Garden Services Manager

Casa De Miel (CDM) Mission: We facilitate restorative experiences with horse and nature-based programs to promote deeper connections between people and the world around them.

Vision: We are dedicated to promoting equine-facilitated, regenerative farming experiences, and overall ecosystems teachings for health and well-being. We offer educational, recreational, and healing/restorative programs to a broad and diverse community. We envision a world that is nurturing and nourishing, where people connect with themselves, each other, and life.

Job Purpose: The CDM Garden Services Manager will have a strong passion and commitment to nurture the land and human connections to the land. The individual in this role will also have a genuine interest and ability to relate to all kinds of people. The manager will be responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance, and sustainability of the permaculture food forest, greenhouse, and community gardens, along with other curated areas located throughout the property. The current garden infrastructure includes swales, vegetables, fruit and nut trees, and ponds. The manager is also responsible for leading, engaging volunteers, and co-facilitating educational garden programs and services that are aligned with CDM’s mission and vision. Because CDM is an ecosystem and in collaboration with nature, many unforeseen circumstances and newly developed needs arise every day. This role should be prepared to work with these unforeseen occurrences with the support of the CDM team.

Primary Objectives:

· Provide leadership and management over all garden services operations, including but not limited to coordinating garden team’s work plans, irrigation, cultivation of gardens, and general maintenance.

· Initiate, set, and execute goals for gardens and food forest based on CDM’s strategic objectives.

· Model and encourage collaborative and supportive communication for CDM team members.

Responsibilities:

· Cultivate CDM’s culture, values, and vision for team members, volunteers, and community programs.

· Lead in the stewardship, growth, and development of CDM gardens and connected spaces, to support the readiness for connections with volunteers and community program participants.

· Identify opportunities to streamline processes and find creative solutions to maximize efficiencies for food sharing initiative, composting, soil-building, and pond maintenance.

· Manage the overall maintenance and beautification of CDM’s infrastructure, including the land, water, and gardens.

· Develop system for collecting data to determine cost of production of each/ garden area.

· Operate hand tools and power tools safely and effectively for various garden tasks.

· Monitor irrigation systems to ensure that the system is working appropriately.

· Maintain records to inform decision-making e.g., temperature, planting and harvesting records, soil amendments, pests, and diseases, etc.

· Meet regularly with CDM team members to collaborate, receive input and support to ensure continuity of care, best practices, and ongoing support for regenerative agriculture and other land projects.

· Research and implement, as appropriate, creative regenerative and permaculture solutions.

· Communicate effectively with the CDM Executive Director (ED) and providing all information necessary for the ED to make informed decisions.

· Attend CDM team meetings.

Excellent Skills:

· Leadership, collaboration, and management: positively influencing others to achieve the best results.

· Exceptional integrity, strong work ethic, good communicator, strong interpersonal skills, and can give and accept feedback.

· Ability to coordinate and manage several projects simultaneously.

Education/Experience:

· Extensive education and experience in permaculture practices, organic farming, regenerative land stewardship, and people management.

· Working knowledge of permaculture principles and the ability to implement the principles.

· Strong competence in creating annual crop plans.

· Extensive knowledge of organic practices.

· Some knowledge of irrigation systems.

· Some nonprofit experience – nice to have experience.

· This is a physically demanding job. Can lift 50lbs regularly.

If you are interested, please submit a cover letter highlighting your specific interests in the role and a resume of experiences to patsyh@casademiel.org

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Experience:

• Gardening: 5 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Elgin, TX 78621 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Elgin, TX 78621: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person