Grower In Training

About Urban Growers Collective
Urban Growers Collective (UGC) uses urban agriculture and community food system development to dismantle inequities and structural racism, which prevent communities of color from living healthy, vibrant lives. UGC cultivates nourishing environments in Chicagos historically disinvested communities, seeding pathways to freedom while supporting residents health, economic development, healing and creativity through urban agriculture.

As a Black- and woman-led 501(c)(3) organization, we believe that achieving food justice is a necessary first step in healing the historical trauma experienced by communities of color, building their resilience, and, ultimately, achieving liberation. While our work is rooted in farming, UGCs approach is holistic. Our eight farms over 11 acres primarily on the Southside of Chicago, IL growing over 25,000 pounds of fresh produce annually, enabling food access to tens of thousands of food-insecure Chicagoans and providing safe and healing spaces for educational and life-enriching opportunities to hundreds of individuals each year through public workshops, workforce development, and land stewardship.

Now, UGC is preparing to open a new renewable energy facility and hub for urban agriculture and green jobs on Chicagos South Side, the Green Era Campus. Through this work, we are breathing new life into long-neglected communities, building a sustainable model for a just food sector, and redefining whats possible for Chicagos local food systems.

Position Summary:
The Grower in Training position encompasses all aspects of farm work to ensure the overall quality and production goals of the farm are maintained. This may include: prepping sites, implementing crop plans, seeding, planting, tending, weeding, trellising, pest management, irrigating and harvesting crops, as well as animal care. We are looking for an individual who is self-motivated, detail oriented, timely, maintains a positive attitude, has excellent communication skills, and a strong work ethic. This is a full-time position that provides you with on the job training, and scaffolded leadership opportunities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Crop Care & Production (25% - 10 hrs/week)*:

• Hand cultivating beds for weed control;
• Daily observation and maintenance of farm sites including seeding, planting, tending, weeding, trellising and irrigating crops;
• Pest Management - monitoring and spraying crops for insect and disease prevention, may include hand-picking, maintaining row cover, and spraying of organic pesticides;
• Irrigation set up and system monitoring, including drip, sprinkler and hand irrigation;

Harvesting (25% - 10hrs/week)*:

• Harvesting, post-harvest handling, record keeping of crops for sale and distribution;
• Assisting with produce packing, sales, load-in and out of produce at farmers markets and for the Fresh Moves Mobile Market must be able to lift 50 pounds;

Bed Prep & Composting (20% - 8 hrs/week)*:

• Prepare and build-out fields for seeding, planting and transplanting;
• Applying vermicompost or other soil amendments to crops;
• Compost processing and record keeping of expired crops and produce;

General Farm Upkeep (15% - 6 hrs / week)*:

• Opening & Closing checklists & record keeping;
• Maintaining records for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) requirements;
• Ensuring farm is clean of debris, garbage, signs are hung up, etc;
• Daily reporting to supervisor with weekly progress reports submitted;

Animal Care (15% - 6 hrs / week)*:

• Animal Care - provide daily feed and water, cleaning housing areas of animals once a week or more frequently, as needed;

Special Projects & Other, as needed:

• Construction and repair of hoop-houses and additional infrastructure on farm sites, as needed;
• Occasional transportation of supplies to farm locations, as needed;
• Assisting in other farm tasks, programs, and events, as needed;
• Participation in special projects and committees, as needed/interested

**These projected time allocations represent an estimated average time only - actual time will be tracked weekly and adjusted seasonally based on seasonal farm needs.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• At least one full growing season (spring-summer-fall) of a growing position at a working farm;
• Experience growing crops from the following families: brassicas, alliums, nightshades, legumes, cucurbits, root crops, cut salad greens, etc;
• Basic knowledge of safe power tool use;
• Ability to problem solve;
• Excellent physical stamina;
• Ability to lift 75 pounds;
• COVID-19 Vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption with mandatory weekly testing
• Able to work early mornings, weekends and occasional holidays
• Preferred: Valid Drivers License, clean driving record and willingness to drive;
• Preferred: IL Pesticide Applicator License
• Preferred: Familiarly with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP); Organic Certification & FSMA requirements
• Excellent organizational, communication and follow-through skills;
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries in working with co-workers and teens;
• Ability to think critically and creatively;
• Willingness to work as part of a team in a collaborative environment, but have the ability to work unsupervised to complete the job;
• Basic familiarity with Google Workspace & GSuite, and/or willingness to learn;
• Passion for food justice, youth development and urban farming.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions:

• Must be willing and prepared to work outdoors in all weather conditions (hot, humid, rainy, cold, snowy);
• Hours vary throughout the season but are generally 7:00a-3:30p or 8:30-5p, with (2) - 15min paid breaks and a 30min unpaid lunch break.
• This position requires excellent physical stamina, and the ability to regularly lift 50 pounds.
• This position requires operation of several different types of power equipment and machinery to carry out responsibilities of the role, including: tiller, weed wacker, Dingo, Gator, lawn mower, air compressor, drills, saw, etc.;
• This positions requires daily use and safe-handling of farm tools including wheelbarrows, tools, hand-tools, irrigation equipment

Schedule:

• This is a full-time seasonal position, 40 hours per week
• 5 days / week (weekend day and holidays required), 8:30-5:00p (spring/fall) / 7:00a-3:30p (summer, morning shift) or 10:30a-7:00p (summer, evening shift)
• Breaks: 2 - 15 minute breaks (paid) + 30 minute lunch (unpaid)