Program Assistant

Garden Caretaker

The Environmental Justice Program seeks a competent and reliable Garden Caretaker(s) to perform semi-skilled work in the maintenance, care, and modification of the Espanola Healing Foods Oasis (EHFO) landscape, which includes the operation of a drip irrigation system, a water hose system, and the use of small hand and garden tools. The Garden Caretaker(s) will be responsible for the health of all plants and trees in the garden, along with upholding general and advanced maintenance tasks.

The Garden Caretaker(s) must be friendly, professional, flexible, and knowledgeable about effective gardening techniques for high-desert ecosystems.

Location: Espanola, NM

Status: Part-time (20 hours/week), Temporary Seasonal Staff (on occasion, might include evenings and weekends)

Rate: $20/hour

Note: Applicants must be 18 years and older.

How to apply: Please submit this form you can upload your cover letter and resum there. If you have trouble submitting the form, please email View email address on click.appcast.io.

Responsibilities

Primary Garden Caretaker Duties

• Serve as a Garden Caretaker to maintain and grow the EHFO to ensure it meets specific requirements and expectations
• Attend monthly planning and coordination session with other Garden Caretaker and EJ Project Coordinator I
• Become familiar with the EHFO maintenance plan, dripline system, and other EHFO needs
• Follow the recommended EHFO maintenance plan to ensure the upkeep of the site
• Serve to coordinate on-site volunteers and temporary seasonal workers when the EJ Project Coordinator I is unavailable
• Help ensure a safe environment for staff, volunteers, and youth by adhering to safety and health regulation
• Assist with Grow Box maintenance support at TWU Nest

• Assist in volunteer EHFO garden clean-up days and other events
• Identify invasive plants maintenance and removal
• Increase native plant diversity by planting as needed, both seeded and transplants
• Add soil, mulch, and compost to newly planted areas as needed
• Harvest plants and seeds as needed throughout the season
• Maintain erosion control and berm/swale reinforcement and repair with earthwork and rockwork
• Hand watering and manual drip system activation as needed
• Dispose of and change the trash from the three receptacles on a weekly or bi-weekly basis
• Dispose of any needles found in the garden into the needle receptacle box on the west side of the park/garden on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (PPE and Trash Pick-up Tools will be provided)

Outreach/Community Building

• Serve as an on-site EHFO ambassador

Training and Classes

• Participate in trainings/ classes for staff, service providers, and community on various topics related to the EHFO and/ or identified by Supervisor.

Opide Campaign/ Movement Building and Connection

• Support other TWU Programs as needed and indicated in scopes of work with supervisors' pre-approval
• Assist in coordinating and implementing TWU Campaign(s)

Perform other duties as assigned by EJ Program Manager and EJ Project Coordinator I

The duties and responsibilities outlined above do not comprise a comprehensive list but are intended to provide a representation of the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this capacity. Tewa Women United maintains the right to augment or delete duties and responsibilities as business dictates.

Minimum Position Qualifications

• Commitment to TWU's mission and values
• GED or high school diploma or work experience in a related field (i.e. agriculture, permaculture, forestry, biology, gardening, landscaping, etc.)
• A passion to love the outdoors and plant life
• Demonstrates ability to clearly establish goals and objectives, plan/organize activities and projects.
• Demonstrates good negotiation skills, works independently, and demonstrates good judgment.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience & familiarity with gardening or farming within high desert landscapes & landscape design
• Knowledge of local pests and how to eliminate them
• Ability to remain on your feet for long periods of time
• Desire to work in a team environment
• Ability to effectively interact with a wide range of people in social and professional situations; experienced interacting and working with a diverse population
• Capability to communicate clearly in written and oral form
• Ability to interact with a variety of personnel at different levels of responsibility
• Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with co-workers and colleagues, collaborative partners, board members, government officials, volunteers, customers, and constituents
• Experience working with Native American communities/clientele, cultural sensitivity to the needs and distinct tribal and cultural ways of life, and willingness to complete cultural competency training and/or undoing racism training
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
• Organized and able to multitask
• Practical and creative problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work independently
• Basic timekeeping skills
• Access to Google Docs or Monday.com to send in invoices on a bi-weekly or monthly basis