Green Barn & Garden Worker Trainee

Contract: 1 Year Full-Time Contract

Pay Rate: $27.20/hr 

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 support the maintenance of multiple community gardens and grow-spaces. The successful candidate will also support and contribute to several unique community garden and social enterprise programs, including a year-round Farmer's Market. The Worker will work under the supervision of the Green Barn Supervisor.

Duties & Responsibilities

Garden & Green Barn Maintenance

• Perform daily garden and greenhouse tasks (e.g., watering, pest control, planting, weeding, harvesting).
• Assist with seedling production and maintain compost systems (indoor & outdoor).
• Contribute to program planning, production, and delivery, including planting schedules, seed ordering and crop rotations.
• Keep greenhouse, gardens, and Green Barn spaces clean, sanitary, and well-organized.
• Maintain storage spaces, kitchen, tools, and growing media supplies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Volunteer & Community Support

• Facilitate and support program participants and volunteers in gardening tasks and food production during greenhouse and garden sessions.
• Support the facilitation of community and garden-based programs.
• Support workshops and open house events.

Event & Program Assistance

• Support and facilitate workshops, site visits, and special events (e.g., Educational Workshops, Program Open Houses, Seedling Giveaways).
• Assist in food preparation and clean-up after programs or events.
• Provide 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 harvest logs, volunteer records, and administrative documentation as required.
• Support outreach and program promotion (e.g., workshops, social media, newsletters).
• Participate in regular 1-1 meetings with the Green Barn Supervisor, team meetings, staff meetings and planning sessions.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in organic gardening, permaculture, or ecological growing.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a diverse community (people of different ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds).
• Commitment to food justice, anti-oppression, and community-based work.
• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to speak a language relevant to the community (asset).
• Some evening and weekend availability required.

Eligibility Requirements

• Potential candidates must be First Nations, Inuit or Metis and reside within the GTA. Must be registered or eligible to register with Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training.
• Applicants must register with Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Services, be currently working with an Employment Advisor, and undergo an eligibility check.
• Non-registered candidates, please register here: https://form.jotform.com/MiziweBiik/join