Nourish Kirriemuir: Market Garden Growing Leader, Kirriemuir, Angus

To lead the development of organic fruit and vegetable growing and associated learning activities in Kirriemuir. The garden will be managed with the aim of promoting carbon reducing behaviours, knowledge and skills and reducing our CO2 production in the town.

Background: Nourish Kirriemuir is an ambitious plan to provide good local food and cut food waste in our community. Our project is working with 3 schools in town to improve carbon literacy, cut school food waste and learn about growing food. We are establishing a garden in the grounds of Northmuir Primary School and at Webster’s High School.

ROLE: The Market Garden Growing Leader will lead on the planning and development of the garden sites, focusing on the economic, environmental and social development of the garden. This role offers a good deal of flexibility to the Garden leader as long as we deliver on the key CCF outcomes. Given the ongoing and likely longer-term restrictions on social distancing, there will be some need to share knowledge and experience online, potentially through podcasts and video meetings.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE but are not limited to:

• Create a growing, harvesting and general use plan for the garden.
• Set up and lead weekly growing clubs for children and volunteers.
• Encourage community involvement and work with the Waste Education/Outreach Worker as appropriate.
• Mentor and guide inexperienced growers and encourage them to learn the skills themselves.
• Establish a seed library.
• Supply and sell fruit and vegetables to the community.
• Create growing opportunities elsewhere in the town.
• Use regenerative agricultural practices and limited tillage as much as possible.
• Produce monthly progress reports for the Sustainable Kirriemuir management Committee.
• Connect with local growers and farmers to expand the provision of and access to local food.
• Manage volunteers and organise relevant training and development.
• Teach soil management for carbon storage workshops.
• Connect 20 local growers to consumers on the Neighbourfood local food selling website.
• Work with our Education officer to share 30kg of food on the Olio app for food sharing.

KEY ATTRIBUTES

Qualifications and Training: Educated to HND level or with equivalent experience. Qualified in food growing, preparation, education and training.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE:

• Experience of growing fruit and vegetables, particularly by organic/regenerative methods.
• The ability to work with minimum supervision.
• A broad knowledge of the issues related to carbon footprint reduction.
• IT skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation and food hygiene.
• The ability to inspire others and lead workshops.

FLEXIBLE WORKING ESSENTIAL: There is an opportunity to increase the hours in summer and work less in the winter months.

NOTE: Due to current and likely ongoing restrictions associated with COVID-19, there will be a need to engage in online activities using Zoom or similar video linking software. Support will be available to help make the best of the available technology.

Contract Duration: This post is a fixed-term contract until 31 March 2022, funded through the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund.

Interviews: To be arranged the following week by Zoom between 15 and 19 June. If you need to chat about any aspect of the job, call Kate Munro at 07906806290.