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Now Hiring

School Garden Educator

Position Description: 

The mission of Community Soil Foundation (CSF) is to cultivate the wellness of Sonoma

County communities by offering high quality land-based education, creating access to organic produce, and regenerating habitat and natural resources. Following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), CSF teaches concepts of environmental stewardship, biology, and regenerative agriculture to youth and adults through gardening, restoration projects, community events, and volunteer-driven fieldwork at our outdoor classroom, the Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center.

 

Community Soil Foundation’s School Garden Educator will primarily be responsible for delivering garden-based education to students of Mark West Elementary in grades Tk-1. The Educator will deliver lessons in the Larkfield Community Garden and Learning Center, combining environmental science education with hands-on activities like planting, tending, harvesting, and cooking. The School Garden Educator collaborates with Community Soil Foundation’s co-founders, Garden Manager, and upper elementary Educator to build involvement in and commitment to the garden within the school community, which includes teachers, administrators, students, families, and other youth service providers.  

 

The School Garden Educator wage ranges $22-$25/hour for 20 hours per week, with classes onsite 4 days a week. While this position follows the school year schedule, there may be opportunities for summer employment for the right candidate. Additional hours may be available year round for candidates with a strong interest in building administrative, marketing, and community outreach skills. 

 

Job Responsibilities:

Garden Education

  • Co-manage the school garden education program, including curriculum development centering organic gardening, ecoliteracy, ecology, and nutrition/cooking. Design lesson plans around thematic units which align with the seasons.  

  • Create individual lesson plans to meet the needs of the various student demographics, grade levels, and classroom dynamics while aiming to align with NGSS.

  • Prepare for classes by gathering supplies and materials for each lesson plan.

  • Deliver 8 garden-based education lessons per week to students TK-1. (Classes have 20-25 students. The Educator is supported during classes by the school teacher, volunteers, and/or a paraeducator.)

  • Collaborate with Mark West teachers to create lessons that are supportive of class learning goals.

 

Administration

  • Participate in staff meetings, as well as one-on-one meetings with the upper elementary Educator.  

  • Oversee class expenditures in accordance with program budgets.

  • Attend occasional meetings with community partners, including Sonoma County Regional Parks, as well as community workshops or volunteer days. 

  • Attend and participate in monthly Advisory Council meetings. 

  • Document lesson plans, teacher feedback, and areas of success/improvement. 

 

Outreach 

  • Create an outdoor classroom environment with environmental learning centers.

  • Build and maintain relationships with classroom teachers, school administrators, program partners, and constituents in support of program activities. 

 

Required Skills and Experience:

  • At least 2-3 years of facilitation or teaching experience with youth aged 5 - 11. Outdoor education experience is required. 

  • Passionate about outdoor access for youth, garden education, local and sustainable agriculture.  

  • Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations, including youth and adults.

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent preferred.

  • Capable of working in a dynamic outdoor environment, able to lift 25 pounds from floor to table height, willing and able to work in all weather conditions. 

 

Desired Skills and Experience:

  • Knowledge of and/or skills in the following: environmental science, health and nutrition, food systems, food access, botany, resource conservation, cooking, neurodiversity, and social justice.

  • Familiarity with the following: permaculture, California native plants/animals, and ecology. 

  • Strong oral and written communication skills, including public speaking skills.

  • Excellent interpersonal communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. 

  • Ability to work independently, be flexible, and think creatively.

  • Social media, computer and project management skills.

 

Send Resume and cover letter to: 

info@communitysoil.org.

Community Garden Manager

 

Position Description: The mission of Community Soil Foundation (CSF) is to cultivate the wellness of Sonoma

County communities by offering high quality land-based education, creating access to organic produce, and regenerating habitat and natural resources. Following Next Generation Science Standards, CSF teaches concepts of environmental stewardship, biology, and regenerative agriculture to youth and adults through gardening, restoration projects, community events, and volunteer-driven fieldwork at our outdoor classroom, the Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center.

 

The culmination of our work with students and volunteers is the sustainably grown, nutritious produce offered to community members at no cost. Since ground-breaking in 2015, an estimated 2,500 students have participated in our education programs, over 36,000 pounds of food has been grown for the community, and upwards of 3,000 native plants have been planted. Our work in restoration and sustainable agriculture benefits all life in our ecosystem, promoting biodiversity and ecological resilience.

 

Job Description: 

The Community Garden Manager is responsible for the success and productivity of the Larkfield Community Garden through the seasons, combining production farming with community engagement. The Manager reports to the CSF Founders and collaborates with all staff, advisory council members, volunteers, and community partners. This position requires a person who thrives when working independently, and can self-direct and self-prioritize. Candidates must be forward thinking with respect to seasonal needs and comfortable working with community members and supporting the garden educators.  

 

Days: At least three weekdays onsite. Specific days are flexible. One Saturday per month is required. 

Hours: 20 hrs per week on average, with a minimum of 15hr/wk during winter and maximum of 25hr/wk during summer. 

Rate: $22-$25/hr 

Job responsibilities include the following: 

 

Maintenance & Operations

  • Develop an annual garden plan, with awareness of crop rotation, maximizing yields, and inter-planting for beneficial insect attraction and disease/pest resistance

  • Create a space that is abundant, productive, and inviting for students and community members. 

  • Juggle farm productivity with hands-on learning opportunities for students. 

  • Tend soil, with knowledge of bio-intensive, low-till practices for building long-term fertility and health.

  • Build and maintain compost piles to cycle nutrients while sourcing amendments as needed.

  • Manage greenhouse, plant annuals each season, and attend to perennial herbs, flowers, and fruit orchard.

  • Maintain the irrigation system, garden tools, and structures, replacing as needed. 

  • Orient garden visitors and maintain public signage. 

 

Outreach 

  • Harvest, clean, and deliver produce to local food banks, neighborhood residents, and/or teachers for their garden classes. 

  • Engage with garden visitors, cultivating relationships within the community around organic and regenerative methods of food production.

  • Engage with Mark West students and classes and be available to support the School Garden Educators.

  • Develop garden projects for Mark West classes, School Garden Network summer programs, and volunteer days. This can include collaboration with other local agencies, including Sonoma County Regional Parks. 

  • Coordinate seasonal volunteer projects and lead monthly garden work days. 

  • Manage garden-use schedules and collaborate with other organizations when they use the garden for activities. 

  • Participate in outreach activities and social media for the garden.

 

Administration

  • Monitor expenditures within the program budget.

  • Collect data and tell stories to support program impact and contribute to seasonal newsletters.

  • Communicate consistently with program Founders, meet weekly with Garden Educators, attend monthly advisory council meetings. 

  • Expand the garden, continuing to add biodiversity and meet the growing needs of the organization and community.

 

Qualifications 

  • At least two years of professional farm/garden experience and one year of management experience, specifically with organic/regenerative/no-till methods.  

  • Competent with both self-directed work and managing groups. 

  • Ability to lift 40 lbs and work outdoors in variable climatic conditions. 

  • Desire to build a community rooted in collective land stewardship and sharing good food.

 

Send Resume and cover letter to: 

info@communitysoil.org.

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