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Form of workJob Description
SUMMARY:
The Garden Technician provides support with the daily operations of the Potawot Community Food Garden by assisting with regular garden maintenance tasks, in addition to the promotion of gardening, traditional foods, and food products to our Tribal community. Within this position the Technician works closely with our community by assisting with Potawot Community Food Garden education program activities, including school field trips, tours for community groups, farm to school activities, food assistance programs, community food workshops and UIHS program events. Within this position, the planning and implementation of all work is guided by the cultural, traditional values and practices of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Level I
- Assist in the labor associated with large scale garden, site preparation, and maintenance. This includes:
- Pest management efforts and application of pesticide and chemical free gardening techniques for maximum crop production.
- Planting, cultivating, irrigating, fertilizing, and mulching various crops.
- Preparation for winter by clearing fields, composting, sheet mulching, and planting a cover crop.
- Crop production, crop rotation, and tool maintenance.
- Assist with the care of orchard trees, including mulching, watering, pest management and annual pruning.
- Attend regular classes on aspects related to of organic gardening, permaculture, food harvesting, processing, traditional foods, and any other related training pertaining to the job.
- Provide assistance with the promotion of gardening through activities with youth and volunteers. Assist with community education and traditional foods classes and other appropriate activities, which may include educational tours of the garden.
- Assist in the development of satellite produce stands and other methods of distributing produce to the broader UIHS communities.
- Assist with CalFresh outreach- promotion, prescreening, application assistance, EBT purchasing, and education activities.
- Attend staff meetings and other assigned meetings.
- Adhere to food safety, accreditation, and compliance standards/guidelines.
- Maintain a professional, organized appearance and working environment by following organizational policies and standard operating procedures, guidelines, and safety standards.
- Assist with various surveys, assessments, and evaluations of programs within the Community Nutrition Programs.
- Must be willing to learn more about the American Indian culture and attend at least one (1) Cultural Presentation/Training per year.
- Must be willing to work with American Indian/Alaska Native people and be sensitive to their culture.
- Perform all duties in accordance with the UIHS Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles.
- Performs other tasks as assigned.
Level II- Able to act independently in completing the above duties and:
- Work independently to plant, cultivate, irrigate, fertilize, and mulch various crops.
- Work independently to harvest, package, and distribute various crops at PHV and offsite.
- Oversee the promotion of gardening through activities with youth and volunteers, community education and traditional foods classes and other appropriate activities, and in addition to educational tours of the garden.
- Contribute knowledge to the Garden Specialist and Community Nutrition Assistant to develop presentation/training content, in addition to assisting with facilitation of Potawot Community Food Garden activities.
- Assist with data collection and information (input, record, and reports) on Potawot Community Food Garden functions.
- Assist in overseeing the health and wellbeing of beehives, including regular hive maintenance, and harvesting of honey.
Level III-Able to act independently in completing the above duties and:
- Coordinate activities and events with UIHS partners such as tribal programs and school programs.
- Coordinate and assist with the oversight of the Potawot Community Food Garden volunteers in the absence of Garden Specialist.
- Lead garden and traditional foods educational learning opportunities.
- Assist in the development of departmental policy, standard operating procedures, and quality improvement activities within the clinic as directed.
- Lead food assistance program outreach which includes promotion, prescreening, application assistance, EBT purchasing, and educational activities.
- Undertake special projects as assigned by the Community Nutrition Manager
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Educational degrees must be from a US Department of Education accredited school
- Level I: High school diploma or equivalent. Entry level.
- Level II: High school diploma or equivalent and two (2) years related experience and/or training; or Associate of Arts (AA) degree from two-year college or technical school or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. in a community garden, organic gardening, permaculture, horticulture, small scale agriculture or similar occupation.
- Level III: High school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years related experience and/or training; or Associate of Arts (AA) degree in related field or equivalent from two-year college or technical school and one (1) year of related experience and/or training in a community garden, organic agriculture, permaculture, horticulture, small scale agriculture or similar occupation.
COMPUTER OPERATIONS
- Basic personal computer skills including electronic mail, word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, etc.
LANUGUAGE SKILLS:
- Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
- Ability to write simple correspondence.
- Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
REASONING ABILITY:
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written and/or oral instructions.
- Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to be covered by the agency’s insurance for Levels II and III. For Level I, a driver’s license is not required.
- Must provide proof of vehicle insurance for Levels II and III.
- Must have or be able to obtain BLS certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain such.
- Must have or be able to obtain a Food Handlers certification within (1) one month of hire and maintain such.
