March 2022 – Grandview Woodland Food Connection

Join our team! We’re looking for: Britannia šxʷqʷeləwən ct Indigenous Gardener

The Grandview Woodland Food Connection at Britannia Community Centre is cultivating a connection to the land, food growing knowledge and skills throughout our garden programs. We work with students and community members in our 10,000 sq. ft. garden areas where folks can gain hands-on food growing experience and ecological knowledge, while providing freshly grown veggies and fruits for various school and community food programs. The šxʷqʷeləwən ct (One heart, one mind) garden surrounding the Carving Pavilion, is a garden full of native plants that have cultural, medicinal, household, and food uses. The close-by Nexway̓s wa lh7áy̓nexw (Transformed Life) Garden provides learning and growing space for students and community members as well as rentable community plots where we can grow food with our Neighbours. We are looking for a gardener to help care for our gardens and our community.

With support from a team, the Britannia šxʷqʷeləwən ct Indigenous Gardener is responsible for a variety of tasks, which can include heavy physical effort and agility and the use of hand and/or motorized tools used for Britannia’s Indigenous Food Gardens maintenance. The successful candidate may be required to support garden volunteers and communicate with community members. This role will contribute to the overall care and maintenance of Britannia’s Indigenous Food Gardens, which are learning gardens & community gathering spaces. Under direct supervision, this position will be responsible for the care and development of assigned areas and will work collaboratively with staff and volunteers.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate must have sufficient physical strength, stamina and coordination to perform heavy physical labour; ability to lift, push and pull heavy objects; ability to walk or stand continuously with frequent bending or twisting; ability to work close to moving machinery and in high traffic areas; ability to work on ladders, ability to work outside in all weather conditions, and on uneven surfaces; ability to use a variety of tools and equipment.

The Britannia šxʷqʷeləwən ct Indigenous Gardener will be responsible for a variety of garden horticulture tasks including digging, planting, weeding, pruning, cultivating, fertilizing, sweeping and clearing pathways, waste management such as composting, as well as other duties as required. Plants, prunes, and cares for trees; cares for Indigenous gardens, and urban food garden areas; answers a variety of horticultural and recreational questions from the public; works collaboratively with one or more assistants engaged in parks horticultural and maintenance tasks.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Up to completion of high school and some work experience in basic labour;
Horticulture training or experience an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Physically able to do garden work & physical labour in all weather conditions
Some gardening & Indigenous plant knowledge with a desire to learn more
Knowledge of local Indigenous Nations and protocols
Ability to work collaboratively with a team
Passionate about building community & supporting food security with dignity
Access to a phone/computer for communication & coordination (although could work around this)
Confident working independently
Ability to work with marginalized & vulnerable community members (pass a criminal record check)
Knowledge of safe work procedures
Some knowledge of Indigenous plant care.
Sound knowledge of the tools, materials and equipment used in urban and Indigenous agriculture work.
Some knowledge of construction and landscape maintenance tasks.
Some knowledge of the functions of the branch concerned and the establish practices in carrying out the work. Ability to exercise some independence of judgement and action in the routine or simple aspects of the work.
Ability to courteously answer questions and deal with the public.
Sufficient physical strength, stamina and coordination to permit the performance of heavy manual outdoor work in all weather.
Knowledge and understanding of current and historical Indigenous issues, cultures, practices, Indigenous cultural safety, cultural humility, Indigenous-specific racism, anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous worldview is required.

Hours: Flexible work hours that will vary depending on the needs of the garden and the community. We expect that the hours will vary with the season, with a maximum of 16 hours per week in the growing season (April-September), and a maximum of 8 hours per week in the off season (October-March).

Compensation: $30 per hour (contract position)

Term: April 2022 – December 2023

Work Location: Britannia Community Centre

To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter by April 13^th, 2022 to Ruth Elizabeth Briggs (she/her) at gwfcnetwork@gmail.com

We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous applicants, people of colour, all genders, LGBT2Q+ and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process.