Urban Farming Associate

Status: Part-Time, On-Site – San Diego

Hours: 6 hours per week, 1 six hour day a week or any combination therof.

Compensation: $20-$28 per hour depending on experience and qualifications; Plus stipend towards health and retirement plan.

Reports to: Executive Director

POSITION OVERVIEW

At Inika Small Earth, Inc. (Inika) we are passionate about building climate resilient communities through decentralized, neighborhood based solutions.

Inika is seeking a part time Urban Farming Associate to manage our decentralized neighborhood farming (Soil2Staples) project. We are seeking an enterprising, dynamic, multi-skilled and responsible individual to join our team. In this multi-faceted role you will be a passionate gardener, meticulous compost technician, and charismatic educator. You will perform a wide variety of duties and interact with a broad range of stakeholders. This role is designed for people who enjoy being outdoors, crave variety in what they do and thrive in work environments which require hands-on, real life application of their learning and experience.

As our Urban Farming Associate you will perform the following tasks:                                                                                               

GARDENING & EDUCATION (80% of time) : In this capacity you will perform the following tasks:

• Participate in strategizing and delivering the programming for the next phase of the Soil2staples program. A key deliverable will be to get the test plot (located in 92115 zipcode of San Diego) ready to host a weekly farmstand and regular workshops. This will involve crop planning, planting, harvesting, watering, weeding, pest management and soil preparation to ensure the efficient and productive management of crops.
• Support the maintenance of farm infrastructure, such as fences and irrigation systems, to ensure functionality and safety.
• Develop and deliver educational programs, workshops, and demonstrations on urban gardening, sustainable agriculture, and related topics to diverse audiences, including schools, community groups, and individuals.
• Foster a sense of community and empowerment among participants, encouraging them to develop their gardening skills, cultivate healthy habits, and connect with nature.
• Helping with various farm‐related projects and be on call for farm needs.

COMPOSTING (20% of time): Build, turn and sift compost piles as and when necessary. Provide the appropriate care and management of the compost batches to follow the required best practices and protocols. Maintaining records (hard copy and digital) as required on the process, collection, production and sales. Prior composting experience is not a requirement. You will receive training in this aspect but you need to be eager and willing to learn about composting and soil health.

NON-NEGOTIABLE QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Currently enrolled in an agriculture, gardening or farming class, or, have atleast 2-3 years hands-on experience in growing food for yourself and others.
• Ability to operate garden tools and basic farm equipment safely and efficiently.
• Have a can-do attitude, attention to detail and a strong work ethic. You are comfortable working alone as well as under supervision.
• You are respectful, accountable, resourceful and take pride in your work and in building community.
• Physical stamina and dexterity to perform manual labor in various weather conditions.
• Basic skills in operating a computer and mobile devices. Willingness to use digital applications and tools for data recording and tracking as and when required.

NICE TO HAVE SKILLS & PERSONAL TRAITS

• Entrepreneurial and looking to build a career and business in agriculture or a related field.
• Creativity, adaptability, and enthusiasm for promoting gardening and environmental stewardship in urban communities
• Ability to conduct workshops and communicate with a diverse audience.
• Experience with cloud based office and administrative applications such as MS-Office, Google Suite. Experience with social media applications such as Facebook, Instagram.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This work requires standing, climbing, stooping, bending, kneeling for extended periods of time and also involves reaching, lifting and carrying heavy items.

The test farm is located in the 92115 zipcode of San Diego. You will be working onsite on the farm for atleast 6 hours a week.

There will be exposure to Southern California outside temperatures, chemicals used in the agricultural industry. You will be expected to use personal discretion to ensure safety while performing tasks.