FOOD GARDENING & SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Position: Garden Operations Worker
Organization: Kanaka Bar Indian Band
Department: Food Self-Sufficiency
Reporting: Food Self-Sufficiency Lead
Location: Kanaka Bar, near Lytton, BC

Summary:

Kanaka Bar Indian Band has a vision to manage and use its land and resources to maintain a self-sufficient, sustainable and vibrant community. Kanaka’s farm and gardens currently feed a growing community, and will be transitioning towards increased food production and new farm business ventures in the coming year. With this posting, Kanaka Bar is inviting applicants for the position of Garden Operations Worker. For more information on the community, please review our website at: kanakabarband.ca.

The Gardens Operations Worker position is an exciting opportunity to continue to build and develop existing skills in organic food production, food processing and crop propagation while contributing to the development of a growing self-sufficient food system at Kanaka Bar. This role will work under the primary direction of the Food Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Lead and function as an integral part of the FSS Team.

The Garden Operations Worker’s key duties will be to assist the Garden Lead and FSS Lead with managing day to day farming operations and the execution of cultivation goals. Daily tasks will include garden, greenhouse, and field preparation, production and maintenance, harvest, and processing. The successful candidate will perform duties that include soil preparation, hands-on garden cultivation, irrigation installation, water management, harvesting, processing and preservation.

This role will contribute to wider food self-sufficiency activities including livestock care and community engagement. Working hours will be pre-agreed on, but designed to accommodate events such as extreme heat, garden deadlines or personal responsibilities. Some previous experience gardening or farming is required, as the Garden Operations Worker will work both collaboratively and independently with the FSS team, and will contribute to the overall food systems design and planning. Candidates who are passionate about ethical farming, food security and climate change resilience are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in weekly operations planning and task prioritization meetings
• Help to identify, plan, prioritize, implement and measure the results of food projects and initiatives
• Assist with soil preparation, plantings, cultivation, irrigation, watering, harvest, processing, and record keeping.
• Promote community member involvement in cultivation, harvesting and processing.
• Document food production and harvest results
• Support animal care and processing

Assist with apiculture duties

• Ensure that all food self-sufficiency actions conserve and promote the health of local ecosystems and biodiversity
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Qualifications:

• Ability to lift heavy loads and perform daily physical work
• Ability to support with animal care and gardening/ landscaping tasks
• Ability to share knowledge and promote community engagement with food self-sufficiency initiatives
• Ability to connect and effectively communicate with diverse individuals
• Ability to work within an accountable team structure
• Willingness to participate in cruelty-free animal slaughtering and processing.
• Gardening experience is required. Preference will be given to candidates with a background in sustainable farming at a market garden/production scale
• A passion for ethical farming, community food security and climate change resilience
• Knowledge and understanding of First Nations culture and heritage is an asset, willingness to learn is mandatory
• Knowledge of soil health, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture practices is an asset

Employment Conditions:

• Follow policies and procedures of Kanaka Bar Indian Band
• Ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Willingness to work extra hours to meet deadlines
• Willingness to respond to critical incidents outside of work hours
• Three months probationary period

This will be a part-time position throughout the Fall and Winter 2023/2024, and is based out of Kanaka Bar. Based on successful performance and funding availability, this position has the potential for extension to a full-time, year-round position. Compensation will consider the education, qualification and experience of the applicant. Canada Labor Code provisions will govern where applicable.

Please send a resume and cover letter describing your experience and motivation for applying to Emma Bryce at: birchgrovefarm@gmail.com

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