Market Garden Assistant

Overview

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.

Compensation at FoodShare:

At FoodShare we believe that taking an honest, transparent approach to our compensation structure improves morale and is key to building the trust that is foundational in advancing equity.

We have a transparent 1:3 ratio between the lowest paid and highest paid FoodShare employee. This means that the highest paid person at FoodShare can earn no more than three times what the lowest paid person earns for their labour.

We are a living wage employer registered with the Ontario Living Wage Network. This network calculates the living wage in each region of Ontario based on the cost of living for the area. In Toronto, the living wage is $22.08/hr and no employee at FoodShare earns less than $24/hr.

FoodShare believes that no one should be living in poverty, or experiencing food insecurity. This commitment to a living wage for all staff is an example of our values in action. It is also a key action identified in our Combating Anti-Black racism Action Plan (activity #18).

Our current pay grid can be found here.

As part of FoodShare’s commitment to equity all staff receive equal pay for equal work, therefore salaries and benefits are non-negotiable.

Recruitment Process

FoodShare’s recruitment process involves the anonymization of all resumes prior to their being screened by the hiring committee. This step removes applicant personal details (names, email, addresses), educational & employment institutions, years of work experience, and personal interests to reduce potential for bias. 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.

In recognition of the time and labour of preparing for and attending an interview, FoodShare financially compensates interviewees at a fixed rate of $75 per interview. Any time a candidate is asked to prepare a presentation or assignment for an interview, FoodShare will financially compensate the candidate for that work at a rate equal to the hourly rate for the position, based on the number of hours the hiring committee believes the task should take. FoodShare will not use ideas from presentations or assignments of candidates not selected for the position.

FoodShare sends interviewees the interview questions in advance of the interview to allow them time to process the questions.

Accommodation

If you require accommodation when navigating the application process, please contact: [email protected].

Black Creek Community Farm: 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 the 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 a 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
Class “G” Ontario Driver’s License, with a clean driving record, comfortable driving large vehicles
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 a 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
• Class “G” Ontario Driver’s License, with a clean driving record, comfortable driving large vehicles (Drivers Abstract may be required)
• 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
• Working outdoors in all kinds of weather (heat, sun, rain, cold)

Compensation

• Salary: $26/hr (37.5 hrs/wk)*
• Benefits: 20 paid wellness/sick days, prorated based on start date, extended health benefit up to $1000 reimbursement
• Contract Type: Full Time, Fixed Term with possible extension
• Anticipated Start/End Date: August 2025 to December 2025
• Reports to: BCCF Market Garden Coordinator
• 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.

How to Apply

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 5:00pm on Friday August 1 by clicking the link below. https://ats.rippling.com/foodshare-careers/jobs/71575122-0d03-4c24-9323-66b646fc2d05

* 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:

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.
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.
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.
The hiring committee may conduct a second round of interviews, which may include a pre-interview assignment, which would be compensated.
HR will conduct reference checks for the candidate if they intend to extend an offer. This process usually takes about 1 week.
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 [email protected] at your earliest convenience to let them know what type of accommodation you need.