Title: Badger Rock Assistant Farm and Education Manager
Reports To: Badger Rock Farm and Education Manager
Location: Badger Rock Neighborhood Center
Position Type: Part-time (32 hours per week) / Non-exempt
Salary: $17/hour based on experience
Benefits: 24 days paid time off plus 8 paid holidays annually; flexible, family-friendly schedule; medical, dental, and vision insurance with Rooted covering 75% of the costs of the insurance package; 401k retirement plan; professional development opportunities; cell phone reimbursement
Start Date: June 11, 2024
About Rooted
We are committed to collaborations rooted in food, land, and learning so that people can grow and thrive in healthy, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods. Ours is a firm commitment to building racial equity and inclusion and dismantling racism in our communities, in our education and food systems, and within our organization. This is a path of lifelong learning and commitment to action.
About Badger Rock Urban Farm
Rooted seeks an educator and grower with experience in garden-based or outdoor education and production to work directly with the Badger Rock Farm and Education Manager and team in all aspects of chemical-free, year-round vegetable production and farm-based education. Badger Rock Urban Farm is an educational and production farm that is a part of Rooted’s Badger Rock Neighborhood Center located at 517 E. Badger Road, Madison, WI 53713. The site also hosts Badger Rock Middle School, a project-based, public charter school with a focus on sustainability, social justice, and urban agriculture. Southside Elementary School recently opened on site in fall of 2023.
Position Overview
Growing takes place on the farm, in the hoop houses, and in the greenhouse. Duties include helping in day-to-day aspects of food production, assisting with planning and teaching the middle school garden class, after school cooking club, and Saturday School program during the school year, the elementary school after school and summer program, and other youth and community educational programming. This position will also assist with the year-round high school Rooted in Urban Agriculture Youth Employment Program, supervising interns and volunteers, assisting with materials sourcing and gathering, assisting with the wholesale sprout business, and assisting with overseeing food distribution at Badger Rock Community Market through our weekly farm stand.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Educational Programming
- School Year: Assist with teaching a daily middle school garden class, twice a month Saturday School program, weekly after school cooking clubs for middle and elementary, and other youth and community educational programming
- Summer: Assist with teaching a regular elementary school garden class and other youth and community educational programming
- Ability to farm in a way that supports both production farming and educational farming
Training and Supervision
- Train and supervise volunteers in farm production and maintenance tasks and facilitate educational opportunities within the context of daily farm activities
- Supervise elementary and middle-school-aged youth from diverse backgrounds in garden-based education and activities
- Supervise high-school-aged youth from diverse backgrounds in our Rooted in Urban Agriculture Youth Employment Program
Farm Production
- Work in all aspects of chemical-free, year-round farm production including planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and post-harvest handling
- Participate in greenhouse seedling production
- Assist with weekend and evening programming, including oversight of the weekly farm stand during the growing season
- Assist with coordinating wholesale sprout business
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- At least one year of experience growing diversified vegetables using sustainable and/or organic practices in a production setting
- At least one year of experience with facilitation of youth outdoor or garden-based programming
- Experience working with diverse groups of people in community settings, with cultural humility
- Flexibility and adaptability to a dynamic work environment
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently in all types of weather
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work with minimal supervision
- Ability to lift 50 lbs
- Ability to multitask own work while supervising others
- Proficient use of smartphones, office software, email, and other technology
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including the ability to listen and solve problems
- Ability to commit to and promote Rooted and Badger Rock Middle School’s missions, goals and priorities
- Interest in and commitment to urban ecological agriculture and social justice
- Spanish language skills considered a plus
Additional Information/Requirements:
- Must have access to reliable transportation
- Willingness and ability to work some weekend and evening hours
- Ability to pass a standard background check
How to Apply:
Please apply directly through BambooHR or email a cover letter and resume to Sarah Karlson, Education Director and Badger Rock Farm and Education Manager, at [email protected] or send mail to:
Sarah Karlson
Rooted WI, Inc.
517 E Badger Rd
Madison, WI 53713
Review of applications will begin May 10, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. Download this job description.