Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

Community gardener - Food growing lead

June/July - December 2026

Temporary role, 1 day/week 

Weekly on Wednesdays

£175/ per day

 

About us

Led by a voluntary committee,  we run a thriving community garden in Peckham at the east end of Burgess Park. Permaculture is an influence, as are other regenerative and climate resilient models of organic horticulture and growing, it’s ongoing learning and we are already managing a forest garden and hugelkultur.  Ponds, bees and chickens complement the project. A resource for local people, we hold open days, events, courses, workshops and more, with an aim to get everyone involved. Learning and growing food are at the heart of what we do , and we hope to grow more, share more and diversify what we can grow in ever hotter summers.

 

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced, hands-on community gardener with solid practical experience growing vegetables, salad crops, herbs and soft fruit who will lead a weekly volunteer session as well as help organise and oversee growing food at the garden.

You’ll lead on growing food crops including crop planning/rotation, planting and maintenance, following organic and regenerative methods including polycultures as well as other associated garden tasks that support this. The job is mostly site based, and you’ll be supported by the GWG Committee and volunteers.

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, and especially welcome applicants from everyone, regardless of background. 

 

Tasks include;

• Planning, preparation and growing of a wide range of annual and perennial vegetables and fruit. 

• Run a weekly 4 hour volunteer session at the garden focused on food growing. Day rate will also include prep time, setting up and packing down. Planning and prep time to be managed at your discretion in discussion with the committee. 
• Coordinate/facilitate the group, delegating tasks appropriately to volunteers to help to ensure productivity
• Monitor attendance and tasks accomplished each week, sharing weekly updates with our wider volunteer community to let them know what can be done at other weekly sessions we run e.g. Sundays.
• Risk assess, and ensure sessions are safe and accessible 
• Attend quarterly garden planning meetings

Person specification

Essential 

You will need good knowledge and practical experience of;

• Organic and regenerative growing techniques eg pest and disease management, crop planning and rotation, pruning, soil management and composting, growing from seed, transplanting and potting on
• Facilitating and coordinating groups of volunteers, understanding how to demonstrate tasks and delegate according to different levels of experience
• Experience of managing more than one growing season is essential
• Good communication skills, approachable with an ability to maintain a positive attitude and the confidence to set boundaries
• Understanding of equal opportunities and barriers to participation including ways to address this
• A good level of fitness and a willingness to work outside in all weathers
• Good knowledge of health and safety, and risk assessing gardening and related activities

Desirable

• Available to start asap
• Level 2 or 3 qualification in horticulture 
• Knowledge and understanding of permaculture and regenerative growing
• Good time management - punctuality and an an ability to prioritise and focus on the task at hand

Other

• DBS Checked (or willingness to be checked) 
• First Aid Certified (we can provide training) 
• Knowledge of the local area, including the diverse needs of our community
• Any other creative or practical skills you can brinng

Interviews will take place the week of 15th June at the garden.

Application information

Please email no more than one side of A4 to let us know how you fit your role.

Email to hello@glengallwharfgarden.org.uk by 14th June 2026 at 6pm.

 

 

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs