2026

United Indian Health Se•Arcata, CA

About The Position

The Garden Technician provides support with the daily operations of the Potawot Community Food Garden by assisting with regular garden maintenance tasks, in addition to the promotion of gardening, traditional foods, and food products to our Tribal community. Within this position the Technician works closely with our community by assisting with Potawot Community Food Garden education program activities, including school field trips, tours for community groups, farm to school activities, food assistance programs, community food workshops and UIHS program events. Within this position, the planning and implementation of all work is guided by the cultural, traditional values and practices of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Must be willing to learn more about the American Indian culture and attend at least one Cultural Presentation/Training per year.
Must be willing to work with American Indian/Alaska Native people and demonstrate cultural awareness and humility
Must be willing to deliver services in a culturally responsive manner.
Adheres to accreditation and compliance standards/guideline
High school diploma or equivalent and two (2) years related experience and/or training; or Associate of Arts (AA) degree from two-year college or technical school or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. in a community garden, organic gardening, permaculture, horticulture, small scale agriculture or similar occupation.
High school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years related experience and/or training; or Associate of Arts (AA) degree in related field or equivalent from two-year college or technical school and one (1) year of related experience and/or training in a community garden, organic agriculture, permaculture, horticulture, small scale agriculture or similar occupation.

Responsibilities

Assist in the labor associated with large scale garden, site preparation, and maintenance.
Pest management efforts and application of pesticide and chemical free gardening techniques for maximum crop production.
Planting, cultivating, irrigating, fertilizing, and mulching various crops.
Preparation for winter by clearing fields, composting, sheet mulching, and planting a cover crop.
Crop production, crop rotation, and tool maintenance.
Assist with the care of orchard trees, including mulching, watering, pest management and annual pruning.
Attend regular classes on aspects related to of organic gardening, permaculture, food harvesting, processing, traditional foods, and any other related training pertaining to the job.
Provide assistance with the promotion of gardening through activities with youth and volunteers. Assist with community education and traditional foods classes and other appropriate activities, which may include educational tours of the garden.
Assist in the development of satellite produce stands and other methods of distributing produce to the broader UIHS communities.
Assist with CalFresh outreach- promotion, prescreening, application assistance, EBT purchasing, and education activities.
Attend staff meetings and other assigned meetings.
Adhere to food safety, accreditation, and compliance standards/guidelines.
Maintain a professional, organized appearance and working environment by following organizational policies and standard operating procedures, guidelines, and safety standards.
Assist with various surveys, assessments, and evaluations of programs within the Community Nutrition Programs.
Must be willing to learn more about the American Indian culture and attend at least one Cultural Presentation/Training per year.
Must be willing to work with American Indian/Alaska Native people and demonstrate cultural awareness and humility
Must be willing to deliver services in a culturally responsive manner.
Adheres to accreditation and compliance standards/guideline
Other duties may be assigned.
Work independently to plant, cultivate, irrigate, fertilize, and mulch various crops.
Work independently to harvest, package, and distribute various crops at PHV and offsite.
Oversee the promotion of gardening through activities with youth and volunteers, community education and traditional foods classes and other appropriate activities, and in addition to educational tours of the garden.
Contribute knowledge to the Garden Specialist and Community Nutrition Assistant to develop presentation/training content, in addition to assisting with facilitation of Potawot Community Food Garden activities.
Assist with data collection and information (input, record, and reports) on Potawot Community Food Garden functions.
Assist in overseeing the health and wellbeing of beehives, including regular hive maintenance, and harvesting of honey.
Coordinate activities and events with UIHS partners such as tribal programs and school programs.
Coordinate and assist with the oversight of the Potawot Community Food Garden volunteers in the absence of Garden Specialist.
Lead garden and traditional foods educational learning opportunities.
Assist in the development of departmental policy, standard operating procedures, and quality improvement activities within the clinic as directed.
Lead food assistance program outreach which includes promotion, prescreening, application assistance, EBT purchasing, and educational activities.
Undertake special projects as assigned by the Community Nutrition Manager