Community Garden And Farmers Market Coordinator

Responsibilities:

1. Support 2-3 community agriculture sites to develop sustainable systems as the spaces expand to include more land. Build relationships with gardeners, land owners, and neighbors. Work with community members to design and build site infrastructure including water lines, on-site storage, plot layout, etc.
2. Work with sites to develop vision statements, governing structure, democratic decision making processes, financial management systems, etc.
3. Participate in the facilitation of monthly garden meetings and follow up on actions determined by the group as needed.
4. Implement community organizing techniques, coordinate classes with external partners, and connect community members with professionals in the area.
5. Effectively communicate about the various programs offered at the Farmers Market (FM) to a variety of audiences, including potential partner organizations, community members, and farmer market customers
6. Strategize and implement a FM community partner outreach plan in order to engage local organizations in the marketing of various programs towards specific community members and to strengthen CEG presence in the community.
7. Identify key community leaders and organizations in the area who might best guide a local FM program outreach campaign if they are interested in doing so.
8. Work with FM community partner U of L and other CEG staff during the planning season to prepare for the upcoming FM season.
9. Manage the program information booth at the FM with other CEG staff. This includes engaging with customers, processing SNAP and Double Dollar transactions, and overseeing the Fresh Rx For Moms sign up and sign in process.
10. Assist with the weekly FM set up and break down with other CEG and U of L staff.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This work is performed both in office and outdoor settings.

EFFORT:

• Ability to accurately examine and analyze information
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and sit for extended periods of time
• Ability to walk up and down stairs
• Specific vision abilities include close and distant vision
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to work under pressure

MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT:

BCS walk-behind tractor, small tillers, garden hand tools, chipper-shredder, computer, printer, calculator, copy machine, fax machine, telephone systems, scanner and shredder.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Agriculture, Conservation, or Public Health related degree or equivalent experience in urban agriculture, farming, and/or community organizing. Experience working in a multicultural setting or with diverse populations. Bilingual abilities are a plus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to those who are able to perform the essential duties of the job.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing in an effective manner
• Must have experience working with people from different cultures and backgrounds
• Must be people oriented and relate to varied ethnic populations
• Must be self-motivated and able to work independently
• Must be highly organized and detail-oriented
• Must have proficient PC skills including Microsoft Word and Outlook
• The incumbent must be able to maintain the confidentiality of any information she/he encounters.

The Community Garden and Farmers Market Coordinator is a full-time position with Common Earth Gardens (CEG), a program of Catholic Charities of Louisville, Inc. The position reports directly to the CEG Program Director (PD). This position is responsible for helping to increase food security within the international community in Louisville by assisting the CEG PD in supporting several Community Gardens, including managing new Community Garden sites and coordinating gardener meetings. This position will also work with the PD and CEG staff to implement community outreach initiatives for the Gray Street Farmers Market and its various benefit programs. The Community Garden and Farmers Market Coordinator is expected to be familiar with aspects of farming and urban gardening.