*POSITION FILLED*: Community Engagement and Farm Shop Lead
We have filled this role, but are always keen to hear from passionate and likeminded people! If you do not see an opportunity in our blog or over on our jobs page – do still get in touch. We love hearing from you!
Five Acre Farm are recruiting a new part-time team member to take the lead on developing and managing both our community outreach efforts and our onsite retail offering. This role would suit a creative, outward-looking person with experience of community engagement and enthusiasm for promoting local food systems and nature connection.
Job: Community Engagement and Farm Shop Lead at Five Acre Farm, Backwell, North Somerset BS48 3BQ
Dates: Permanent position starting February 2024
Wage: £11.50/hour PAYE plus statutory holiday pay and employer pension contributions
Hours: Approx. 16 hours over 2 days/week. Core hours onsite Friday and Saturday 9-4, plus some flexible comms/ordering at start of week which can be done remotely. One Saturday off out of every four (in addition to annual leave entitlement), working a flexible weekday instead.
READ ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROLE, OUR FARM, AND OUR COMMITMENTS…
The Farm: We are a small agroecological farm producing vegetables, flowers and honey in
the village of Backwell, near Bristol. Our produce is for sale to shops and restaurants in
Bristol and North Somerset, as well as from our beautiful timber-framed Flower Barn on site.
We are in the early stages of developing as a Community Interest Company (CIC) and we
are looking at positive ways we can engage through social and educational work as well as
being a productive site and a haven for nature. We have been hosting a community growing
area and regular volunteer days, as well as occasional open days, workshops and Forest
School groups.
The Role: We are looking for a dynamic individual to advance and oversee public-facing
elements of the farm. The role will be based at the farm, with the Flower Barn serving as
both shop and office. The Farm Shop Lead element of the role includes setting up the shop,
making displays, serving and assisting shop and PYO flower customers, ordering in stock
and some admin. It will also involve some local marketing and other creative efforts to
broaden our customer base.
Through methods such as discussions with customers and reaching out to local community
groups, the Community Engagement Lead element of the role will initially involve assessing
the local appetite and opportunity for various ways in which the public can become more
meaningfully involved with the farm.
Possibilities include, but are not limited to:
– a more structured volunteer program
– development of the community growing area
– more on-farm events, workshops and school visits
– supported volunteering for vulnerable adults
Projects should be of benefit to the local community and also help to support the farm itself,
either through practical assistance or income generation, while additionally being in keeping with our Core Commitments.
The Community Engagement Lead will over time have responsibility for deciding on, organising and delivering these projects, with input from the CIC Board and practical implementation support from the veg-growing team.
We are a small, friendly team at the farm, but the role does involve lone working most
Saturdays, when it will also involve some minor growing-related jobs (opening and closing
polytunnels, watering seedlings).
Essential attributes/skills:
– Vision for developing public engagement with farms as spaces to spend nourishing
outdoor time
– Experience of community outreach or organising work (ideally outdoor or nature-
based)
– Ease with a self-motivated and self-directed role
– Numeracy, computer literacy and basic admin
– Good presentation skills for shop displays
Desirable attributes/skills:
– Retail experience
– Commitment to organic principles and an enthusiasm for nature ecology
– Interest in food, cooking, and gardening
– Experience of managing volunteers