OrganicLea Trainees 2019: Summary of opportunities – 8 roles
We’re looking for 8 people to fill our Organiclea trainee roles for 2019. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Organiclea community and to take on a specific area of learning and responsibility in community food growing, local food distribution, and support for volunteer learning and participation.
These are 9 month structured volunteer-training placements. Starting week beginning 25 March, and ending week beginning 16 December 2019. All are based at OrganicLea’s main site – Hawkwood Plant Nursery in Chingford, Northeast London.
The commitment:
- Roles can be achieved with a commitment of one day a week: Some require Tuesday commitment, some focus on Wednesdays and others are a Friday opportunity (with some benefiting from agreed flexibility across the traineeship time). The working day for all roles is 9-5. More details about how the days relate to roles are below.
- There are additional workshops/learning opportunities on 2 evenings a month at the end of the working day.
- Participation in very occasional weekend (Sunday) activities also supports the overall experience.
To find out more details and apply, please download the individual role descriptions below.
A. Grower (Community market gardening focus: Plants and Production) – 2 posts
A placement within the production team at Hawkwood: this traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a market gardener in a community setting – supporting production activity during busy and diverse volunteering and training tasks. The trainee will learn the skills required to manage the production at Hawkwood, to integrate that with the needs of participants and take on responsibilities for growing plants and produce over the growing season. Full role description
Traineeship days: 1 day per week for 9 months. To gain most from the Hawkwood week and learning opportunties, it is preferable that the candidate’s working day changes during the course of the traineeship. Ideally, the trainee would be available to work on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and able to change from one day to the other every two months. We realise this may not be possible/practicable for every candidate, so the detail of the “day change” can be worked out prior to the role commencing.
B. Grower to Grocer – 2 posts (1 = 1day role / 1 = 2day role)
A placement within both the production and distribution teams within OrganicLea. The trainee will learn, and take on responsibilities for, the skills and activities required to harvest and prepare fresh produce, in particular for the Organiclea box scheme, and for the preparation and packing work that completes the whole ‘grow to sell’ picture. You will gain an insight into production requirements, supply coordination, ordering, liaising with suppliers and marketing of the business. Full role description
Traineeship days: 1 two day role and 1 one day role.
*The two day role will be a more in depth traineeship with growing, harvest, packing every week and development of holding one aspect of our stalls work. Core days are Tuesday and Wednesday – with the possibility of shifting to a Saturday as traineeship progresses.
*The one day role is a one day per week commitment, but as different days at Hawkwood have a different flavour, structure and learning objectives, it is preferable but not essential that the candidate’s working day changes during the course of the traineeship. Ideally, the trainee would be available to work on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and able to change from one day to the other from time to time. We realise this may not be possible/practicable for every candidate, so the detail of the “day change” can be worked out prior to the role commencing.
C. Grower (Horticulture with Fruit and Vines focus) – 2 posts
A placement with the fruit production team: We have an orchard of over 200 young fruit trees; peaches fan trained against our glasshouse; cordons of apples and pears; almonds and hazelnuts. We also grow soft fruits including strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and rhubarb. Our vineyard has been planted with nearly 500 vines, for eating and drinking; we have a winery and make our own wine. This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills within the market garden, and in particular someone looking to develop their skills as a fruit and vine grower in a community setting and in organic viticulture and fruit growing. The trainee will learn the skills required to manage the vineyard and fruit growing areas of Hawkwood, and take on responsibilities for the fruit and vines. You will also pick up skills associated with the weekend harvest schedule and the growing of plants and vegetables across the season. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays (plus additional learning opportunities at end of the day on occassional Wednesdays).
D. Farm Start Trainee: Enterprise Start-Up Placement – 1 post
A new placement for 2019. As part of our Farm Start programme of supporting new entrants into organic farming, we are looking for a trainee to assist with, and learn about commercial vegetable & salad growing; to progress to managing their own salad rotations and vegetable area at Hawkwood, before graduating to their own site. OrganicLea is committed to supporting them in finding an appropriate site, and providing them with growing, marketing and next-steps support throughout the process. This placement will suit someone looking to develop a food growing enterprise in East London. Full role description
Traineeship days: 1 day per week commitment, but different days at Hawkwood have a different flavour, structure and learning objectives, so it is necessary that the candidate’s working day changes during the course of the 9 month traineeship: From March – June this will be on a Wednesday, after which it will change to a Tuesday from June – October. From October – December it is hoped the trainee will commence work on a site outside of Hawkwood, and be able to work more flexibly.
E. Infrastructure for productive community garden sites – 1 role
Running again in 2019 – as we are green-building a classroom in the woods! This traineeship will suit someone wanting to learn a broad range of practical skills which are needed in all our site maintenance and large scale garden management at community sites. You should be happy working independently, with the Organiclea Infrastructure Worker, and with volunteers. The trainee will be able to focus in on the aspects of the work which appeal most to him/her. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays (plus additional learning opportunities at end of the day on occassional Wednesdays).
To apply for any of the above roles and FIRSTLY please indicate which role(s) you are interested in: Please send a CV or a description of your employment (and volunteering) history; and a covering letter detailing how you meet the person specification and why you want this post to: volunteering@organiclea.org.uk or by post to the Hawkwood address below. For more information about the roles, start by contacting Clare at: volunteering@organiclea.org.uk/020 8524 4994 (Tuesdays and Fridays are good contact days).
Deadline for applications: 10 am on Monday 11 February
Interview dates: Tuesday 26 February, Wednesday 27 February and Friday 1 March
Start dates in the week beginning 25 March 2019
