The garden at Salish Coast Elementary School has an established teaching garden space and is in the beginning stage of the development of a production garden to support the school food service program that features scratch cooking and locally sourced foods.

The School Production Garden Coordinator is compensated through a part-time contract. Primary duties involve managing farm installation timeline as part of a team and coordinating the "hands on" elements of farm installation. Ongoing work will involve the initial set up and maintenance of crops in a hoophouse, greenhouse, and possibly a small orchard. The Production Garden Coordinator may assist the Teaching Garden Coordinator in leading activities with elementary classes. Additionally, the School Production Garden Coordinator will organize school staff, parents, and students to develop and maintain the school garden site.

The school district will contract with the Coordinator for up to 20 hours/week at a rate of $24.50/hour for 36 weeks during spring, summer and fall. Summer and Fall of 2022 and Spring of 2023. The Coordinator will work with the Food Service Director to schedule these hours.

Required qualifications:

● Knowledge of science as it is related to plants

● One year of experience in production farm management

● Ability to work with a diverse group of age levels, including students, staff, community members

● Strong interpersonal and communication skills

● Ability and desire to work outside

● Experience in gardening and farming and familiarity with Pacific Northwest planting timelines, production methods, plant diseases, irrigation, etc.

● Familiarity with basic ability to troubleshoot mechanics of small scale farming technology

● Ability to lift 40 pounds

● Ability to use garden equipment

● Oral and written communication skills

● Organizational skills

Scope of work:

● Install and manage the set up of new production garden systems including irrigation and other systems for crop management.

● Coordinate with the Food Services Director to select appropriate foods to grow and feature in the growing period. Initially this will involve starting the production garden.

● Design and maintain the planting and harvesting schedule.

● Maintain composting bins and process compost.

● Maintain greenhouse, hoop house, and other garden facilities.

● Organize garden volunteers including students, families, community members, and staff.

● Attend and advise garden committee planning sessions and support activities established by this group to promote the development of the garden.

● Work with various Port Townsend School district personnel (Food Service Director, Principal, Place-Based Learning Director, Maintenance Director, and Food Service Director) to continue development of garden and the construction of the production garden and greenhouse

● Collaborate with the Teaching Garden Coordinator in all aspects of garden maintenance, including design and maintenance of the produce ordering system for school food service. This includes managing ordering, harvesting, washing, packing, and delivery of produce to food service.

Contact Stacey Larsen, slarsen@ptschools.org, for more information or with a letter of interest.