Market Garden Facilitator

We are an 8-acre farm in the heart of the Jane and Finch neighbourhood in Toronto. We are a not-for-profit organization and leader in Toronto’s dynamic urban agriculture and community food sector. At Black Creek Community Farm, we serve and enrich our community through a thriving farm, healthy food, and hands-on training and learning experiences. Our focus is to inspire the next generation by providing leadership in food justice and supporting diverse natural and social ecosystems.

Main Tasks: 

The BCCF Market Garden Facilitator is responsible for supporting the implementation of the day-to-day operations of the organic vegetable farm, which includes: seedling and crop production; harvest sales and marketing; mentoring farm trainees; and community-building with farm volunteers and customers. More broadly, this position will work closely with the Farm Manager and Farm Coordinator towards the goal of improving the efficiency, productivity, and profitability of the farm in the context of the mission of BCCF.  

Note: If you do not have the qualifications listed, but you think this job is perfect for you, we would still love to see your application.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Crop Production and Harvest

• Collaborate with Market Garden staff to facilitate and carry out all aspects of crop production, including greenhouse seeding and seedling management, field preparation, transplanting, direct seeding, weeding, irrigating, harvesting, and post-harvest handling
• Safely use farm tools and implements, ensuring tools are safely stored at the end of each shift 
• Follow crop plans, seeding schedules, and harvesting instructions, with support from the Market Garden Coordinator 

Facilitation

• Lead and/or co-facilitate the welcoming engagement and workshops for visitors, volunteers, community members, students, and corporate groups 
• Support a safe workspace in the field, greenhouses, tool storage areas, coolers, and wash stations by following safety & storage guidelines and contributing to cleaning routines

Outreach/Marketing

• Collaborate with Market Garden and Value-Added team on outreach activities to support the sale, marketing, and communication of the harvest and value-added products, for CSA pickups, wholesale orders, on-site farm stand, and selling in the Jane/Finch Community and surrounding areas
• Drive farm vehicle (large van) throughout the city, run errands, handle logistics of deliveries, and pick up supplies
• Support advertising tasks, including content creation for media and communications to be shared on our upcoming events and programs, and contributing to weekly social media posts (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin) and monthly e-newsletters using platforms such as Canva

Administrative

• Assist with record-keeping (planting logs, crop yields, volunteer hours, etc.) and ensure the organic certification of the farm 
• Support purchasing of program materials and supplies, track purchases and receipts, and support project bookkeeping
• Process payments, track income, and expenses, and follow up with clients by sending confirmation emails, creating invoices, and sending feedback forms
• Contribute to the preparation of monthly program updates, the annual report, and other funding-related progress reports
• Track program metrics and deliverables in Program Log

General

• Drive farm vehicle (large van) throughout the city, run errands, handle logistics of deliveries, and pick up supplies
• Adhere to Foodshare and BCCF’s policies and health and safety procedures
• Attend BCCF staff meetings and staff training, scheduled team meetings and check-ins 
• Participate in farm-wide initiatives and events 
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience

• Demonstrated commitment to principles of food justice
• At least 2 years of work experience with organic market gardening techniques on a  vegetable farm
• At least 2 years experience in implementing field crop plan
• At least 1 year experience managing and growing in a four-season greenhouse
• At least 1 year experience in customer service
• Available
• Experience volunteering, working, or partnering with Black Creek Community Farm, an asset
• Demonstrated facilitation skills for diverse groups with the ability to think quickly and creatively problem-solve during workshops, tours, or group activities
• Competency using BCS tractor, implements and/or handheld tractor, is an asset
• Desire and passion for working outdoors, with seasonally heavy workloads and public interaction
• Strong communication and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Experience living or working in the Black Creek/Jane-Finch neighbourhood, an asset
• Lived experience of challenges faced in under-resourced communities, such as discrimination based upon BIPOC identity, income disparity, food insecurity, or other experiences - an asset
• Must be legally authorized to work in Canada
• Familiar and proficient with G-Suite (Google Drive, Sheets, Docs, Calendar, Gmail), Microsoft Office, Adobe, and computer applications

Job Requirements

The BCCF Market Garden Facilitator position includes: 

• Regularly working evening and weekend shifts as well as occasional holidays during the main farming season to staff volunteer shifts, events, and markets
• A willingness to learn and a keen interest in ecological small-scale farming
• Repetitive, physical tasks such as bending, crouching, lifting, and reaching 
• Full shifts standing and working on your feet   
• Use of hand tools and mechanized equipment 
• Regularly lifting 50+ lbs 
• Attention to detail, ability to follow written and verbal directions
• Full shifts working outdoors in all kinds of weather (heat, sun, rain, cold)
• The main work location for this position is Black Creek Community Farm, 4929 Jane St. Other locations will include travel and regular shifts at farmers' markets throughout the city, with the ability to work from home on some administrative tasks with the supervisor’s prior approval
• Class “G” Ontario Driver's License, with a clean driving record, comfortable driving large vehicles

• Working outdoors in all kinds of weather (heat, sun, rain, cold)

Salary: $26/hr (37.5 hrs/wk)*

Benefits: - 4 weeks vacation days, 10 personal days, and 20 paid wellness/sick days, prorated based on start date, extended health benefit up to $1000 reimbursement, plus 2 weeks of paid winter shutdown

Contract Type: Full Time, Fixed Term with possible extension

Anticipated Start/End Date: April 2025 to December 2025

Reports to: BCCF Market Garden Coordinator

Lo Location:  On-site at the Black Creek Community Farm, 4929 Jane Street, and off-site working regular shifts at farmers' markets throughout the city as needed.

Note: 

If you do not meet all of the above criteria, but you do think this job is perfect for you, we would still love to see your application. 

TO APPLY: Please submit your application by clicking this link: https://secure.collage.co/jobs/foodshare/50670 before 9:00 AM on Monday, March 10, 2025

* As part of Black Creek Community Farm’s commitment to equity, all staff get equal pay for equal work. As a result salaries and benefits are non-negotiable. 

Selection Process:

1. The first step in the hiring process is for FoodShare’s HR team to screen applications to determine which demonstrate meeting the posting’s base qualifications. Please make sure to detail your experience in your resume/cover letter to ensure the committee has the information they need to assess your qualifications for the role. This process takes at least 2 weeks from the application deadline.
2. The hiring committee will review the applications that pass the initial screening and decide which candidates to invite to interview. This process usually takes about 1 week.
3. The hiring committee will conduct first-round interviews with selected candidates. Candidates will be sent the interview questions 48 hours in advance of their scheduled interview. Candidates are welcome, but not expected or required, to send any questions they have to the hiring committee in advance of the interview. These interviews usually occur about 4 weeks after the application deadline. In recognition of the time and labour of preparing for and attending an interview, BCCF financially compensates interviewees at a fixed rate of $75 per interview. 
4. The hiring committee may conduct a second round of interviews, which may include a pre-interview assignment, which would be compensated.
5. HR will conduct reference checks for the candidate if they intend to extend an offer. This process usually takes about 1 week.
6. HR will send the selected candidate an Employment Agreement, which the candidate will have at least 1 week to review and return.

Please note:

BCCF is a member of FoodShare Toronto’s Supportive Partnerships Platform - staff hired for this position will be employed by FoodShare Toronto, and their work location will be Black Creek Community Farm. 

FoodShare is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We welcome all applicants who share our values of respect, inclusivity, and equality.

You may require accommodation during the application process. If that’s the case please do not hesitate to contact Human Resources at at your earliest convenience to let them know what type of accommodation you need.