[Sust-mar] Host Coordinator, vol., Common Roots Urban Farm, Halifax, Nova Scotia

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VOLUNTEER POSITION

Job Title: Host Co-ordinator
Organization: Common Roots Urban Farm
Website: http://partnersforcare.ca/urban_farm
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Reports to: Project Co-ordinator
Key Relationships: Core Team, Market Garden Co-ordinator, Workshop Coordinator, Plot Coordinator, CompostMeister, Hosts
External Relationships: Capital Health Volunteer Services, General public

Position Summary: 

The Host Co-ordinator is a key volunteer role on the farm, responsible for scheduling, supporting, and coordinating the volunteer Hosts who have been vetted and approved by Capital Health Volunteer Services. Hosts begin training in April and start volunteering on the farm daily from 3-6 when it opens in May. The Host Coordinator is their touchstone, maintaining a working host schedule, liaising with the farm’s Core Team, ensuring responsibilities and expectations are clear, and encouraging fun.

An average of 7 hours a week, possibly including some evenings and weekend work.

March 1 - October 31, with the majority of hours March – May.

Volunteer Position.

Duties and responsibilities:

Admin
• Update and maintain Host sheet in the Database.
• Schedule weekly Host shifts on the farm. Arrange for substitute Hosts on shifts where required.
• Maintain and revise Host Binder and forms.
• Write a weekly paragraph to/from Hosts for distribution in the Weekly Update.
• Meet with Hosts twice during the season for feedback, and once with each Host near the end of the season for exit interviews.

Orientation
• Help plan and participate in the Host orientations. Maintain record of attendees.
• Orient all Hosts during first shift on the farm.
• Assist with orientation of experienced Hosts.
• Check in with Hosts over the first few weeks to ensure they are feeling clear and comfortable with the role.
• Communicate closely with Plot Coordinator regarding the selling of amendments and manure to Plotters.

Monitoring
• Regular communication (email and in person) with volunteer Hosts
• Keep Project Coordinator informed of trends and potential issues.
• Please see Appendix 1: Work Plan Timeline for detail.

Benefits to the volunteer:
• This job is half paper-work, half community development. This opportunity would help someone looking to exercise their organizing and administering skills while also being social and outside.
• Develop social connectivity: Meet many new people from various backgrounds. Encourage people to meet each other. Share knowledge with interested people.
• Culture creation: Help develop the culture and practices of the Common Roots Urban Farm.Encourage environmental and health-promoting behavior.

Skills Required:
• Reliable.
• Friendly, mature and self-directed.
• Can handle moderate physical activity.
• Great communication and social interaction skills
• Great decision making and problem solving skills
• Good planning and organizing skills. Competent is MS Office, email, and using googledrive.
• Knowledge of basic gardening an asset but no gardening or farming experience is required

Training:
• Orientation to the project will consist of three 2 hour training sessions: an Orientation to the Core Team, orientation to administration, and an orientation to the farm. Any related training and support that can be offered, will.
• There will be a Host Orientation during the months of April and May. The training sessions take place on the following dates: Thursdays (April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) between 6:00-8:00pm. These sessions will orient new and returning volunteers to farm organization and operations, basic farm skills, and develop team dynamics.
• Optional trainings in Cultural Competency and Mental Health First Aid etc. will be offered through the season.
• All volunteers are welcome to attend any CRUF workshop free of charge.
• Weekly Walk-arounds, Wednesday 2:30, provide another opportunity to learn more about farming and gardening from staff and participants.

Appendix 1: Work Plan Timeline 

March 
• March 1 - Email experienced hosts to confirm who is returning. Deadline for reply is March 15.
• Update host binder.
• Contact new Hosts approved by Capital Health.
• Assist with orientation program for new Hosts.
• Prepare orientation program for experienced Hosts.
• Become familiar with CRUF online resources: Facebook, website, and googledrive.
• Plan to attend key CRUF events.

April 
• Support the Host Orientation.
• Distribute Host Handbook and establish communications with the teams.
• Review and prepare the Host Binder
• Late April - Orientation for experienced hosts.

May 
• Support Hosts for their first farm shifts.
• Ensure Host Binder is being used properly
• Attend and promote workshops and walk-arounds.
• Support the Hosts in working their designated farm area. Communicate closely with Project Coordinator and Core Team about needs and plans.
• Communicate closely with Project Coordinator and Core Team about the maintenance compost, mulch, shed, and other shared areas.

June
• Ensure Host Binder is being used properly
• Attend and promote workshops and walk-arounds.
• Support the Hosts in working their designated farm area. Communicate closely with Project Coordinator and Core Team about needs and plans.
• Communicate closely with Project Coordinator and Core Team about the maintenance compost, mulch, shed, and other shared areas
• June 22 – June 28 - On farm for feedback sessions with hosts.

July - August
• Same as above
• August 15 – October 31 - Exit interviews with hosts leaving for the season.

September - October
• August 15 – October 31 - Exit interviews with hosts leaving for the season.
• Encourage Hosts to help put the Plots to bed with cover crops and mulch.
• Encourage Hosts to put their designated farm area to bed, and write a message to next year’s gardeners.
• Encourage Hosts to help put everything away for winter, composted, cleaned, sorted, recorded.
• Attend and promote Harvest Hootenanny and Pumpkin Smash

How to apply:

Please send a letter of interest to: 
urbanfarmers at partnersforcare.ca

Please indicate that you saw this posting at FoodWork.ca

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Posting ID: 28564

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