Farm Manager & Educator

Essential Functions:

• Maintain the healthy, productive, and beautiful food production sites that make up our South St. Farm, helping it reach full capacity of producing over 2,000 lbs. of organic produce for our community throughout the growing season.
• Work closely with the Co-Director to envision, plan, purchase, and oversee the execution of all tasks throughout the growing season, including garden care and maintenance, greenhouse management, and farm improvement and infrastructure projects.
• Engage in general garden maintenance tasks required to produce organic crops in a no-till garden, including but not limited to: integrated pest management, transplanting, drip irrigation, trellising methods, intercropping, regular weeding, and cover crop management.
• Work with the Co-Directors and other staff to teach teens employed by GWS in our Green Team about urban farming techniques and practices. Engage with teens about farm tasks, and create a welcoming environment for the diverse youth involved in our spring, summer, and fall programs.
• Work with GWS partners to distribute produce and increase food access for all members of the Somerville community.
• Oversee efforts to grow culturally relevant crops for Somerville’s diverse community.
• Help organize and run engaging and accessible volunteer opportunities. Recruit, train, and oversee volunteers on the farm.
• Assist with community engagement that takes place on the farm, including co-facilitating school field trips, volunteer workdays, and farm events
• Support community tabling events, promote workshops, and other GWS publicity efforts. 

Working Conditions/Physical Demands: 

• Willingness and ability to garden in light rain, heat, or cold. 
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, and push large wheelbarrow loads of mulch and compost.
• Ability to perform all physical tasks required for urban farming, including bending, standing, twisting, using tools, and moving over uneven ground. 

Requisite Skills and Experience: 

• Experience successfully managing small farms/large gardens using sustainable, organic methods, including planning and maintenance
• Skilled at supervising volunteers, interns, or teen employees in farm work
• Basic knowledge of tools, ability to build raised beds, set up trellises, etc. 
• Background in permaculture techniques and knowledge of native plants preferred
• Organizational skills and the ability to keep track of logistics, materials, and information
• Excited to work as a member of a team with many moving parts
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to Groundwork Somerville's mission, youth empowerment, and anti-oppression work
• Strong understanding of historical and current injustices against immigrants, Indigenous people, and communities of color 
• Proficiency in (any) other languages is a plus!