Job Posting: Gleaning Coordinator
Revelstoke Bear Aware Society is seeking qualified applicants to coordinate the Gleaning Project in Revelstoke, B.C.
This contract will run from June 1 – November 30, 2021
$25/hour
Program description
The Gleaning Project has two major goals:
To reduce the amount of unpicked or surplus fruit, nuts, and vegetables that might become a bear attractant, and
To make unused fruit, nuts, and vegetables available to the community of Revelstoke.
Locations for gleaning are determined by the Revelstoke Bear Aware Gleaning Coordinator and/or the Revelstoke Bear Aware Community Coordinator. With written permission of the homeowner, resident, or property manager, the Gleaning Coordinator arranges for volunteers to pick fruit, nuts, or vegetables from properties. This food is distributed to the volunteer gleaners, the Revelstoke Food Bank, local livestock.
The duration of the Gleaning program will be from approximately June to late October, depending on when fruit, nuts, and vegetables ripen in 2021.
Duties include:
- Organize and supervise volunteers to harvest excess fruit from designated properties.
- Collect names and contact information from gleaners, review procedures with gleaners, and collect signed waivers for the fruit picking activities.
- Visit local Revelstoke houses, as requested by the Revelstoke Bear Aware Community Coordinator, to discuss and offer the Gleaning Project with the home owner.
- Deliver a Bear Aware message as appropriate to the homeowner. Suggest resources for learning about better management of fruit trees, such as the annual fruit tree pruning course or information on our website.
- Harvest fruit from designated properties.
- Deliver fresh fruit to Revelstoke Food Bank and the Food Recovery Program at Community Connections when available (before fruit becomes rotten).
- Deliver rotten fruit to local pig farmers.
- Coordinate storage for picked fruit prior to dropping off fruit at above locations.
- Store and manage gleaning picking poles, ladders (x3), fruit baskets, sandwich board, lawn signs and perform safety checks on the equipment once a month.
- Seek community volunteers and youth engagement in all aspects of the project.
- Maintain high participation rates for this program through effective event marketing, the delivery of relevant information, careful partnering with community members and organizations, etc. These activities will be carried out in conjunction with the Revelstoke Bear Aware Community Coordinator.
- Work together with Revelstoke groups such as the Revelstoke Food Bank, Local Food Initiatives, Community Connections, North Columbia Environmental Society and other groups as applicable, to link up programming efforts for better fruit management.
- If needed, work with the City of Revelstoke Bylaw Officers or BC Conservation Officers to resolve a fruit management situation.
- Document the program through photographs and at least one written article to be used in media promotions.
- Conduct all administrative tasks associated with the project, including careful management of project budget and data on fruit harvesting and processing.
- Keep digital records of program documents on Revelstoke Bear Aware Society’s file-sharing platforms.
- Maintain positive working relationships with Local Food Initiatives, Community Connections, the Revelstoke Food Bank and other program partners.
- Oversee the online “fruit share” platform (www.revelstokefruitshare.org) and Facebook group to monitor if trees are being picked, if anyone has questions, needs help and is being friendly and courteous.
- Put up and take down bear in area signs on an as needed basis.
- Attend and plan Revelstoke Bear Aware events on an as needed basis.
- Provide detailed project report to the Revelstoke Bear Aware Community Coordinator to be presented to the board of directors, by November 15, 2021.
Payment:
Payment will be at the rate of $25.00 per hour for a maximum of 150 hours. Hours are to be distributed over the term of this agreement and used as needed to conduct the program.
Mileage will be paid at the rate of $0.52/km, not to exceed the amount of $300.00.
Desired Skills and Attributes:
- Use of vehicle capable of carrying ladders and fruit crates.
- Ability to engage volunteers, youth and members of the public in project work.
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Highly organized, ability to prioritize, work efficiently, and manage budgets.
- Proficient use of email, word processing, Microsoft Excel, Social Media channels, Google Drive and MailChimp.
- Experience and knowledge of bear attractants and the new Garbage and Wildlife Attractant Bylaw.
- Experience and knowledge of sustainable living practices, and understanding of the concepts around Food Security and the value of a locally produced food as it relates to health, climate change, etc.
Please provide a cover letter and resume stating your contact information, which position you are applying for and relevant experience in relation to the project of interest. Please submit your letter no later than May 15, 2021.
Contact:
Maggie Spizzirri, Community Coordinator