Artscape ,Garden Work Exchange Program Jobs in Canada

Position: Garden
Work Exchange Program
Type: work exchange, 16 to 22 hrs/wk, private accom., more (see below)
Organization: Artscape http://www.artscape.ca
Location: Toronto Islands, Toronto, Ontario

Join us on the idyllic shores of Toronto Island for one of three
garden growing seasons at Artscape Gibraltar Point. We are looking for
community-minded, green thumbed individuals to join our community of
artists and take care of our garden.

Artscape Gibraltar Point is a community cultural hub nestled against
the magnificent natural backdrop of Toronto Island, open year-round.
Since 1999, more than 1,000 artists have experienced the unique and
tranquil setting of the Artscape Gibraltar Point through affordable
short- and long-term studio rentals. As an event venue, Artscape
Gibraltar Point hosts music and art festivals, open studio tours,
short-term residencies, community celebrations, workshops, small
conferences, meetings and fundraisers each year. The garden at
Artscape Gibraltar Point has become a valued component to the Toronto
island community, providing food for artists in residence and Toronto
Island community members, and acting as the basis of inspiration for
programming like our Harvest Dinner.

Participants in our new Garden Work Exchange Program will have access
to clean and cozy private accommodations, bright and spacious studios,
a shared kitchen and lounge, free Wi-Fi, bike rentals, beautiful green
spaces and views of the lake from the Gibraltar Point Beach, as well
as a share of garden produce to eat (growing season dependent). Help
us take our garden from seed to plant to plate! Reporting to the head
gardener/landscape painter, participants will offer 16 to 22 hours of
garden nuturing per week. From March 2 to May 31, the primary business
is taking care of seedlings, from June 1 to August 31 it’s making the
plants big and strong, and feeding island residents. The final program
period, September 1 to October 31 involves harvest time and creating a
lovely celebration called the Harvest Dinner.

Participants in our new Garden Work Exchange Program will work a set
number of hours caring for the community gardens at Artscape Gibraltar
Point, reporting to the Head Gardener and Managing Director.

Three work-exchange periods are available:
• March 2 – May 31, 2015
• June 1 – August 31, 2015
• September 1 – October 31, 2015

Please note that Assistant Gardeners may be called upon to act as
community relations representatives for Artscape Gibraltar Point, and
will receive training on building systems and assist with any
overnight emergencies. Each participant in the program will be asked
to complete a timesheet on a weekly basis.

What’s Involved:

March/April/May
Assistant Gardener 16 hours/week
• Assisting in preparing seedling trays, planting seeds
• Helping to set up indoor lighting system, potting up seedlings into
larger trays
• Creating identifying markers, watering daily
• As weather permits, moving seedlings in and out of building to “harden off”
• Cleaning up beds and lawns; turning and sifting compost
• Preparing outdoor gardens for planting
• Turning soil and digging in fertilizer and compost
• Planting half the plants in beds and helping with the sale of half
the plants to island community
• Moving all indoor garden equipment into storage for season
• Assisting in documentation of garden progress
• Landscaping garden and flowers beds
• Removing organic debris from surrounding property

June/July/August (busy season)
Assistant Gardener 22 hours/week
• Assisting in our vegetable, fruit and flower gardens and grounds
• Watering and weeding
• Communicating/responding to inquiries about garden from residents
and Island visitors
• Working on weekly pop-up Farmer’s Market
• Harvesting produce, packaging produce, transporting produce to island for
sale
• Maintaining a float, track sales, and deliver proceeds to office
• Removing organic debris from surrounding property
• Assisting in documentation of garden progress

September/October
Assistant Gardener 16 hours/week
• Helping clean up grounds
• Putting the flower, fruit, and vegetable gardens “to bed” for the
winter. Cleaning up debris, moving organic waste to composters,
turning soil and compost, bringing in plants for over wintering
indoors
• Assisting with the annual Harvest Dinner

To maximize on this opportunity, applicants should possess:
• Experience and strong interest in gardening
• Ability to manage physical work including lifting and repetitive work
• A community-building mindset
• Organizational skills, ingenuity and problem-solving skills
• Flexible and capable of prioritizing multiple tasks
• A positive and proactive attitude
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to work collaboratively in an team-oriented environment

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 5 PM on Feb 25, 2015

TO APPLY:

To apply, please complete our online form and attach:
• A cover letter outlining your interest in the position and what you
would bring to our team
• Your resume Online form:
https://artscape.wufoo.eu/forms/garden-work-exchange-program-2015/

Artscape is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in all its work.
We work proactively to be fair and equitable in practice and to build
diversity into our teams, creative communities, programs and services.

Applications will only be accepted through our online form, and not by
email or post.

N.B. Although participants in this program will not be receiving cash
payments, this Work Exchange Residency Program will provide
participants with a taxable benefit, that being free use of property,
goods, or services owned by Artscape. Individuals will be responsible
for reporting the amount of the benefit as income at the end of the
year and CRA will assess the amount owing in taxes.

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