Edible Schoolyard Kern County (ESYKC) Garden Educator

Edible Schoolyard Kern County (ESYKC)

Garden Educator

Reports to: BVESY Operations and Site Manager

Location: Buena Vista Edible Schoolyard; Bakersfield, CA

Position Summary:

The Garden Educator is involved in teaching garden and kitchen classes and is responsible for the maintenance of a year-round productive and educational organic garden. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

(Include but are not limited to)

• Maintains a productive and educational organic garden 


• Maintains garden at a level that ensures ample produce to the Kitchen classroom.


• Involved in all garden classes, guiding students through propagation, harvesting, cultivation, composting, greenhouse production and maintenance of the garden


• Involved in kitchen classes, guiding students through lesson and recipe execution and clean up


• Collaborates with the BVESY Operations and Site Manager on the execution of grade appropriate garden skills, activities and lessons


• Assists with soil fertility, composting, garden planning, seed supply, pruning, irrigation, pest and disease management and small-scale chicken husbandry


• Maintains garden records


• Facilitates weekly garden walk through with kitchen and garden staff members, and writes and distributes notes 


• Maintain communication with kitchen staff about garden production and available produce. 

All Garden Staff Will:

• Participate in the implementation, set up and teaching of daily lessons


• Helps maintain garden facilities, equipment and inventory including tool shed, chicken coop, greenhouse and all hand tools


• Helps with daily garden work year round


• Teaches or participates as needed in the kitchen or other ESYKC sites 


• Attend and participate in all staff meetings, and scheduled ESYKC professional development days

Community:

• Helps plan and execute Community Cooking & Garden classes, Annual Plant Sale, camps, and fundraising events 


• Attend school-wide functions (i.e.: Open House, Showcase Night, etc.)


• Maintain healthy relationship with BV Elementary, GFEF, and ESYKC Staff  


• Represent ESYKC program to wider community (i.e.: giving tours of ESY, public speaking engagements, off site community events)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Ability to work with elementary school students in an educational environment


• Ability to maintain order and safe working practices in a garden and kitchen setting with young students


• Strong knowledge of the principles of gardening 


• Ability to interact positively and effectively with a variety of constituents including students, co-workers, parents, teachers, volunteers and visitors


• Ability to work collaboratively 

Education and Experience:

• Gardening experience (required)


• Bachelor’s degree preferred


• Educational background in agriculture, horticulture, liberal arts, education or related fields preferred


• Experience working with elementary school aged students preferred

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Ability to work in summer heat (100° +)


• Ability to stand, stoop, reach, and bend. Mobility of arms to reach, dexterity of hands to grasp and manipulate large and small objects


• Ability to stand for long periods and walk long distances


• Ability to lift, push and/or pull objects (up to approximately 50 pounds)


• Ability to read small print


• Ability to work with and in the proximity of equipment with moving mechanical parts


• Ability to work outdoors in a physically demanding environment


• Ability to smell, taste and feel to determine the quality of raw food products


• Ability to work around loud noise