Local Food, Community Gardens

Position: Community Garden Coordinator
Projects: Community Gardens & Grow Spaces
Organization: The Stop Community Food Centre
Location: Toronto, Ontario

Apply here: https://thestop.bamboohr.com/careers/115 . Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.

ABOUT THE STOP:

The Stop Community Food Centre’s mission is to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community, and challenges inequality. From its origins 40+ years ago as one of Canada's first food banks, The Stop has since grown into a vibrant community centre that uses food as a gateway to addressing many issues, including poverty, the environment, social isolation, and health in one of Toronto’s lowest-income neighbourhoods. The Stop is accredited by Imagine Canada for excellence in non-profit accountability, transparency, and governance.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for a candidate to coordinate and maintain multiple community gardens and grow-spaces. The successful candidate will also plan and facilitate several unique community garden and social enterprise programs, including a year-round Farmer's Market. The Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Green Barn Supervisor.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Garden & Program Coordination

• Coordinate and maintain community gardens (e.g., Mashkikii’aki’ing Garden, Earlscourt Community Garden) and Green Barn grow spaces (e.g. Greenhouse)
• Coordinate and facilitate seasonal and year-round programming (e.g., Dig-In, Global Roots) and food-based social enterprise programming (e.g. Farmer's Market, 10-Metre Greens)
• Ensure gardens, greenhouse, kitchen and community spaces are well-maintained and fully equipped.
• Maintain organic production in the greenhouse and gardens, ensuring proper seed starting, monitoring growth, pest management, watering, and harvesting.
• Support greenhouse and garden planning, including planting schedules, seed ordering, seedling production, and crop rotation.
• Coordinate seedling giveaways, including contacting community gardens and managing production/distribution.
• Maintain compost systems and ensure waste management aligns with sustainability goals.
• Facilitate involvement of other Stop programs (e.g., Healthy Beginnings, Community Advocacy) as well as outside groups and organizations in community gardens.
• Collaborate with the Kitchen team to incorporate garden produce into programming and food security initiatives (i.e. Drop-in).
• Other duties as assigned.

Volunteer & Community Support

• Facilitate volunteer engagement in gardening activities, providing support and training.
• Support facilitation of community and garden-based programs.
• Maintain collaborative communication with The Stop staff, local agencies, and community partners (e.g. CultureLink and NaMeRes)
• Connect volunteers and community members with external learning opportunities, community events, and resources.
• Work closely with the volunteer program to support and engage seasonal volunteers.

Event & Program Assistance

• Organize and facilitate workshops, site visits, and special events (e.g., Educational Workshops, Program Open Houses, Seedling Giveaways, Good Food for All Festival).
• Coordinate educational programming with external groups and The Stop’s partners.
• Conduct garden and greenhouse tours for visitors and community members.
• Assist with staffing and animating drop-in times in the Greenhouse and at the Farmers’ Market.

Administrative & Reporting

• Maintain accurate program records, harvest logs, evaluation and administrative data.
• Support outreach and program promotion (e.g., workshops, social media, newsletters).
• Participate in 1-1 meetings with GB supervisor, team meetings, staff meetings and planning sessions.
• Support the development of program reports, funding proposals, and identifying potential funding sources.
• Ensure compliance with The Stop’s policies (e.g., Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, Health & Safety, and Environmental Policies).

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of farming, community gardening or urban agriculture experience, especially in organic and sustainable methods.
• Strong project coordination, facilitation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience coordinating and supporting diverse volunteers.
• Commitment to food justice, anti-racism, and social equity principles.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse community (people of different ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds)
• Basic computer literacy (Microsoft Office, OneDrive).
• Food Handler Certificate and First Aid training (or willingness to obtain).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Valid Ontario driver’s license (G2) (asset).
• Ability to speak a language relevant to the community (asset).

Apply here:
https://thestop.bamboohr.com/careers/115

Please mention you saw this at FoodWork.ca.