Grower

This job description indicates the general level of responsibility and standards expected of the post. The detailed duties may vary or develop over time according to needs without changing the nature of level of responsibility of the post. This job description does not form part of your contract.

**POST**:Grower**

**F/Time - 35hrs per week**

**REFERENCE**: G01

3-month probationary period

**HOURS**: Full timeCore hours will be 35 per week.

Flexibility of hours sometimes required, especially in the Summer months.

**DEPARTMENT**: Root Connections (CIC) - Community Market Garden

**LOCATION**:Based on-site atStratton-on-the-Fosse - BA3 4QF.

**REPORTS TO**: Line Manager/Project Lead & Board of Directors

Root Connections in a Community Interest Company (CIC) based in the stunning Mendip countryside.

Our mission is to end rural homelessness and rough sleeping in [East Somerset / Mendip in Somerset]. We do this from our community market garden, set in 1.5 acres of working farmland located close to the Dairy House, a homeless hostel offering residents a purpose-built therapeutic setting for recovery.

Our work focuses on improving health and wellbeing, primarily for those who have experienced homelessness and rough sleeping. We do this through the creation, delivery and support of meaningful hands-on activity and the cultivation of our market garden.

Through our project, we bring the local volunteering community together to work towards a common goal: to produce exceptional seasonal, locally, and organically grown vegetables and flowers for our veg box and seasonal cut flowers schemes.

We are entering a new and exciting phase of developing our organisation, which gives a fantastic opportunity for a full time Grower who understands the principle of organic growing methods and permaculture practices, who is interested in creating an inspiring and therapeutic atmosphere for our residents, and a welcoming, supportive environment which promotes wellbeing for the local community as a whole.

**The Role**:
Follow our crop plan to produce salad & vegetables for our;
- 20+ a week veg box scheme
- 3 x wholesale customers
- Weekly onsite pop-up farm shop
- 2 x monthly farmer’s markets

**Other Tasks**:

- Order from our wholesale customer/s to supplement in the ‘hungry gap’
- Oversee Harvest day on a Wed
- Oversee veg box orders on our Ooooby platform - with deliveries twice a week (Thurs & Fri) & co-ordinate volunteer delivery drivers via WhatsApp
- Set out tasks for our hostel residents & volunteers for 2.5hrs ‘Land Day’ sessions twice a week

As part of the job progression we can offer Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (non-OFQUAL registered) - Thrive & will be the potential to promote to Head Gardener after a 3month probationary period - with a pay increase to £25,000 & an annual review thereafter, based on meeting satisfactory levels of progression.

**Essential**
- Has a desire to positively support people out of homelessness.
- A desire to learn & adopt the therapeutic benefits of horticulture to mental wellbeing, and an understanding of the work of organisations such as THRIVE.
- Collaboration - Root Connections runs to support the residents of the Dairy House although a different entity, works in partnership with them and in your role would be working closely with the staff of the hostel.
- You will have at least two years’ experienceof chemical free (growing to organic principles) vegetable & salad production on a similar scale and be a well organised, dynamic, self-motivated individual looking for a position of responsibility - comfortable in sharing ideas & plans to strengthen & grow the project, and able to listen to and assimilate others’ ideas when appropriate.
- The ability to be a self-starter, work on your own initiative and within a team is a core component of the role - to support the project objectives.

**Awareness and Responsibility**
- Awareness and understanding of the CIC aims and objectives along with an understanding of rural homelessness and the Dairy House.
- Maintain high standards and acting as a good role model for residents in the Diary House in recovery and a time of change.
- Respect and work to the standards required under Health & Safety, Food Handling and Hygiene. To make sure policies and procedures are followed in the garden.
- Demonstrate patience, respect, and openness in dealings with everyone.
- A demonstrable ability to multitask and work under the pressure and challenges of a demanding work environment.

**Other Responsibilities**:

- Take responsibility for & maintain all areas of the garden demonstrating good crop rotation - providing year-round produce.
- Establish good rotational compost system & manage good soil health.
- Respect the farm environment & work to organic principles wherever possible, whilst minimising waste
- Have a good understanding of polytunnel management - managing pests/diseases, good hygiene etc.
- Prepare and plan