School Garden Manager (FT and PT) Groundwork Somerville +1 more
- Date Posted March 05, 2024
- Location Somerville, MA
- Category Agriculture / Education
- Job type Full-Time
Company description
Groundwork Somerville is a community-based, action-oriented non-profit. Our mission is to cultivate the next generation of environmental activists to grow a greener and more equitable Somerville. Groundwork Somerville, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has been “changing places and changing lives” in Somerville, Massachusetts since 2000. Through youth empowerment, urban farming, equitable food access, and community engagement, Groundwork sows the seeds of a healthy community. Our work is grounded in the understanding that environmental conditions are inextricably linked to economic, social, and racial injustice. We recognize that it is impossible to sustain a healthy community without holistically addressing these issues. As a result, we make an explicit effort to employ and empower youth of color and youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Our educational programming specifically highlights the nuances of racism, sexism, and environmental injustice, and arms youth with tools to address these inequities. In addition, Groundwork strives to provide equitable access to food and land for all Somerville residents. We grow crops that have cultural significance to Somerville’s diverse community and provide equitable access to fresh produce through the Somerville Mobile Market. We strive to hold space where all Somervillians can gather as a community and celebrate the land and each other.
Job description
If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free! Deadlineno deadline
Essential Functions:
- Work with the school garden team to teach engaging lessons in GWS gardens to youth across all 9 Somerville public schools, and 1 charter school. Garden curriculum should outline school garden themes, target age ranges, and connections to the Massachusetts Learning Standards for cross-curriculum engagement.
- Create an interpretive plan outlining themes for interactive signs to provide informal education at each school garden site for visitors.
- Manage and maintain school garden sites, engaging youth in their maintenance. This involves leading youth through tasks such as weeding, mulching, planting, and composting.
- Communicate and maintain relationships with Somerville Public School teachers, PTAs, volunteers, and all other involved parties to plan and execute garden-based education and maintenance.
- Coordinate with Somerville Public Schools and educators to create schedules for in-school and after school programming
- Work with Youth Program Director throughout the Summer to help plan and maintain school garden sites, guiding and supporting Green Team youth (our high school employment program) in their maintenance of the school gardens.
Requirements:
- Bachelors in Education or related field
Working Conditions/Physical Demands:
- Ability to carry out simple garden tasks such as weeding, planting, mulching, and composting
Requisite Skills and Experience:
- 3+ years of classroom management and curriculum development in educational spaces with diverse youth
- Gardening/farming knowledge and experience preferred
- Mobility around Somerville to travel between different school garden sites
- Ability to take initiative, plan, and prepare curriculum
- Organizational skills and ability to keep track of logistics, materials, and information
- Excited to work as a member of a team with many moving parts
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Commitment to Groundwork Somerville's mission, youth empowerment, and anti-oppression work
- Strong understanding of historical and current injustices against immigrants, Indigenous peoples, and communities of color
- Proficiency in (any) other languages is welcome!
If you are not registered, you'll be prompted to do so. Don't worry, it's free! Deadlineno deadline