Gardener Helper (Summer Student ? CSJ)

Employer: Living Ways Foundation

Location: Castleton, Ontario

Hours: 35 hrs/week @ $17.60/hr , 8 week contract beginning June 29 and potential to extend until end of August 2026

Eligibility: Ages 15?30 (must meet CSJ requirements)

Grace Gardens provides an opportunity for people, including those experiencing poverty, to learn how to grow harvest, store, and prepare delicious and nutritious food. The main activity is creation of a community garden. This program will provide a community garden that serves as an instructional space for hands-on education on gardening. The garden type will be focused on edible plants such as vegetables and soil regeneration.

*Position Summary: *Living Ways foundation (LWF) is looking to hire a student gardener who has a passion for food security & building sustainable food systems; is resourceful, creative, and strategic. The gardener is responsible for seeding, planting, watering, cover crop, mulching and over all maintenance of the garden. The student gardener will be overseen by the main garden coordinator weekly and will also be provided some basic training on how to implement the over all garden schedule & plans for the community garden throughout the seasons.

Food?Garden Maintenance & Harvesting

• Attend frequent work meetings and take direction from Program Coordinator.
• Install and maintain seasonal crops and plants.
• Spring clean?up of over?wintered areas.
• Preparation for seeding of existing garden.
• Garden bed layout and final soil preparation for seeding.
• Seeding, labeling, watering, weeding, and mulching.
• Harvest crops as appropriate and reseed second crops or seasonal/winter cover crops.
• Wash?up, packaging, storage, and distribution of excess produce; end?of?season mulching and winter hold?over prep.
• Weigh produce and assist with dividing produce for volunteers, program participants, and Food4All.
• Manage pest problems that could damage plants.
• Keep gardens and green spaces clear of debris and litter.
• Assist directors and instructors with any garden or nature events for the public.

Food Security Support

• Assist with sorting and preparing produce for donation to Food4All and partner agencies.
• Help organize produce for young families and residents experiencing food insecurity.
• Support simple tracking of weekly yields and distribution totals.

Garden Infrastructure & Tools

• Engage in building, maintenance, and management of compost pile by collecting biomass materials (old straw, green straw, grass, etc.).
• Help maintain garden beds, irrigation setups, and compost bins.
• Maintain garden equipment in good working order through cleaning, sharpening, oiling, and related care.
• Clean, organize, and maintain garden tools and equipment.

Property Care & Safety

• Maintain the property, particularly around the gardens, by mowing grass lawns and trails.
• Keep garden pathways clear and safe.
• Follow safety procedures and wear appropriate work and safety shoes and equipment at all times.
• Keep a daily log of all tasks completed, including times and materials used.
• Other activities determined by the gardens program coordinator.

Anything else that may be helpful to Living Ways Foundation discerned by ED and Garden/ Ecosystem manager.

Qualifications

• Interest in gardening, food production, or helping community members in need.
• A student up to 30 years of age that is a graduate or undergraduate.
• Able to assist with supervision when necessary. Experience with that an asset.
• Willingness to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Reliable and able to follow direction.
• Assets (not required): gardening experience, interest in food security, basic tool use.

Learning Outcomes

• Hands-on skills in organic food growing and sustainable garden practices.
• Experience contributing to local food-security programs.
• Knowledge of crop cycles, soil health, composting, and harvesting.
• Develop