Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Garden Trainees

The Castle Climbing Centre Garden
Stoke Newington, London

Posted: 29 Jan 2025

Deadline: 23 Feb 2025

Compensation: Unpaid

Living Wage employer

Unpaid Traineeship Volunteer Part-time Fixed term / contract

Job description

Work with The Castle Climbing Centre's garden team, to build the skills required to manage a productive and experimental food growing project, and grow vegetables, fruit and herbs for commercial kitchens and cafés.

Since September 2009, The Castle has been working to develop the one-and-a-half acre green space surrounding the Grade II Listed building. This has been an exciting project in creating a productive mixed-use garden based on the principles of permaculture design and forest gardening. We grow fruit, vegetables and herbs for the on-site café and private customers, and otherwise host events. The space marries up the drama and history of the converted Victorian water pumping station with the dynamism of climbing, to engage visitors and locals in environmental and social sustainability.

We are looking for a minimum of two enthusiastic people (maximum of four for the right candidates) who are keen to learn about growing food in a community garden setting, and who are particularly looking to start or extend their career in food growing and adjacent roles. You'll of course also enjoy working outdoors! This is a great opportunity to learn and work around a diversity of people, each with their unique passions for growing. You'll be joining a part-time team of 4.

The placements run from early-April to October 2025, one day a week on a Thursday. It is an unpaid placement, though benefits of a free seasonal climbing pass as well as lunch during the workday are included. There is the opportunity to attend additional tutorials and training in urban food growing. This role will also involve learning to manage volunteers, assisting in other garden maintenance tasks, and getting involved in garden events.

Note, though we'd prefer all trainees on a Thursday, working a Monday instead may also be possible (or a mish-mash of the two days), so don't let this put you off applying. If you would like additional experience on top of the one-day-per-week, you could additionally work on a Monday anyway.

Application information

Further information can be downloaded here, or is on our linktree. 

To apply, email garden@castle-climbing.co.uk with your CV and short covering letter.

See the Castle website for more details about the Castle Garden, or check our Instagram and Facebook page.

Closing date for applications is midnight Sunday 23rd February 2025.

Interviews will be held mid-March.

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs