We are recruiting for 10 volunteer trainees. Closing date is 9pm Friday 17 February 2023. These are, in the main, 9-month structured volunteer-training placements. Starting week beginning Monday 10 April 2023 and ending on Friday 15, Tuesday 19 or Wednesday 20 December 2023.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Organiclea community and to take on a specific area of learning and responsibility in our work. 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 09:00 – 17:00. More details about how the days relate to roles are below.
• There are additional workshops/learning opportunities to meet as a cohort of trainees with mentors four times a year (April, June, September and December), one of which might include a visit to other sites; plus the chance to join the general volunteer tutorials during the year which happen over several months (Wednesday/ Friday) at the end of the working day.
• Participation in very occasional weekend activities also supports the overall experience.
All are based at OrganicLea’s main site – Hawkwood Plant Nursery in Chingford, Northeast London. Travel expenses, within London can be claimed to attend Hawkwood.
A summary of the roles are below with full descriptions for each role available.
Grower (Community market gardening focus: Plants and Production) – 2 roles
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: 2 one day roles Tuesdays / Wednesdays
Ideally, the trainee would be available to work on a Wednesday, and able to change days to a Tuesday for a three month ‘block’. 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. There is the option of doing a 1.5 day per week traineeship for candidates willing and able to work on Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the traineeship.
Grower to Grocer – 2 roles
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: 2 one day roles Tuesdays / Wednesdays
The 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 for half of the year and be able to change from one day to the other for the other half. 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.
Grower (Horticulture with Cut Flowers, Pollinators and Production focus) – 1 role
A placement within the production team at Hawkwood: this traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a sustainable flower farmer with pollinator focused activity, in a community garden setting. This work supports production activity during and outside of busy and diverse volunteering and training tasks. The trainee will learn a variety of growing skills with focussed time on the management of cut flower production and pollinator work at Hawkwood. You should be happy working independently, with the OrganicLea Flower and Pollinator Worker, with the general production team and with volunteers. Full role description
Traineeship days: Wednesdays. Hours are from 9.00am –5.00pm April / May and November / December and 7:30am-3:30pm from June-October.
Grower (Horticulture with Fruit focus) – 1 role
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 blackcurrants, raspberries and rhubarb. 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 grower in a community setting. The trainee will learn the skills required to manage the fruit growing areas of Hawkwood, and take on responsibilities for the fruit. You will also pick-up skills associated with the harvest schedule and the growing of plants and vegetables across the season. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays (Yet remembering additional learning opportunities at end of the day on occasional Wednesdays).
Infrastructure Trainee – 1 role
This traineeship will suit someone wanting to learn a broad range of practical skills which are needed in site development 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/them. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays (Yet remembering additional learning opportunities at end of the day on occasional Wednesdays).
Herb Trainee – 1 role
This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills within the production of herbal tea blends. The trainee will learn the skills required to harvest and dry herbs growing at Hawkwood, and mix tea blends with specific medicinal/ well-being properties. You will also pick-up skills associated with the Friday fruit and vegetable harvest schedule; with maintenance of perennial herb gardens; and the uses and identification of useful wild plants. Full role description
Traineeship days: Two Fridays per month (Yet remembering additional learning opportunities at end of the day on occasional Wednesdays).
Community Learning Trainee- 2 roles
This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a community practitioner in urban food growing settings. The trainee will learn skills required to support learning and volunteering opportunities that encourage participants from all walks of life. The trainee will gain experience in supporting volunteers with additional needs (e.g. learning disability, ill mental health, language support), supporting the delivery of our varied training programme and practical gardening activities throughout the seasons. You will also pick up skills associated with fruit and vegetable growing and/or harvesting. Full role description
Traineeship days: 2 one day roles Wednesdays / Fridays. (Yet remembering additional learning opportunities at end of the day on occasional Wednesdays).
The role is a one day per week commitment, but as different days at Hawkwood have a different flavour, structure
Application process
To apply for any of the above roles please:
1. Download and complete the application form and complete the online monitoring form
2. Indicate clearly which role(s) you are interested in. If you would like to apply for more than one role please list your preferred three in order on the application form.
3. Email your application form to: debbie@organiclea.org.uk or post to the Hawkwood Address for the attention of Debbie Ladds, OrganicLea, 115 Hawkwood Crescent, Chingford, E4 7UH.
For more information about these roles, start by contacting Debbie at: debbie@organiclea.org.uk (Tuesdays and Fridays are good contact days).
Deadline for applications: 9pm on Friday 17 February 2023
Interview dates
Grower, plants and production – Tuesday 14 March
Grower to Grocer – Friday 17 March
Grower, fruit – Friday 24 March
Grower, cut flowers, pollinators and production – Friday 10 March
Infrastructure – Friday 10 March
Herbs – Friday 10 March
Community learning – Afternoons, Wednesday 15 or Friday 17 March
Start dates in the week beginning: Monday 10 April 2023
