Work alongside staff and volunteers to ensure the successful production and harvesting of over 50 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

The Chicago Lights Urban Farm is a ¾ acre farm in the Near North community of Chicago. The Farm is dedicated to cultivating a thoughtful and engaged community of youth and adults through economic and educational opportunities, hands-on learning, and access to fresh, local, and sustainably grown produce. The Farm provides a safe sanctuary for community members, grows a variety of annual and perennial crops, offers programming for youth, distributes produce to the community, hosts volunteers, holds several community events, and provides space for community gardening.

The Assistant Grower is an integral part of the Chicago Lights Farm. The Assistant Grower supports farm activities by carrying out the crop plan, harvesting and selling produce to the local community; managing compost systems; and working with crews of high school age youth in the summer and fall. It also offers hands-on experience in urban agriculture, marketing, and farm-based education practices.

Responsibilities

• Carry out the crop plan via soil fertility management, assisting with direct seeding and transplanting crops, hoop house pruning, weeding, irrigation system management, pest control, and other tasks as needed.
• Assist with weekend watering.
• Harvest, process, and pack produce following food safety protocol. Assist with protocols and sanitation procedures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• Help to run the weekly, on-site farm stand by organizing the harvest list/availability, harvesting and processing the produce, addressing customer service-related issues, managing money, and breaking down/cleaning up the farm stand.
• Lead volunteers through farm tasks and set up before groups and clean up after.
• Lead a crew of high-school age apprentices during summer and fall job program sessions.
• Participate in community outreach activities.
• Participate in professional development training as available.
• Provide trauma informed care to all, ensuring that program environments and interactions are safe, inviting, and demonstrate best practice.
• Use the S.P.I.R.I.T. principles of hospitality when interacting with visitors, guests, members, and staff of Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights.
• Attend staff meetings as required.
• It is impossible to convey every single task into one job description. As the role evolves over time, this job description will be adjusted accordingly.

Qualifications

• Some experience with gardening and/or urban farming is recommended.
• Strong communication skills.
• Flexible availability. Able to shift gears quickly and efficiently.
• Physical and mental endurance – ability to lift 40 pounds, stand for long periods of time, and work outside in any weather.
• Comfortable operating as a member of a team.
• Strong work ethic and judgment, apparent collaboration skills, and a commitment to Chicago Lights’ mission.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice: Recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping disparities, and work toward amplifying community voices to advocate for equity. Recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.

Schedule

This is a seasonal position that goes from mid-April through early November. Weekly schedule is generally Tuesday-Saturday and up to 32 hours per week. Regular weekend (Saturday) shifts will be required.

Compensation

$17 per hour + 1 full share of vegetables weekly from June-October.

This is a seasonal position and does not qualify for benefits.

Apply

Please send cover letters and resumes to jobs@fourthchurch.org. Individuals with barriers to employment (under/un-employed, low-income, prior court involvement or other) are encouraged to apply. Resumes are due by March 25, 2022.

No phone calls, please.

Fourth Presbyterian Church and Chicago Lights are committed to equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, without regard to race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status or familial status, veteran status, military status, source of income, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law.