CSJ BCCF Market Garden & Community Engagement Trainee

Black Creek Community Farm

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

• Market Garden Trainee
• Community Engagement Trainee

Overview:

Black Creek Community Farm is an 8-acre farm in the heart of Jane and Finch neighbourhood in Toronto. We are a not-for-profit organization and a leader in Torontos dynamic urban agriculture and community food sector. We serve and enrich our community through a thriving farm healthy food as well as hands-on training and learning experiences. Our focus is to inspire the next generation by providing leadership in food justice and supporting diverse and social ecosystems.

This position is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program which requires that the applicants:

• Be between 15-30 years of age (inclusive)
• Be Canadian Citizens permanent residents or persons 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

Please note: Black Creek Community Farm (BCCF) is hiring a total of 2 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) staff this summer. CSJ staff will have the opportunity to work with all BCCF programs and be exposed to all aspects of our work but their main area of work will be with either the Market Garden team or the Community Programs team as described in the job descriptions below.

We will be filling 1 Market Trainee position and 1 Community Engagement Trainee position. We will make every effort to honour candidate preferences when making job offers but assignments will be made on the basis of position availability.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Market Garden Trainee

The Market Garden Trainee will primarily help the Market Garden team with all aspects of vegetable production and sales. As needed they will also support other initiatives at the community farm related to community events farm programming and education for all ages fundraising outreach farm site care and general farm chores. The following are the main areas of work and in any given week the Trainee can expect to rotate through these areas of work.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Support the Market Garden team with a wide range of field tasks related to the growing and maintenance of our crops including seeding seedling care planting weeding pruning trellising field prep composting greenhouse work setting up field materials or infrastructure and cleaning and organizational tasks.
• Work collaboratively with the market garden team to harvest vegetables for sale via our weekly Harvest Share program on-site farm stand and wholesale customers
• Perform routine tasks including harvesting weighing washing and packaging vegetables - involves physical labour and working outdoors in all weather conditions
• Engage with Harvest Share (a vegetable subscription program) members weekly and facilitate their pick up and manage market sales on site.
• Run shifts at the on-site farm stand which includes handling cash merchandising products and delivering friendly customer service
• Support the wider staff team in running community events and workshops such as the Farm Festival and Community Planting Day
• Work alongside share knowledge and teach learned agriculture skills to volunteers and other community members in collaboration with other staff
• Planning administration and communications: Depending on skill sets and interests Market Garden Assistants will be involved with a range of administrative tasks to help us with our weekly planning. Tasks may include data entry social media community outreach and various coordination tasks.
• Participate in regular team meetings and offer feedback on ongoing farm work on-site

Community Engagement Trainee

The Community Engagement Trainee will primarily help the Programs team facilitate educational programming for the community through various projects based on the farm: Farm Education Urban Harvest Farm Park and seniors programming. They will support a wide range of field tasks including planting native perennials orchard care invasive species removal weeding trail maintenance lawn mowing caring for the chickens and infrastructure maintenance (bake oven greenhouses). As needed they will also support other initiatives at the community farm related to community events vegetable production fundraising outreach farm site care and general farm chores. The following are the main areas of work and in any given week the Trainee can expect to rotate through these areas of work.

Tasks and & Responsibilities:

• Implement Farm Education curriculum and facilitate urban agriculture workshops with kids youth and seniors from the community on-site remotely and/or virtually
• Be prepared to work outside in ALL weather conditions including rain sun and heat.
• Utilize digital technology and social media to engage kids youth and seniors from the community in programming
• Support staff in implementing scheduled activities including nature crafts gardening cooking and environmental stewardship programming.
• Work collaboratively with staff to supervise community members participating in programs offer safety training and ensure participants feel safe and respected
• Support program delivery including cooking and gardening workshops and work alongside community residents to volunteer on the farm
• Support the maintenance of the food forest medicine wheel garden community garden other themed gardens chicken coop bake oven and periphery areas on the farm which includes daily watering weeding maintenance and harvesting
• Support the Urban Harvest program: Harvest surplus produce from BCCF and gardens in the community redistribute to local food banks and childrens and seniors programs. Support the development and facilitation of preservation and canning workshops. Promote projects and outreach to the public
• Participate in outreach activities through social media building relationships with residents and stakeholders distributing flyers and putting up posters as needed.
• Participate in regular team meetings and offer feedback on ongoing program site activities.

Job Requirements:

• Must be legally authorized to work in Canada

• This positions main work location is Black Creek Community Farm 4929 Jane St as well as other sites occasionally which will be discussed with the supervisor.
• Repetitive tasks such as bending crouching reaching and lifting up to 50lbs
• Full shifts standing and working on your feet
• Use of hand tools and mechanized equipment
• Working outdoors in all kinds of weather (heat sun rain cold)
• Working regular shifts on evenings weekends and occasional holidays as needed.

Qualifications Knowledge and Experience:

• Desire and passion for working outdoors
• Comfortable doing physical labour (using gardening tools weeding using a wheelbarrow being on your feet for long periods carrying loads bending squatting etc.)
• At least 1 year of experience in farming vegetable gardening working with plants or other physical outdoor work
• At least 1 year of customer service experience preferably in a market or community setting.
• Demonstrated communication and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Experience in farming community engagement environmental education and/or food justice are assets
• Experience with customer service an asset
• Experience living or working in the Black Creek/Jane-Finch neighbourhood an asset
• Strong interest in ecological vegetable gardening practices (pest fertility and weed management and seed starting)

• Interest in facilitating culturally relevant programs for diverse groups (e.g. workshops tours or group activities)

• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully with people of different ages genders abilities cultural backgrounds and individuals who experience marginalization
• Willingness to learn and follow instructions taking initiative when appropriate
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities follow through and meet deadlines
• Familiarity and proficiency with G-Suite (Google Drive Sheets Docs Calendar

Gmail) and social media

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

Total Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary: $22.08/ Hour
• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract fixed hours (35 hours per week)
• Duration: 8 week
• Reports to: Various (Market Garden Coordinator Farm Park Coordinator Farm Education Coordinator)

• Vacation: Vacation in pay (8%)
• Location(s) of Position:Black Creek Community Farm 4929 Jane St Toronto ON M3N 2K8
• Available positions: 1 Market Garden Trainee & 1 Community Engagement Trainee
• Anticipated start date: June 1 2026

*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 2026

Selection Process:

1. The first step in the hiring process is for FoodShares HR team to screen applications to determine which demonstrate meeting the postings base qualifications. 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 2 weeks from the application deadline.
2. The hiring committee will review the applications that pass the initial screening and decide which candidates to invite to interview. This process usually takes about 1 week.
3. 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 interviews usually occur about 4 weeks after the application recognition of the time and labour of preparing for and attending an interview BCCF financially compensates interviewees at a fixed rate of $75 per interview.
4. The hiring committee may conduct a second round of interviews which may include a pre-interview assignment which would be compensated.
5. HR will conduct reference checks for the candidate they intend to extend an offer to. This process usually takes about 1 week.
6. HR will send the selected candidate and Employment Agreement which the candidate will have at least 1 week to review and return.

Please note:

BCCF is a member of FoodShare Torontos Supportive Partnerships Platform - staff hired for this position will be employed by FoodShare Toronto and their work location will be Black Creek Community Farm.

FoodShare is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race colour religion sex sexual orientation gender national origin age disability protected veterans status or any other legally-protected factors.

You may require accommodation during the application process. If thats the case please do not hesitate to contact Human Resources at at your earliest convenience to let them know what type of accommodation you need.

Required Experience:

Intern