Overall Context:

The Community Gardens Manager manages the 100+ bed Pitney Meadows Community Gardens, associated garden and educational lands (herein after the Gardens), comprising an educational, community gathering, and edible working landscape.

The gardens are frequently the first place of contact and welcoming for new visitors to the farm; the farm serves as a social, peaceful, and comforting place. As such, the Gardens and programs should also reflect those attributes.

This position reports to the Executive Director, or in absence of the ED, to an assigned Board member. All expenditures reflect budgeted expenses unless otherwise funded and pre-approved by the Executive Director.

Principle Responsibilities include:

The Gardens often serve as the gateway to the Farm, with visitors stopping first to visit the gardens to learn more about the overall organization. The Community Garden Manager serves as an ambassador to visitors, working to connect to people’s shared interests and values and establishes a friendly, helpful atmosphere and is an important contact and face of the organization. In doing so, the Community Gardens Manager:
● Provides tours and connections to appropriate staff and board, or key volunteers, as needed.
● Listens carefully. Identifies specific interests of visitors, as well as gardeners, who may be interested in providing financial or volunteer support.
● Relays possible funding opportunities, creative partnership ideas, and collaboration concepts to the Executive Director; follows up with community members to ensure their questions and interests are addressed.
● Provides assistance and teams with other PMCF staff and their related programs and activities, as needed.

Garden Operations and Management:
● Ensures the overall presentation of the Community Gardens site, including pathways, common areas, the butterfly garden, and fairy garden, reflect a well-maintained, organized, aesthetic, working landscape as they evolve. Establishes guidelines, best practices, and schedules to support this responsibility.
● Identifies activities and projects necessary for both the opening, closing, and maintenance of the Community Gardens each year. Includes oversight of additional staff, interns, and volunteers as needed to assist with garden operations.
● Creates guidelines and strategies for disease and pest management utilizing organic methods. Advises gardeners on organic methods to control disease and pests.
● Develops and executes the annual plan to amend the soil in the beds. Arranges for soil testing as part of an educational opportunity for gardeners and community members.
● Undertakes site improvements, including changes in bed formations and major garden projects or programs, pursuant to an established organizational budget and with prior approval of the Executive Director.
● Acquires and maintains tools, equipment, and supplies as needed in the Gardens.
● Provides oversight and communications with contractors and deliveries associated with Garden projects.

Administrative and Communications:
● Prepares and delivers an annual work plan in consultation with the Executive Director, reflecting the organization’s goals for the coming year. Keeps staff apprised of significant changes to the plan.
● Tracks expenses against the current year’s approved budget and develops an annual budget for the upcoming year.
● Attends staff, committee, community meetings as needed and board meetings if requested by the Executive Director.
● Updates policies & procedures for the Community Gardens and ensures policies are followed.
● Allocates beds annually to gardeners through a fair and transparent process approved by the Executive Director. Establishes fees for renting a garden pursuant to organizational goals.
● Assesses garden plot activity regularly and addresses problems, meets challenges, and highlights successes.
● Develops and delivers an annual new gardener orientation program and mandatory garden meetings.
● Develops and executes a plan for regular communication with gardeners, both as a group and individually. Issues notifications of problems, updates, policies, activities, and volunteer and educational opportunities.
● Supports the organization’s social media communications by providing photographs, helping to collect short stories and quotes from gardeners or partners.

Staff/Volunteers/Interns
● Manages and develops work plans for an intern, ensuring a balance of work projects and educational opportunities.
● Oversees all volunteer efforts within the Gardens. This includes coordinating with other staff and board members, providing thoughtful and appropriate tasks and follow-up, ensuring that gardeners fulfill their 6-hour volunteer requirements.
● Ensure that volunteers have a positive and fulfilling experience with the organization.
● Develop and execute a strong culture of appreciation for the organization’s volunteers. Provides staffing for volunteer orientation programs and an appreciation event.
● Provides periodic assistance to the Executive Director, upon request, to further the organization’s impact and effectiveness.

Education:

● Oversee new program development, delivery of existing programs, community partnerships, demonstration gardens and support Educator.

Other Requirements:
● Must be knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of organic gardening and sustainable practices
● Ability to flex work schedule, as some weeks may necessitate more hours
● Regular physical labor, including using garden tools, and equipment, applying organic amendments, driving farm equipment and vehicles, and carrying up to 40 pounds
● Attention to details
● Ability to create and edit spreadsheets and word documents