleasant Hill Road in Brunswick. TSCG has 80 plots and serves the entire community on a first-come, first-served basis, and also includes the Common Good Garden: a partnership with Mid Coast hunger Prevention Program (MCHPP) to grow food for their soup kitchen and pantry, which has yielded nearly 7,000 pounds of produce in three seasons.

The Land Trust is seeking a part time, paid Garden Coordinator position. The Coordinator will work with the TSCG Committee and MCHPP, and the plot holders and volunteers from both organizations. The Coordinator is directly responsible to the Executive Director of the Land Trust.

The Coordinator will supervise the operation of the TSCG plots and grounds. He or she will oversee, coordinate and nurture plot holder volunteers and keep them informed of volunteer opportunities. The Coordinator will be an ex officio member of the TSCG Committee and, with them, will assist in scheduling, planning and overseeing TSCG events that occur during the growing season. He or she will visit the TSCG on a regular weekly basis from April 1 through October 31 to monitor and report on plot compliance with the TSCG Guidelines, check on disease, weed and pest issues and the general condition of the grounds including the orchard.

The Garden Coordinator will work with the MCHPP Garden Committee and volunteers at the ‘Common Good Garden’ and will have responsibility to produce food in the established beds of the “Common Good Garden’.

The expectation is that the Garden Coordinator position will average 10 hours per week starting on April 1 and ending on October 31. The stipend will be determined by the experience and skills of the candidate.

Skills needed:

  • Knowledge of organic vegetable growing and soil, pest and disease management
  • Ability to work with a diverse group of people
  • Ability to organize, motivate and nurture volunteers
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Organizational skills, ability to multi-task
  • Detail oriented
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, email
  • Physical ability to undertake various gardening tasks

Duties include:

April – May

  • Create a plan for the Common Good Garden (according to the garden design), taking into account crop rotation and crop needs for the season and principles of organic gardening
  • Order and obtain seeds and seedlings, working with the MCHPP Garden Committee to determine budget and garden needs.
  • Under the direction of the TSCG Committee, coordinate and assist in overseeing the Spring Workday
  • Monitor weed, pest and disease issues in both gardens
  • Ensure that, by April 15, the TSCG is ready to be used by the plot holders This includes ordering compost, flagging plots and starting water system
  • Monitor the compost bins

June – October

  • Work with and coordinate adequate MCHPP volunteer coverage and plan, oversee and carry out all aspects of garden prep, planting, maintenance, harvesting and final clean up
  • Keep volunteers of the TSCG and CGG and garden committee members informed of the tasks that need to be done in the garden largely via email, and make sure that they are accomplished by self or by volunteers
  • Keep records of amounts and varieties of seeds and seedlings planted in the CGG and amounts of produce harvested at end of season
  • Monitor weed, pest and disease issues in both gardens
  • Under the direction of the TSCG Committee, coordinate and assist in overseeing the Fall Workday
  • Work with MCHPP Food Bank Coordinator to carry out harvest and delivery of produce
  • Provide final report to MCHPP and to the TSCG Committee
  • Make sure both gardens are ‘put to bed’ by November 1 and that the water system is ready for the winter
  • Monitor the compost bins

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter on or before February 1, 2015 to:

Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust

Attn: Lee Cataldo

108 Maine Street

Brunswick, ME 04011