Temporary Giving Garden Student Assistant

The Center for Student Involvement is hiring a temporary student assistant for the Giving Garden.

The Giving Garden at the University of Washington Tacoma, located on the corner of Fawcett Ave. and 21st Street, strives to eliminate food insecurity among students by connecting them back to their food system through hands on experience with fresh food, grown by students, for students. Through its partnership with The Pantry at UW Tacoma, the university’s on-campus food bank, the garden is able to deliver local produce directly to students in need. The Giving Garden makes space for community through volunteer opportunities, events, and by connecting people to nature and agriculture in Tacoma’s urban core. The Giving Garden stands as a hub for sustainability, research and demonstration for the larger community.

Description of Duties:

*All of the following will be in coordination and under the direction of the Giving Garden Coordinator

• Work closely with the Giving Garden Coordinator for all job duties.
• Assist in executing growing plan for the season: Prepare beds, plant seeds/starts, weed beds, harvest, put the garden to bed for winter, assist in maintaining greenhouse plants, watering as needed, pruning surrounding vegetation.
• Recruit and manage volunteers for the garden, logging volunteer hours and administering surveys to participants.
• Hold/Assist during open volunteer hours.
• Assist with the planning, coordination, and execution of 3 volunteer events - one per quarter during Autumn, Winter, and Spring
• Deliver harvest donations to The Pantry - log the weight and type of produce donated. Donate excess harvest when The Pantry does not have capacity to Beacon Youth Shelter, Nourish Mobile Food Bank, or Court 17
• Assist in hosting a booth and/or virtual tour during the Involvement Fair each quarter
• Co-manage the UW Giving Garden’s Facebook Group and Instagram Page, post at least once a week
• Assist in planning, promoting, and running events at the garden related to sustainability, agricultural education, art, and native plants in coordination with the Giving Garden Coordinator and other RSO’s or UW Tacoma entities
• Help coordinate and lead the Earth Day celebrations on UW Tacoma’s campus with the Sustainability Committee, as well as other activities and events on campus
• Assist in partnerships across campus with other students, student groups, faculty, staff, and programs.
• Assist during work parties for special projects in the garden similar to the Native Plant Walk, building additional raised beds, and tree pruning
• Work closely with Facilities, Campus Safety, and other entities on campus to ensure a safe working and volunteering environment
• Additional duties related to the garden set forth by the Giving Garden Coordinator

Desired Qualifications:

• Be able to lift and maneuver 50 lbs unassisted.
• Experience with growing plants/gardening is a plus, but we are willing to train a highly motivated student!
• We prefer to hire a student who will be available for the full academic year (including summer quarter). (Disregard for temporary position)

Work Conditions:

A majority of this work is conducted in the Giving Garden, which includes greenhouse and outdoor work. Some accommodations/rescheduling is possible when weather conditions are not ideal, but the likelihood of some outdoor work in the rain is likely.

Student hourly employee eligibility

Enrollment requirements

Student hourly employment is available to UW students who meet the following enrollment requirements:

· Undergraduate students enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits

· Graduate students who are enrolled for a minimum of five credits, or two credits for Ph.D. candidates working on their dissertation.

· Graduate students who are considered “on leave” by the Dean of the Graduate School