Four positions available !

Santropol Roulant uses food as a vehicle to break social 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.

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 3-acre plot of agriculturally zoned and organically certified land in Senneville. This land supports the production of fresh produce for our kitchen programs, our organic baskets and our weekly farmer’s markets. Initiatives such as our solidarity baskets, subsidized markets and meals-on-wheels contribute to making organic produce accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status, level of mobility, or degree of autonomy.

About the positions

Santropol Roulant is seeking four motivated and energetic people to join our team as Peri-Urban Farm Work Shares. As key members of the farm team, the Work Shares play an important role in ensuring that the fields are well maintained and productive. They will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and skills in areas such as small scale intensive farming, horticulture, vegetable marketing, food security and volunteer coordination.

Additionally, this year we are excited to offer more targeted leadership opportunities to people who have a specific interest in working on one of the following special projects:

• Communications (newsletter, blog, photography and social media)
• Seed saving (planting, tending and harvesting seed for sale)
• Beekeeping (opening, managing and winterizing the hives at the farm – some beekeeping experience required)
• Medicinal herb and flower garden (planning, designing and caring for the herb garden)

These positions are offered on the basis of a “work exchange”, where participants work 1 day per week at the farm in exchange for a learning opportunity and a weekly organic vegetable basket from the farm. We also offer a stipend at the end of the summer (full contract details below).

Primary responsibilities include:

• Contributing to farm upkeep and maintenance (caring for seedlings, transplantations and direct seeding, weeding, pest control, staking, pruning, thinning, etc.)
• Harvesting vegetables and preparing them for market
• Participating in, and then leading community tours and groups of children at the farm
• Supporting volunteers' participation in the work at the farm
• Taking leadership and managing tasks for their special project

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

• Interested in learning about farming
• Desire to work collaboratively and with a team
• Excited about working with the land, doing physical labour
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Comfortable working with children
• Comfortable working outside in variable weather conditions
• Punctual and committed to arriving on time
• Previous experience in one of the special project areas (communications, seed saving, beekeeping, medicinal herbs) is a strong asset

Contract Details:

We ask that the Work Share participants commit to working at the farm 1 day per week (approximately 6 hours of work per day in the fields, 2 hours focused on their special project, plus transportation to and from the farm) for a minimum of 16 weeks between the beginning of June and the end of September. Work Shares may choose to work on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. A summer schedule will be established once the entire farm team is in place. Note for Montreal-based applicants: the farm is accessible by train from Montreal (followed by a short bike ride from St-Anne-de-Bellevue station) and carpooling options may also be available.

In exchange, Santropol Roulant offers an organic vegetable basket of farm produce for each week worked. Those who complete at least 16 weeks at the farm will also receive at stipend of $480.

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. 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 the majority 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 a short letter describing yourself and your interest in this position to Stephanie Childs at rh at santropolroulant.org or at our office by Monday May 9th, at 9am. Please indicate clearly in your letter which of the special projects you are interested in. For more information, contact Stephanie at 514.284.9335, write to stephanie at santropolroulant.org, visit our website at santropolroulant.org, or drop by our office at 111 Roy est.

SOURCE: Santropol Roulant