Community Garden Assistant

Job title: Community Garden Assistant 

Reports to: Community Garden Coordinator 

Job location: Millbrook Parks, Recreation & Youth Office; 57 Martin Cres. Millbrook First Nation, NS  

Wage: $17.30/hour

Hours: 35 hours per week (15-week internship) 

Start Date: Expected May 13, 2024  

Employment Hiring 

Clean is committed to Employment Equity and our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative at all job levels. The Clean Leadership Program welcomes applications from qualified self-identifying First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, Visible Minority Groups, Persons with Disabilities, Newcomers, and 2SLGBTQIA+ applicants. If you are a member of one of the equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on our registration form. 

About the Clean Leadership Summer Internship Program 

The Clean Leadership Summer Internship program helps grow the clean economy by matching interns (age 15-30) with employers for 9- and 15-week summer work placements. Participating interns will receive paid hands-on experience, mentorship opportunities, take part in a professional development conference and training, while supporting local environmental projects.  

Program Requirements 

• Must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, person who has been granted refugee status in Canada or legally entitled to work in Canada;  
• Must be between the ages of 15 and 30 years old (inclusive) at the start of internship; 
• From and/or will be residing in Nova Scotia for the duration of the internship; 
• Must not be an immediate family member of host employer; 
• Preference will be given to Millbrook Band and Community Members 

About the host employer 

Millbrook Parks, Recreation & Youth office located in Millbrook First Nation, just outside of Truro, NS. Parks, Recreation & Youth works with various departments within the Millbrook First Nation to deliver and implement high quality sport, recreation, and physical activity opportunities throughout the community. This collaborative approach to overall health and wellbeing allows us to provide safe and effective services and programs to the community. Parks, Recreation & Youth includes all of the parks, trails, playgrounds, recreation facilities, youth centre, and community gardens. 

Summary of position  

Working under the direction of the Community Garden Coordinator, the Community Garden Assistants will help to support various events in Millbrook throughout the summer months. These include, but are not limited to; Millbrook Community Garden Clean Up Event, Planting Day, Harvest Day, and on-going community consultations.  

The Community Garden Assistants will also help to support the “Growing Millbrook at Home” initiative in partnership with the Millbrook Health Centre’s Community Dietician and the Physical Activity Coordinator. This initiative provides an opportunity for community members to start gardening at home using raised garden beds, while helping to support the Millbrook Food Bank by growing fresh foods to be harvested and given out to community members in need.  

Duties and Responsibilities  

Community Garden Assistants will be responsible for supporting the delivery of various community engagement sessions to collect feedback and input from community members to ensure the community garden initiatives are in the best interest of the community. The Community Garden Assistants will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of various community garden events and dad to day operations of the community garden. This includes but it not limited to; planting, weeding, watering, soil testing, and harvesting. 

Community Engagement: 

• With support from the Community Garden Coordinator, the Assistants will organize and deliver community engagement sessions to collect feedback for growing seasons and garden and greenhouse initiatives/projects; 
• Takes proactive action on community members input and needs for community garden and greenhouse activities; 
• Communicates needs of rental equipment, materials and supplies for garden clean up, planting events, and seasonal maintenance in the community to the community garden coordinator; 
• Works collaboratively with community volunteers for garden and greenhouse events, initiatives, and projects  
• Acts a support for community members for gardening and growing needs  

Requirements/Qualifications

• Access to a reliable vehicle  
• Have an aptitude for safe work practices and the ability to multi-task in a busy work environment; 
• Be able to work productively as part of a team while responding to feedback; 
• Demonstrated interest in future employment in the environmental or clean sector is considered an asset; 
• Preference will be given to Millbrook Band or Community Members.   

Working Conditions
The position requires you to work outdoors in all weather conditions (rain, heat, etc.). It is important for the candidate to come dressed appropriately for these working conditions. There will also be time spent in an office setting. Remote-work is flexible, though on-site visits will be required. 

Physical Requirements
Applicants should be comfortable being on their feet all day, and able to work in hot or humid conditions in anticipation for the summer weather. Applicants should be able to comfortably lift up to 30 lbs.