CSJ Flemo Farm Market Garden Assistant

We are currently seeking the ideal candidate to fill the position of:

Flemo Farm Market Garden Assistant

At FoodShare we advocate for food justice by supporting community-based food initiatives and through ongoing advocacy and public education. Our vision is a Toronto where all people can feed themselves their loved ones and their communities with dignity and joy. We operate on a people-first model that values fair compensation policies that respect a work/life balance and the contributions of our team members at all levels.

Overview:

Flemo Farm is a Community Engagement and Entrepreneurial Development (CEED) initiative that has transformed half an acre of unused grassland in the Flemingdon Park hydro corridor into a thriving urban farm. The farm supports 11 community farmers who operate their own micro-farm businesses while FoodShare staff cultivate produce in the communal plots that is distributed to residents experiencing food insecurity.

This summer Flemo Farm aims to grow and share over 15000 pounds of fresh produce with the addition to food production the farm coordinates the Flemo Farmers Market and hosts educational workshops on food justice urban farming community gardening and anti-oppression fostering a more just connected and resilient local food system. As a Flemo Farm Market Garden Assistant you will help seed weed harvest and sell produce at local farmers markets

This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program and requires that the applicant:

• Be between 15-30 years of age (inclusive)
• Be a Canadian Citizen permanent resident or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations.

Duties include (but are not limited to):

• Farm Operations: Support daily farm tasks such as seeding transplanting weeding watering pruning fertilizing pest and disease management harvesting washing packaging and storing produce.
• Harvesting & Distribution: Assist with harvesting and distributing produce by compiling weekly orders tracking harvest data and maintaining accurate records.
• Community Engagement: Support to create a welcoming environment for volunteers; mentor gardening volunteers; assist with garden tours; and when appropriate represent the farm by speaking at community events.
• Pollinator and Site Maintenance: Assist in maintaining the pollinator garden and surrounding areas of the farm to ensure a clean safe and vibrant space.
• Outreach and Communications: Support outreach activities through social media distributing flyers putting up posters and building relationships with residents and community stakeholders.
• Farmers Market: Contribute to market operations including supplying setting up and closing down merchandising providing customer service and mentoring volunteers.
• Educational Programming: Collaborate with Farm Coordinators FoodShare staff and partner organizations to develop and deliver educational programming for community members.
• Community Compost Exchange (CCE): Support CCE activities by promoting participation receiving and recording drop-offs and assisting with composting processes.
• Data and Record Keeping: Assist with recording and managing production marketing and compost-related data.
• Collaboration and Administration: Participate in Flemo Farm and FoodShare staff meetings training sessions and reporting requirements (e.g. timesheets) and perform other duties as assigned.
• Community Programs: Support and assist other community food-growing initiatives at Sunshine Garden Flemo Farm and through the Community Compost Program.
• Other Duties: Perform additional tasks as assigned to support the success of the program.

Required Qualifications Knowledge and Experience

• Composting: Minimum of 1 year of experience managing a small-scale or backyard compost system.
• Customer Service: At least 1 year of customer service experience preferably in a market or community setting.
• Growing & Gardening Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in vegetable gardening food production or working with plants.
• Community Involvement: Demonstrated interest in community-led food projects urban agriculture or neighbourhood-based organizing.
• Equity & Food Justice: Proven commitment to the principles of food justice equity and inclusion.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work effectively independently and as part of a diverse team engaging people of different ages abilities and cultural backgrounds.
• Facilitation & Leadership: Strong facilitation skills with the ability to lead diverse groups think on your feet and creatively problem-solve during workshops tours or activities.
• Communication & Organization: Excellent verbal communication organizational and time management skills.
• Experience working with children youth adults and/or seniors in community-based settings.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong punctuality reliability and commitment to completing assigned tasks.
• Effective communication and organizational skills.
• Skills in photography videography and social media are an asset
• A valid G Drivers License is considered an asset..

Requirements:

• Must be legally authorized to work in Canada
• Must meet Canada Summer Jobs Program eligibility criteria (as outlined above).
• Comfortable performing repetitive physical tasks including bending crouching lifting and reaching.
• Able to work full shifts on your feet in an outdoor environment.
• Experience with or willingness to learn the use of hand tools and small-scale farming equipment.
• Willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions including heat sun rain and cold.
• Physically capable of lifting and moving items up to 40 pounds.
• Occasional evening work may be required with advance notice provided.
• Must follow all health and safety guidelines and practices for farm operations.
• Available to work Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. On Thursday from 12:00 pm to 7:30 pm it is a market day

Please note that the successful applicant will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check. FoodShare will cover the cost of this requirement.

Total Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary: $25.55/ Hour
• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract fixed hours (35 hours per week)
• Duration: 8 week
• Reports to: Flemo Farm Coordinators
• Vacation: Vacation in pay (8%)
• Location(s) of Position: Flemo Farm 150 Grenoble Drive North York and other Community Food Growing locations such as Sunshine Garden BCI Farm and Compost.

• Available positions: 1

*Note: As part of FoodShares commitment to equity salaries and benefits are non-negotiable

TO APPLY: Please submit your resume and cover letter by 5:00pm on Wednesday April 22 2025.

Selection Process:

• FoodShares recruitment process involves the anonymization of all resumes prior to their being screened by the hiring committee. This step removes applicant personal details (names email addresses) educational & employment institutions years of work experience and personal interests to reduce potential for bias. Please make sure to detail your experience in your resume/cover letter to ensure the committee has the information they need to assess your qualifications for the role. This process takes at least 3 weeks from the application deadline.
• The hiring committee will review anonymized versions of the applications that pass the initial screening and decide which to invite to interview. This process usually takes about 1 week.
• The hiring committee will conduct first round interviews with selected candidates. Candidates will be sent the interview questions 48 hours in advance of their scheduled interview. Candidates are welcome but not expected or required to send any questions they have for the hiring committee in advance of the interview. These usually occur about 4 weeks after the application deadline.
• In recognition of the time and labour of preparing for and attending an interview FoodShare financially compensates interviewees at a fixed rate of $75 per interview.
• HR will conduct reference checks for the candidate they intend to extend an offer to. This process usually takes about 1 week.
• HR will send the selected candidate an Employment Agreement which the candidate will have at least 3 business days to review and return.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team! FoodShare is a food justice organization. This means that we are committed to working to identify and dismantle systemic forms of oppression that cause and perpetuate food security inequities.

Racialized people and others from equity-seeking groups are over-represented in food insecurity and poverty statistics but are significantly under-represented in community based food organizations. We believe that those most affected by an issue must have access to paid positions in organizations tasked with challenging poverty and food insecurity. FoodShare strives to create a workspace that reflects the diversity of identities and lived experiences that exist within the communities we work alongside. If you see yourself reflected in 80% of the requirements for this role please consider applying.

If you require accommodation when navigating the application process please contact:

Required Experience:

Junior IC