Market Garden Program Assistant- 2021 Growing Season
About Us: Urban Roots is a Saint Paul organization whose mission is to cultivate and empower youth through nature, healthy food, and community. Urban Roots focuses its programs on the East Side of Saint Paul, MN and our vision is a world where all communities have unlimited access to nature and healthy food. We place the tools of personal and community development in the hands of young people and families.
Urban Roots, formerly the Community Design Center of Minnesota, was incorporated in 1969. Over the past 52 years, Urban Roots has provided a range of community development services in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and southern Minnesota, including architecture, urban planning, economic development, and organizational development—with a common thread of empowerment, engagement, and innovation. Since 1996, we’ve operated our food and environmental programs on the East Side of Saint Paul, engaging thousands of under-resourced youth in education, training, and work projects that provide service to the community, develop young leaders, and improve health and the environment. We offer three programs to engage and support youth in paid internships—Market Garden, Cook Fresh, and Conservation.
Position Summary:
The Market Garden Program Assistant reports to the Market Garden Program Manager to help carry out the weekly functions of the farm and Market Garden Program. Urban Roots works towards creating more access to healthy, local produce and experiences in nature to East Side community members. In this position you will be introduced to: community organizing, navigating community-wide food security issues, land access and the specialized technical skills needed for intensive vegetable production in an urban landscape.
This position is seasonal with an estimated start date of 5/3/2021 and ending 8/27/2021. This is a 36 hours/week position.
Essential Functions:
- Farm Labor
- Including but not limited to: planting, organic pest & disease management, harvest distribution & tracking, and seasonal maintenance
- Assist in the operation of a wholesale and seasonal CSA program, including writing weekly CSA newsletters
- Work at local farmers markets to sell produce with the youth internship program
- Youth Development
- Leading work shifts with youth interns in our garden plots
- Other duties as assigned by the Market Garden Manager
Qualifications:
- 1+ year of farm work experience
- Experience working with youth preferred
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work independently and to problem solve
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suites and other standard office tools
- Drivers license with a clean driving record to drive Urban Roots vehicles
- Ability to work outside and do physical labor full days
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
- Commitment to Urban Roots values, which include collaboration, inclusion, stewardship and experiential learning
Compensation:
$15.17/hr DOE, prorated holiday and sick time.
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to info@urbanrootsmn.org. Please include “Market Garden Assistant” in the subject line. No phone calls please.
Urban Roots is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to build a staff reflective of our values of equity and inclusion with regard to race, culture, ethnicity, class religion, physical ability, age, gender identity and sexual orientation. Urban Roots is committed to fostering the leadership of BIPOC individuals (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), women, LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others living in marginalized communities.
