Job Posting (internal – external)
Community Garden Coordinator
Contract: 1 year Full-Time contract
This is a bargaining unit position
ABOUT THE STOP:
The Stop Community Food Centre’s mission is to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community, and challenges inequality. From its origins 40+ years ago as one of Canada's first food banks, The Stop has since grown into a vibrant community centre that uses food as a gateway to addressing many issues, including poverty, the environment, social isolation, and health in one of Toronto’s lowest-income neighbourhoods. The Stop is accredited by Imagine Canada for excellence in non-profit accountability, transparency, and governance.
The Opportunity:
We are looking for a candidate to coordinate and maintain multiple community gardens and grow-spaces. The successful candidate will also plan and facilitate several unique community garden and social enterprise programs, including a year-round Farmer's Market. The Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Green Barn Supervisor.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
Garden & Program Coordination
- Coordinate and maintain community gardens (e.g., Mashkikii’aki’ing Garden, Earlscourt Community Garden) and Green Barn grow spaces (e.g. Greenhouse)
- Coordinate and facilitate seasonal and year-round programming (e.g., Dig-In, Global Roots) and food-based social enterprise programming (e.g. Farmer's Market, 10-Metre Greens)
- Ensure gardens, greenhouse, kitchen and community spaces are well-maintained and fully equipped.
- Maintain organic production in the greenhouse and gardens, ensuring proper seed starting, monitoring growth, pest management, watering, and harvesting.
- Support greenhouse and garden planning, including planting schedules, seed ordering, seedling production, and crop rotation.
- Coordinate seedling giveaways, including contacting community gardens and managing production/distribution.
- Maintain compost systems and ensure waste management aligns with sustainability goals.
- Facilitate involvement of other Stop programs (e.g., Healthy Beginnings, Community Advocacy) as well as outside groups and organizations in community gardens.
- Collaborate with the Kitchen team to incorporate garden produce into programming and food security initiatives (i.e. Drop-in).
- Other duties as assigned.
Volunteer & Community Support
- Facilitate volunteer engagement in gardening activities, providing support and training.
- Support facilitation of community and garden-based programs.
- Maintain collaborative communication with The Stop staff, local agencies, and community partners (e.g. CultureLink and NaMeRes)
- Connect volunteers and community members with external learning opportunities, community events, and resources.
- Work closely with the volunteer program to support and engage seasonal volunteers.
Event & Program Assistance
- Organize and facilitate workshops, site visits, and special events (e.g., Educational Workshops, Program Open Houses, Seedling Giveaways, Good Food for All Festival).
- Coordinate educational programming with external groups and The Stop’s partners.
- Conduct garden and greenhouse tours for visitors and community members.
- Assist with staffing and animating drop-in times in the Greenhouse and at the Farmers’ Market.
Administrative & Reporting
- Maintain accurate program records, harvest logs, evaluation and administrative data.
- Support outreach and program promotion (e.g., workshops, social media, newsletters).
- Participate in 1-1 meetings with GB supervisor, team meetings, staff meetings and planning sessions.
- Support the development of program reports, funding proposals, and identifying potential funding sources.
- Ensure compliance with The Stop’s policies (e.g., Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, Health & Safety, and Environmental Policies).
Qualifications
- 1-2 years of farming, community gardening or urban agriculture experience, especially in organic and sustainable methods.
- Strong project coordination, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Experience coordinating and supporting diverse volunteers.
- Commitment to food justice, anti-racism, and social equity principles.
- Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse community (people of different ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds)
- Basic computer literacy (Microsoft Office, OneDrive).
- Food Handler Certificate and First Aid training (or willingness to obtain).
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Valid Ontario driver’s license (G2) (asset).
- Ability to speak a language relevant to the community (asset).
Hours: 37.5 hours/week
Pay Rate: $27.22/hr
Start Date: Immediate