Job Description

ABOUT THIS POSITION:

Are you a curious person? A nurturer of plants and people? An idea generator? A plants, food systems, compost, and soil geek? Someone who can’t help but teach others how to cultivate a healthy garden?

As a growing organization, we seek an open-minded, responsible food gardener who can develop and maintain our vibrant community gardener program, beautiful food gardens, unique biodome, and organic gardening classes for our visitors and gardeners to enjoy.

The Organic Garden Horticulturist  is a member of our properties team. The current person in this role is retiring after many years of service at 577.

ABOUT THE 577 FOUNDATION:

The 577 Foundation is an experiential education organization that nurtures innovative ideas and changes to reflect the interests and needs of the community. Over 11,000 people visit 577 annually to take classes, tend gardens, hold meetings, and explore the beautiful grounds.

Mission: Open to all, 577 builds a creative, caring community through curiosity and lifelong learning.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads Community Garden Program
  • Develops plans for growing 577’s vegetable and experimental gardens alongside community gardeners: implements planting, cultivation, and harvesting food.
  • Recruits, orients, supervises, and mentors at least 50 emerging and experienced gardeners in 577’s community gardens.
  • Sets up 577’s food gardens for maximum success by leading organic soil-building and amendments, irrigation, and pest/disease management.
  • Connects community gardeners with each other through educational workshops and gatherings.
  • Manages the food bank donation process, including safe food handling practices between gardens to partner organizations like food banks.
  • Keeps effective and organized annual garden recordkeeping logs.
  • Maintenance and inventory of garden tools and work areas.
  • Cultivates a beautiful, well-groomed, clean, safe food garden environment to inspire visitors.
• Manages Greenhouses, Biodome, and Potting Shed
  • Leads year-round propagation of vegetable plants in the greenhouses and cold frames.
  • Leads the design, operation, development, care, and maintenance of a geodesic biodome.
  • Tends indoor plants year-round, including watering, weeding, propagating, purchasing, potting, planting, fertilizing, pruning, controlling pests/diseases, and assessing/addressing soil needs.
  • Develops, monitors and maintains an aesthetically pleasing and educational appearance of the dome, greenhouses, and potting shed.
  • Envisions and implements enhancement plans for the dome that evoke visitors’ curiosity and delight.
• Educates Others About Organic Horticulture
  • Performs or recruits instructors for monthly classes related to organic vegetable gardening.
  • Gives presentations to community groups, organizations, stakeholders, and field trip groups.
  • Serves as a resource for the community, promoting organic agriculture and sustainable ecology.
  • Grows heirloom and organic plants for plant sale as an educational and fund development tool.
• Performs Other Duties
  • Completes tasks on the monthly Preventative Maintenance (PM) list.
  • Leads pest and disease management using organic integrated pest management strategies.
  • Assists in snow removal.
  • Establishes and maintains a record-keeping system.
  • Assists supervisor in the preparation of budgetary requests.
  • Oversees the task management of seasonal staff when they are assigned to work in the gardens.
  • Assists in recruitment, orientation, and supervision of garden volunteers.
  • Performs other duties assigned.

DETAILS:

• Full time, exempt, salaried, year-round position. Willing to work some weekends, mornings and evenings. Valid driver’s license required.
• Competitive salary range of $33,000 to $39,000, plus paid time off and benefits (health insurance, generous retirement package, professional development).
• The 577 Foundation values a professional environment where each employee is treated with respect and dignity. Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, age, or genetic information is illegal and will not be tolerated at 577.

REPORTS TO: Assistant Director of Buildings, Grounds, and Technology

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:

• Knowledge, practice, and preference for organic gardening.
• 4 years practical fieldwork, including greenhouse experience.
• Demonstrated ability to function effectively on teams.
• Must be able to carry out the physical job requirements involving kneeling, bending, twisting, standing, working outside in all kinds of weather.
• Experience using Microsoft Office software.
• Experience and knowledge in cultural landscape practices and bed maintenance.
• Must work well independently and also accept supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to pleasantly serve the public.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Graduated from college or university, a four-year degree (preferred) or associate degree in Horticulture, Floriculture, related field, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrates a sincere passion for 577’s mission and a commitment to environmentalism, the arts, lifelong learning, and diversity/multiculturalism.
• Curious, flexible, and able to respond to a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Excellent, professional interpersonal and communication skills. Able to maintain productive relationships with visitors, staff and community contacts.
• Unquestionable integrity and ethics. Handles confidential information properly.
• Accountable, self-directed, action-oriented, and results-driven.

 577’S COVID SAFETY FOR STAFF: Leadership and staff at 577 are committed to upholding the highest standards of COVID safety and prevention during the pandemic.

 577 IS DEDICATED TO:

• Stewarding Virginia Secor Stranahan’s homestead.
• Seeking ecological balance and environmental sustainability.
• Broadening minds, stimulating imaginations, and expanding horizons.
• Embracing multiculturalism and fostering connections among diverse people.
• Unlocking people’s passion and transforming it to benefit the world.
• Promoting open-hearted generosity and sharing.
• Cultivating creative thinkers who recognize the interconnectedness of all things.
• Encouraging people to reflect and follow a more natural, peaceful, simple pace of life.
• Nurturing innovation, evolution, and growth while respecting established, time-honored practices and techniques.
• Having fun and spreading joy!

How to Apply

• TO APPLY:  Email 1) a cover letter demonstrating your passion for 577’s mission and success and 2) a resume outlining how your skills and past experience align with this role to [email protected].
• Resume review will commence on 4/15/2022 and continue until the position is filled.

Job Categories: Sustainable Agriculture / Food. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 20,000 - 40,000.

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