Seeking Fall Interns!

Vivant Gardening Services, a Chicago-based small business providing garden services to residents, restaurants and community groups around the North Side of Chicago, is offering a Fall Internship for its growing projects! Clients represent a wide variety of spaces including harvest-intensive kitchen gardens, pollinator gardens, green roofs, community gardens, containers and more. By working with Vivant in these spaces, an intern will gain valuable knowledge and experience in topics such as garden planning, planting, maintenance, harvesting, eco-friendly pest and weed control, proposal and grant writing, community organizing, as well as what it takes to operate a small business.
 
We should add that of course COVID-19 has changed many of the immediate capabilities within this internship, and we are committed to continuing to provide an educational experience for those looking to enter our field. We are prepared to augment tasks to be accomplished from home and within socially distanced requirements as long as is needed. 
 
A Vivant Intern represents the company and is expected to uphold our values of respect and dedication to clients and the environment at all times. This requires punctuality, honesty, cleanliness, and a genuine passion for organic gardening.
 
Duties:

• Assist in soil preparation and planting crops for small gardens, adhering to organic growing practices
• Assist in harvests utilizing sustainable harvesting practices, proper food handling, weighing, recording and storage
• Assist in weeding, watering/irrigation, pruning, cleaning and overall maintenance of garden spaces
• Assist with Management of Montrose Metra Community Garden plots and Volunteer projects
• Assist others with various additional projects as needed
• Maintain all gardening-related equipment, tools and supplies

 
Qualifications:

• Ability to follow direction and comply with safe-food-handling instructions
• Self motivated to complete tasks in a timely manner
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and use typical gardening tools independently
• Physical ability to walk, stand, reach, squat and work in all weather conditions and on uneven surfaces
• Basic plant knowledge and respect of organic practices
• Transportation to garden sites on the North Side of Chicago
• Enthusiasm for learning and completing tasks at hand

 
Internship term runs September-first week in December and requires a commitment of 10-15 hours per week with availability between 8am-12pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, other weekdays as needed and occasional Saturdays. A stipend of $250 will be paid at the end of the internship with potential for hired work to follow. 
 
To learn more about Vivant Gardening Services, visit our website at vivantgardens.com, and if interested please email resume and cover letter to admin@vivantgardens.com.