Crew Member

Farm Operations Crew Responsibilities

• Be flexible to work at all Windy City Harvest sites to support in meeting entire program 250k sales goal.
• Aid all Windy City Harvest sites with post-harvest handling, packing, planting, weeding, composting, pruning, watering, and overall site maintenance.
• Safely operate hand tools and power tools including weed whacker, lawnmower, power drill, harvest knife, pruners, shovels and others garden tools.
• Assist with harvest pack-out for wholesale, retail, and CSA style distribution.
• Maintain plant health.
• Assist with small construction program (i.e. repair WCH Hoophouses and raised beds).
• Participate in Roots of Success and Job Development class every Friday for 14- weeks.
• Commit to monthly employment check-ins for 6 months after completing Harvest Corps 14 weeks.

Qualifications

• Live in the City of Chicago
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be able to provide Rap Sheet from the state of Illinois or state where crime was committed
• Be able to provide a DD-214 to document military service- honorable/dishonorable discharge
• Be able to provide a Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, and a valid State ID/Driver’s license upon hire
• Be available to work full-time Monday-Friday
• Demonstrate a real interest in a full-time job
• Demonstrate ability and willingness to work a manual labor job in all weather conditions
• Commit to the Windy City Harvest standards of full-time employment performance

Physical Demands

• This is an urban farm setting.
• Staff must be able to work on their feet all day in all weather conditions performing manual labor.
• This will involve frequent lifting, standing, walking, bending, farm tool usage, machinery operation and speaking to the public, staff and program participants.
• Staff are also required to lift, push, and pull items up to 50 lbs.
• Staff are expected to work in multiple locations.

What does the Windy City Harvest Corps program include?

• 14-week, full-time, paid, on the job training in urban agriculture
• 6-months of follow up with Corps graduates and their employer
• 4 Certificates:
• Certificate of Completion from Chicago Botanic Garden
• Certificate in Environmental Literacy from Roots of Success
• Food Handler’s Certificate from ServSafe
• OSHA 10hr warehouse training
• Job readiness activities including Individual Employment Plan IEP, resume & cover letter development, mock interviews, and job search assistance.
• Weekly documented feedback of performance
• Letter of recommendation from Crew Leader when in good standing
• Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship and Work-study opportunity.
• The apprenticeship is a nine-month certificate in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, offered in partnership with Richard J. Daley College, Arturo Velasquez Institute and is worth college credit.
• Graduates of Harvest Corps who is eligible to join the apprenticeship program has an opportunity to apply for a Windy City Harvest Work-study position during their 14 weeks of Harvest Corps