Home Garden Mentor

BACKGROUND:

Portland Edible Gardens (www.portlandediblegardens.com) helps people grow their own fresh, organic food at their homes in the Portland metro area. We support our clients by building custom raised garden beds and providing regular vegetable garden mentorship and maintenance services at their homes throughout the growing season. We work with a wide range of gardeners from total beginners to long-time growers seeking to support them with their unique set of needs and help them meet their edible gardening goals.

Portland Edible Gardens is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, or disability.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Portland Edible Gardens is seeking to add a Home Garden Mentor to our amazing team to assist clients in growing organic vegetable gardens at their homes. The Home Garden Mentor will work one-on-one with clients throughout the growing season planting and tending their gardens while teaching clients about all aspects of organic vegetable production.

During a garden visit, Home Garden Mentor will work with client to: assess growth of garden since last visit, maintain/harvest vegetables as needed, diagnose and treat any pest and disease presence using organic methods, discuss seasonally relevant topics, plant seeds and starts following client's planting plan, discuss what to expect in the garden until the next garden visit.

Candidate will need to demonstrate extensive experience growing organic vegetables (3+ years) in this climate and also demonstrate excellent interpersonal, social, and communication skills.

This is a Part Time position: 16-32 hrs/week depending on # of contracted clients

This is a Seasonal Position: February-October

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Communicate with PEG clients ahead of and following garden mentorship visits
• Drive to clients' homes in greater Portland Metro Area
• Plant seeds and vegetable starts following client's customized seasonal planting plan
• Harvest vegetables with client
• Adjust drip irrigation systems according to anticipated weather
• Instruct clients in organic vegetable gardening principles and techniques including: direct sowing, planting methods for seeds/starts, organic pest and disease identification/prevention/treatment/control, irrigation techniques for specific vegetables, drip irrigation, composting/cover cropping/mulching techniques, specialized care/maintenance for specific vegetables, fertilization and soil fertility management, harvest timing and methods and manual tillage techniques.
• Maintain clear communication with PEG owner and Lead Home Garden Mentor regarding garden visits and clients' gardens
• Document garden visits for record keeping and generation of content for PEG social media accounts
• Maintain tools and equipment weekly
• Miscellaneous office/administrative tasks

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES:

• Must be highly organized, driven, and capable of managing wide range of tasks independently
• Must demonstrate extensive (3+ years) professional experience and knowledge growing vegetables in pacific northwest using organic methods
• Must demonstrate high level of interpersonal, social, and communication skills and provide top level customer service and educational experience to PEG clients
• Must have reliable transportation capable of carrying vegetable starts, hand tools, amendments, etc… to and from clients’ residences.  A company vehicle will be available for employee use on most days, but occasional use of a personal vehicle may be required.
• Must be comfortable with a wide range of people and skillful in adapting to different environments and making clients feel comfortable, supported, and successful

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Experience growing and caring for fruit trees, berries, and other perennial food crops in the PNW
• Social media/marketing/design experience
• Photography background

COMPENSATION:

Overview:

This is a Part Time Hourly Position: $21-$25/hr Depending on experience

Sick Pay:

Up to 40 hours sick pay annually. Begins accruing after 90 days employment

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit a cover letter, current resume, and 3 professional references to: ian@portlandediblegardens.com

START DATE:

2/10/24 (or possibly sooner if strong candidate is identified)

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Rolling. Applications will be reviewed in the order received.