Company description

The Organic Gardener Ltd. (TOG) creates beautiful and productive organic edible gardens. Since 2005, we've built well over a thousand vegetable gardens in and around Chicagoland utilizing a full line of customized services - design, installation, maintenance, and education. 

Based in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago, our team's reach extends to a wide variety of clients throughout the Midwest region. We work with families to create suburban and urban home gardens in yards and unique spaces. And we partner with non-residential groups like corporations, schools, restaurants, and non-profit organizations to craft public food production projects with accompanying educational programming. 

Our approach is rooted in the idea that anyone, anywhere, can grow their own food. Each TOG project connects us to the larger "good food" movement growing throughout the nation.

Job description

We are looking to add to our team of Garden Educators. The Garden Educators act as "point people" for a roster of residential and non-residential gardens, are invested in the gardens' success, and are encouraged to cultivate relationships with the clients. Garden Educators are outdoor professionals, working in all conditions to maintain the health and aesthetics of our organic edible gardens while positively interacting with the clients.

Tasks may include: 

Garden Maintenance:

• Perform tasks in all aspects of planting and maintaining organic edible gardens including transplanting, seeding, thinning, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting, deadheading, grooming, and edging 
• Perform tasks related to integrated pest and disease management including scouting, hand-picking, treating, and troubleshooting 
• Work and teach hands-on with clients of all ages in the gardens
• Complete detailed garden visit records and input required follow up tasks
• Stock crew vehicles with plants, seeds, and supplies 
• Assist with tool and supply inventory
• Keep crew vehicles tidy before, during, and after garden shifts
• Drive crew vehicles to and from garden sites (valid driver's license required)
• Keep headquarters clean and organized 
• Assist our Greenhouse Manager with on-site transplants and plant/seed inventory
• Aid in garden layout/design
• Participate in bi-weekly field trainings 

Client Communications: 

• Maintain consistent day-to-day communication with our Garden Communications Coordinator (GCC)
• Communicate garden issues and client concerns internally to GCC in a timely manner
• Communicate garden specific information directly to clients (harvest updates, planting changes, etc.)
• Conduct review meetings with clients to obtain crop lists, feedback, and suggestions
• Conduct client consultations for new projects or additional garden features
• Direct inquiries about TOG services to administrative team, encourage new sales with use of brochures/business cards and word of mouth 
• Stay connected via company email and/or phone, respond to client and internal communications in a timely manner 

Leadership:

• Work as a team to ensure garden success and client satisfaction
• Assist with all aspects of TOG's needs and work collaboratively with all teams including administrative and executive
• Follow all maintenance protocols, attend bi-weekly trainings, and attend crew member meetings
• Support a professional, safe, collaborative team environment for the Garden Educator team 

Ideal candidate will possess:

• At least two seasons of gardening/farm work
• Undergraduate degree in horticulture, botany, environmental studies, agricultural studies, environmental education, or relevant area is a plus but not required 
• Passion for the seed-to-table and edible education movements 
• Strong communication skills
• Interest in hands-on, outdoors physical work 
• Ability to take direction and guidance well
• Willingness to be solutions-oriented
• Reliable transportation to our Highland Park, IL headquarters 
• Availability in early mornings and on Saturdays, general flexibility with seasonal nature of job 

Reports to: Lead Garden Educator(s) & TOG Leadership Team 

Start Date: Immediate/flexible, end of May ideal

Work Week: Workdays during the garden maintenance season (July-November) are typically 8-9 hours including a 30 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks. Workdays during the initial planting season (May-June) may exceed 10 hours. Hours vary seasonally depending on need. 

This is a seasonal position running approximately through mid-end of November. Compensation is commensurate with experience. 

Compensation

this position is: hourly, under $15/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline