Community Garden Assistant (LTE)

About the role

The Community Garden Assistant (LTE) supports the operation and maintenance of Brown County's 13 community garden sites. The position performs hands-on garden and grounds maintenance, provides basic horticultural assistance to gardeners, and supports educational activities. Work is performed independently and collaboratively under the direction of the Urban Agriculture & Community Garden Coordinator.

Responsibilities

• Performs routine garden and grounds maintenance, including mowing, weed and invasive plant removal, brush and branch cutting, and general landscaping.
• Assists with garden infrastructure maintenance, light repairs, and site improvements, including garden beds, fencing, pathways, signage, and related features.
• Hauls, distributes, and disposes of garden materials and waste at designated locations.
• Measures and marks plots; installs and removes plot stakes, twine, and related materials; monitors water tanks and watering systems for adequate supply, function, and water quality.
• Monitors garden plots for compliance with program rules and guidelines and communicates concerns to the Urban Agriculture & Community Garden Coordinator; performs other garden tasks as assigned.
• Responds to questions and concerns from gardeners and provide basic gardening and horticultural guidance when working at a garden site. Refers gardeners to the UW Extension Brown County horticulture specialist and other known resources as needed.
• Supports the developing and presentation of gardening education and horticultural learning opportunities for the Brown County Jail Program and other special programs as needed.
• Identifies recurring or unresolved garden concerns and communicates them to the Urban Agriculture & Community Garden Coordinator.
• Communicates task completion, significant gardener interactions, site conditions, and other related concerns to the Urban Agriculture & Community Garden Coordinator; performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience in horticulture, agriculture, landscaping, education, or a related field, including safe operation of applicable tools and equipment, preferred.
• Experience working with diverse populations and community-based programs preferred.
• Valid Wisconsin Driver’s license

Skills

• Knowledge of gardening.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Experience working with limited income, diverse populations.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.
• Ability to manage time, and work effectively with indirect supervision.
• Ability to perform physical outdoor work, including frequent walking, standing, bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and operating garden and landscaping equipment.
• Ability to independently lift, carry, load, and unload materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and environments where various outdoor wildlife if present.