Food Forest Project Lead

Job Title: Food Forest Project Lead

Reports to: Executive Director of F2F (also online facilitator with U of G for Ecological Design, Plant Identification, Naturalization and Restoring Landscapes and IPM)

Job location: 3959 HW#1, Berwick, NS B0P 1E0

Social Food Hub, a surplus food aggregation site at Lone Pine Farm (80 acres), 10 acres are 50-year-old pine stands and mixed woodlot/field for the rest.

Wage: $18.00 – 20.00 / hour

Start Date: Expected May 11, 2026

Number of Positions: 1

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, Racialized Youth, 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.

About the host employer

Farm to Feast Cafe Association wishes for a community where local food is barrier free. Our mission is providing dignified access to local food, community development, food and garden literacy, and economic impact through buying local and providing skill development and meaningful work.

Who We Are: F.A.R.M. Works toward Food Access, Recovery & Mentorship (Farm to Feast Association or F2F) is a community‑rooted initiative supporting people navigating food insecurity, recovery, mental health challenges, and skill‑building. We want our work to be grounded in dignity, connection, and the belief that healthy food and healthy communities grow together.

We glean from farms and work with Second Harvest where possible rescuing fresh produce from fields that would otherwise be wasted because it was left behind by harvesting equipment or retail. We grow produce ourselves, and purchase from other businesses that are local to the valley, saving metric tonnes of carbon from going into the atmosphere in the process.

We then make meals from this local produce, and distribute the meals or whole food locally. Our carbon footprint for delivery is further reduced by the fact that our distribution is done through an eco-boosted pick up truck. Everything we need is here in the Annapolis Valley and our economy has the ability to be self-sustaining with more than enough extra to support those going without.

Connecting Communities with Canopies of Food for long term Barrier Free Local Food:  It is our goal to install a Community-Focused Micro Food Forest for Education, at the Social Food Hub (Lone Pine Farm) Food Forest. They will be working alongside a food forest specialist and an environmental horticulturalist, volunteers, and community partners. The lead will help select appropriate native and perennial food‑producing species, plan planting layouts, and contribute to the seasonal maintenance schedule for the following year.

Summary of position

The Food Forest Project Lead will support the installation of the Food Forest at the Social Food Hub (Lone Pine Farm) in Berwick. The Food Forest Project Lead Intern will support the public design development, planning, installation, care, and educational use of community food forest greenspace. This role blends ecological work with leadership and learning, giving the intern a meaningful experience in regenerative land stewardship from start to finish. They will be working alongside a food forest specialist and an environmental horticulturalist, volunteers, and community partners. The lead will help select appropriate native and perennial food‑producing species, plan planting layouts, and contribute to the seasonal maintenance schedule for the following year. The intern participates in soil and site restoration, planting, mulching, watering, pruning, fungal inoculation, and supporting composting and soil‑building activities. They will help coordinate small groups of students or volunteers during work sessions, ensuring tasks are completed safely. The role will also include assisting with preparing educational materials, signage, and simple demonstrations that help others understand the purpose and function of the food forest. Throughout the 15 week placement, the student will help develop tracking tools to document plantings, group activities, and project progress through journals, photos, or digital tools. By the end of the placement, the lead will have gained practical ecological gardening skills, experience in teamwork and leadership, and a deeper understanding of how food forests support biodiversity, food literacy, and community resilience. This role is ideal for students interested in environmental studies, agriculture, or community development. Our Food Forest project helps the community respond to climate change by storing carbon, conserving water, protecting soil, increasing biodiversity, and building a more resilient local food system.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the layout of the micro food forest using regenerative and permaculture principles in collaboration with Food Forest Specialist and Environmental Horticulturist.
• Select appropriate native, perennial, and food‑producing species for each forest layer (canopy, understory, shrubs, herbs, groundcovers, vines).
• Create simple planting maps, soil improvement plans, and seasonal maintenance schedules.
• Prepare planting beds through sheet mulching, composting, and soil‑building techniques.
• Coordinate and participate in planting fruit trees, shrubs, herbs, and companion species.
• Install mulch, pathways, water‑retention features, and protective structures as needed.
• Lead small groups of students, volunteers, or community members during installation days.
• Ensure safe, organized, and inclusive work sessions.
• Communicate progress, needs, and next steps to supervisors or partners.
• Help create educational signage, plant labels, and simple learning materials
• Explain the purpose and function of food forest layers to visitors or participants.
• Support tours, demonstrations, and learning activities.
• Track plantings, soil improvements, and seasonal changes.
• Maintain a project journal, photo log, or digital record of progress.
• Identify early signs of plant stress, pests, or nutrient issues and report them.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Ability to work outdoors in varying conditions.
• Strong interest in ecology, gardening, or environmental studies.
• Basic teamwork and communication skills.
• Willingness to learn plant care, soil health, and regenerative practices.
• Reliability, initiative, and attention to detail.

Working Conditions

The intern participates in outdoor physical labour, so they will need to work in the all weather conditions, wear appropriate clothing and adapt worktime based on heat warnings. Throughout the 15-week placement, the student will help develop tracking tools to document plantings, group activities, and project progress through journals, photos, or digital tools, so office or hybrid work time might be required. This role is ideal for students interested in environmental studies, agriculture, or community development.

Physical Requirements

The intern participant will need to be able to lift at least 50 lbs and be able to do physical labour, outside most days and in all weather conditions.