About Santropol Roulant

Santropol Roulant uses food as a vehicle to break isolation between generations. Creatively and collaboratively, we strengthen and nourish our local community with our novel approaches to active community engagement, youth leadership, food security and social inclusion.

The Roulant's staff is young and dynamic with job descriptions and responsibilities that sometimes exceed their experience. As such, opportunities to learn and grow are key benefits of working at Santropol Roulant. Our working culture supports staff members in developing the skills required to ensure that our collective impact matches organizational and personal aspirations.

About the Peri-Urban Farm

As part of our mission of building a food system that is healthy, just, and sustainable, Santropol Roulant farms a 2-acre plot of agriculturally zoned and organically certified lands in Senneville. This land supports the production of fresh produce for our meals on wheels menus, our fresh baskets program and our weekly farmer's markets. Furthermore, as part of Entre grange et gratte-ciel: Santropol Roulant's Urban-rural Farm Exchange, the farm provides opportunities for urban-dwellers to connect with the source of their food, with a particular focus on youth and other similarly marginalized populations. We strive to produce food that is accessible to all regardless of socio-economic status, level of mobility, or degree of autonomy.

About the Position

This position offers a first experience in small-scale farm management and is primarily geared towards young people with strong backgrounds in organic agriculture who are interested in learning more about the management aspects of running a small farm. The apprentice will have the opportunity to manage crops, lead teams of volunteers and interns, and deepen their understanding of the relationship between urban and rural food systems, all within a mentorship framework.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the guidance of the permanent farm team, the apprentice will contribute to the successful management of the peri-urban farm according to the farm's needs and in relation with the seasons. Their tasks may include any activities to run the farm, such as:

• Field and greenhouse bed preparation
• Seedlings, transplantation and direct seeding
• Assuring proper crop maintenance (weeding, pest control, staking, pruning, thinning, etc.)
• Harvesting and vegetable preparation
• Keeping both quantitative and qualitative records
• Distribution and marketing of farm produce
• Coordinating and mentoring part-time farm interns and/or volunteers
• Participating in Santropol Roulant daily life, including occasional meetings, events, etc.
• Communicating news from the farm to the broader Santropol Roulant membership
• Giving workshops and farm tours

We are looking for candidates with the following interests, skills and experience:

• Minimum 2 years/ experience with small-scale intensive organic vegetable production
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and assume responsibility
• Capacity for physical labour and working outdoors in all types of weather
• Experience working in a mentoring/teaching capacity
• A valid driver's license
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and off hours
• Familiarity with Santropol Roulant's Urban and Peri-Urban Agricultural Program, as well as the West Island agricultural community is an asset
• Experience with tractor work is an asset
• Basic oral bilingualism (French/English) is required, written communication skills an asset

Additional Details

This is a 32-week position beginning April 6th and ending November 14th with an hourly wage of $14. It has a part-time schedule (30hrs/week) for the first four weeks, a full-time schedule (40 hrs/week). The apprentice will work primarily a Monday to Friday schedule, but should expect to work the occasional weekend in rotation with other members of the farm team with take-back the subsequent week. In addition to vacation time accrued under their normal contract, the apprentice may choose to take up to one week of unpaid vacation, which would extend their contract until the end of November. Please note that commuting to the farm daily during the summertime may be time consuming for those who do not live in the area.

As an organization that works to break social and economic isolation and bring people together across social barriers, Santropol Roulant recognizes that people who experience structural oppression and marginalization have a lot to offer our community. In particular, Entre Grange et Gratte Ciel is a project that is specifically designed to engage people in farming who belong to communities that are under-represented in the Quebec farming context. People of colour, those recently arrived from other countries, people with disabilities, women, two-spirited and queer people, trans people, and other candidates who experience marginalization are strongly encouraged to apply and to self-identify in their cover letter.

Our primary office space is step-free and has an accessible washroom, but our second floor and basement are not wheelchair accessible. This position in particular will require the candidate to be at the farm site for over 80% of the duration of the contract, which poses major challenges to those with limited mobility. Please contact Stephanie if you have any questions about the accessibility of our work area or your participation in an interview process.

To apply, please drop off or email your CV and cover letter addressed to the Farm Apprentice Hiring Committee at 111 Roy East or rh at santropolroulant.org by Monday January  26th, 2015 at 9:00am. Only candidates chosen for an interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place the week of February 2nd. For more information, contact Stephanie at 514.284.9335, write to rh at santropolroulant.org, visit www.santropolroulant.org, or stop by our offices.