Community Garden Coordinator

Job Description: Community Garden Coordinator

Location: Tijuana River Valley Community Garden

Schedule: Part-time, up to 25 hours per week (nights and weekends required) one-year grant-funded position

Reports to: Garden and Facilities Director

Compensation: $20-$23/ per hour

Benefits: Eligible for sick time, optional 403B plan, $25/month cell-phone stipend

Classification: Part-time, Non-exempt

Expected Start Date: ASAP

Scope of Work

The Community Garden Coordinator position works primarily at the Tijuana River Valley Community Garden located south of Imperial Beach, CA. This position will work with the Director of Gardens and Facilities to ensure over 210 small community garden plots are maintained and managed in accordance with lease agreement from County of San Diego and Olivewood Gardens. Strong communication, maintenance, and gardening skills are essential, including weeding, watering, harvesting, composting, and more. As an organization rooted in community, this role requires active participation in anti-racist work and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Position Responsibilities:

• Conduct garden plot inspections and follow up with gardeners with relevant notice letters
• Provide advice and assistance to help garden members implement gardening practices that conserve natural resources and are pesticide-free
• Conduct maintenance on shared spaces, like moving, weeding, moving compost, mulching, and more
• Serve as a liaison between Olivewood Gardens and TRVCG members, answer questions and provide timely communication
• Coordinate with staff and partners to organize and participate in garden events and workdays
• Fill vacant plots with wait list members and conduct garden orientations with new members
• Conduct maintenance and repairs as needed
• COordinate volunteer events and activities including clean-ups, maintenance, etc.
• Participate in garden advisory meetings
• Support annual lease renewal process and maintenance of garden waiting lists

• Attend Olivewood Gardens monthly staff meeting and other relevant trainings and meetings

Qualifications

• The Ideal Candidate: Is community service minded, Enjoys working outside, Is a good communicator and takes direction well, Can think critically and problem solve, Has an appreciation for the garden and our mission, and Is eager to learn and engage with the Olivewood team and TRVCG
• Previous experience in gardening, maintenance, and working in an outdoor setting is required
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred
• Desire to embrace the mission of Olivewood Gardens to protect and conserve natural resources
• Be in possession of a current California�s Driver�s License and auto insurance, as well as reliable transportation and experience in first aid
• Must be willing to maintain a flexible work schedule, working weekends and evenings when needed
• Ability to work independently in an outdoor setting during various weather conditions

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform successfully the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed in an outdoor setting with a moderate noise level
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 50 pounds and perform strenuous outdoor tasks related to garden maintenance
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, and Peripheral vision.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to:
  • stand the whole day;
  • walk;
  • use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms;
  • climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl;
  • talk or hear and taste or smell.

About Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center: The mission of Olivewood Gardens is to nourish communities and cultivate a deep connection to the environment through nutrition education, sustainable urban agriculture, collective advocacy, and intergenerational leadership. Olivewood champions health equity and food justice through education, access, and advocacy at our 8-acre urban garden and teaching kitchen in National City, and throughout the community.