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.

Job description

• Role: Volunteer Facilitator in Agro-ecological Market Garden.
• Responsible to: Managing Director (Rosaleen Earley)
• Hours: 5.5 hours per week or per fortnight (between 9.00 to 3.30 Monday or Wednesday)
• Pay: £12 per hour
• Contract: Temporary 12 week commencing 1st March with opportunity for 2 more 12 week contracts.
• Holiday: none paid but opportunity to take unpaid holidays

Who are we?

Black Grove Greens is an expanding Community Supported Agriculture scheme in Colliers End, Ware. We have been growing vegetables and running volunteer days on Black Grove Farm, for 5 years.

We grow food using organic principles and bio-intensive techniques on no-dig beds. We grow with and for the local community with up to 20 volunteers attending the work days. We aim to grow up to 20 different varieties of vegetables, fruit and herbs with a focus on healthy fresh Greens. Our productivity aim is to grow enough produce for 20 weekly veg boxes June to October plus extra produce for volunteers to take home in exchange for their time. We train volunteers in horticultural skills as well as permaculture design techniques and community decision making. We run ‘little farmers’ sessions and ‘muddy roots’ homeschool sessions for visitors and we also manage a flock of pasture fed, free-range hens, sheep and goats. The farm raises livestock outdoors and produces high quality pasture raised meat.

The overall objectives of the projects for 2025 are to:

• Facilitate volunteer days and training for local people.
• Welcome educational visits from adults and children.
• Grow and harvest enough vegetables for 20 veg boxes for 30 weeks.

Specific job description

We are looking for a volunteer facilitator to partner up with a co-grower role to focus on welcoming volunteers to the garden and being the touchstone to support them in having a really wonderful experience here. Hearth keeping, inductions, hellos and goodbyes, supporting families with children, ensuring the harvest is shared, keeping facilities and health and safety to a great standard, setting the tone for this inclusive, educational place and supporting all the way people want to heal and connect here. 

The new employee will ensure the health and safety for themselves and the other people on site when they are working by following all policies which they will receive training in. They will be using initiative to make decisions. 

Education and Training (to be demonstrated on application and at interview)

• Good general education (A-Level equivalent) and/or 3 years minimum relevant work experience relating to the role 
• First aid training
• Driving licence
• DBS
• Health and safety (from here below will be provided)
• Food safety
• NVC
• Permaculture

Experience (to be demonstrated on application and at interview)

• Experience of working in a community or educational setting with families
• Experience of designing and building garden spaces and growing Vegetables.
• Experience of working with members of the public, customers or volunteers in a team and managing people. 
• Experience of working with vulnerable people and those going through life circumstances as described above.
• Experience of organising and running community events
• Experience of reporting to directors/trustees 
• Experience of advocating for yourself or others as a vulnerable person
• Experience of using mindfulness techniques and other ways to connect inwardly for self-development and care .

Knowledge and Understanding (to be demonstrated on application and at interview) 

• Knowledge and understanding of horticulture and food growing 
• Knowledge of community engagement techniques 
• How to communicate 

Skills and Abilities (to be demonstrated on application and at interview) 

• Good verbal and written communication skills 
• Good planning and organisational skills 
• Sound project management skills with good attention to detail
• Good computer literacy.
• Ability to work on own initiative 
• Ability to show empathy and good listening skills
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse group and ideas.                            
• Ability to designate and give clear instruction  

Personal Qualities (to be demonstrated at interview) 

• Creative problem solving skills for working in an off-grid garden.
• Friendly and personable 
• Commitment to equal opportunities and healthy and safe working practices 
• An interest in environmental issues 
• Able and willing to give honest and constructive feedback to co-workers and volunteers to work towards strengthening trust, confidence and communication in the organisation.
• Passion for food and making nourishing recipes with fresh vegetables

Application information

Please read through this carefully and apply with your CV and a covering letter explaining briefly how you fit the person specification.

Email Rosie at Blackgrovegreens@outlook.com with any questions and to apply.

 

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs