Garden Assistant

Position Title:

Garden Assistant                                   Dated:  2/2025

Classification: 

Non-Exempt

Expected hours of work:  

Seasonal: June-October, 32-40 hours/week

Salary grade/level/range: 

Assistant Level: $18-19

Supervisor: 

    Farm Manager

Willing Hands’ Mission is to reduce food waste and expand equitable and reliable access to fresh food. 

Willing Hands grows, gleans, and recovers nourishing fresh food and distributes it for free to our neighbors in need through a network of approximately 80 human service organizations in the greater Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Program Summary:

Willing Hands’ four gardens play a crucial role in our goal to provide fresh produce throughout the year to our recipient organizations. Gardens located in Norwich VT, East Thetford VT, and Lebanon NH provide Willing Hands the opportunity to engage hundreds of volunteers in our work, and to grow targeted food crops that supplement our food recovery efforts.

Job Summary: The Garden Assistant works closely with the Farm Manager to accomplish all tasks related to growing and harvesting vegetables in Willing Hands’ gardens in any of our 4 growing locations.  They will also lead or co-lead volunteer groups during scheduled garden work sessions, support communication with volunteers, accurately enter crop data, and work collaboratively with the gleaning, communications, and operations team.

Key Accountabilities:

• Add capacity to the Willing Hands garden program which is currently growing food at 4 locations.
• Support the execution of the yearly garden crop plan as developed by the Farm Manager.
• Coordinate, train, and manage volunteer groups during regular garden sessions, at special group workdays in the gardens, and support small group or individual volunteer sessions.
• Keep accurate records to ensure proper documentation of program data, and help maintain inventory and proper upkeep of supplies, tools, and first aid materials needed for the garden program. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Duties/Responsibilities:

Growing Food & Volunteer Crew Management:

• Assist with all garden duties including but not limited to seeding, planting, watering, cultivating, weeding, harvesting.  
• Maintain accurate records of harvest crops and weights, and label and transport harvested produce from the gardens to Willing Hands. 
• Support the recruitment, training, retention, safety, engagement, and education of volunteers and the volunteer experience. Help maintain volunteer records and garden events calendar in the Willing Hands POINT database and document volunteer attendance.

Administrative

• Help maintain accurate and current records / files with crop, growing site, and volunteer information. 
• Support Willing Hands outreach and communications by taking photographs and helping create content to share with the public through Willing Hands channels including social media.
• Participate in small and large group team meetings to discuss program evaluation and improvement.

Skills/Abilities:

• Highly organized, efficient, and ability to be flexible to changing needs of the gardens.
• Outstanding communication, writing, phone and public relations skills with diverse groups of people: co-workers, farmers, volunteers, donors, and Board members. 
• Excellent record-keeping, computer, and data entry skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with and manage volunteers in variable outdoor conditions, and work effectively with diverse and multi-disciplinary groups of individuals.
• Self-motivated, disciplined and committed to being part of a team.
• Interest in agriculture, resource management and engaging community.
• Valid driver’s license and excellent driving record required.
• Available to work early mornings, nights, and weekends as the job requires.

Required and/or preferred Education and Experience:

• Large garden and/or farming experience, and a passion for growing organic food in a sustainable manner and contributing to the current transition of the Willing Hands gardens to no-till regenerative methods for growing food.

Physical Requirements and work environment: 

• Will spend long periods of time in the outdoors doing often strenuous agricultural tasks
• Must be able to comfortably lift 50 pounds
• Must  be able to adapt to a changing schedule based on the demands of the gardens and weather considerations.  
• The position generally requires working (on site, and/or simply fielding calls or emails from co-workers, partners or volunteers as the job requires) at variable times including early mornings, evenings and weekends and may include work in adverse weather conditions.

General Expectations of all Staff

• Understand and support the mission of Willing Hands as expressed by the Board
• Greet the public through all channels of communication with courtesy and respect
• Coordinate and integrate efforts with staff working on other Willing Hands programs
• Work in a safe manner and report any safety hazards to the Executive Director
• Maintain individual workstation and office in a clean manner
• Practice good work habits of flexibility, efficiency, punctuality, dependability, and confidentiality
• Strive to grow existing skills and learn new ones
• Employ good communication skills by sharing information, listening to others, and giving positive input
• Work as a team member by helping others and making suggestions for improvements

Benefits and Work Environment

• Paid time off and holidays 
• This position is based in our Norwich office, with gardens located in Norwich, Lebanon, and East Thetford.
• Mileage is reimbursed at the current federal reimbursement rate for all approved work travel with a personal vehicle. 
• Opportunity to set professional development goals with supervisor
• Regular meetings of Willing Hands staff
• We care deeply about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable work environment