The project is set in a small , what was once an abandoned, village in one of the driest parts of Europe, having less than 300mm of rain per year, and temperatures ranging from –7 to 40+. Specific techniques in horticulture are required to work the terrace system, irrigated by an irrigation channel that dates back to Moorish times. The project currently uses seven terraces to produce a wide range of food crops such as tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, garlic, broad beans etc as well as herbs and tree fruit.
The gardens are maintained for three reasons:
1. To provide food for the project
2. Education and research
3. To improve environmental integration by maximising the cycling of our waste materials.
Our gardens are run strictly according to organic principles. Careful soil management is especially important because of the type of soil (alkaline) and the effects of flood irrigation. Our soil is maintained using compost made on site and manures. No artificial chemicals are used, neither to increase fertility nor combat pests.
Working in the gardens is always popular with volunteers and it is therefore important that the co-ordinator can effectively supervise volunteers at all times.
Key responsibilities
General departmental responsibilities
- Running a department in a busy project
- Advising and working with other department co-ordinators
- Planning and monitoring a departmental budget
- Assisting and supervising volunteers in choosing and carrying out project work
- Documenting work done
- Monitoring crop yield
- Planning work to fit in and around other departments and the projects general activities
- Liasing with the project manager and trustees as required, including regular written reports
- Liaising with other organic growers and organisations
- Tool safety, applying safety rules, instructing on proper tool use, ensuring unsafe tools are not used
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Planning and production of vegetables and fruit on irrigated terraces
- Using a mixture of methods such as crop rotation, companion planting, intercropping
- Planning sowing and transplanting times
- Preparing beds
- Some tree care etc.
Greenhouse Management
- Propagating plants under cover etc.
Soil Management
- Starting and maintaining compost heaps
- Crop selection
- Mulching
- Proper irrigation techniques etc.
Nutrient Cycling
- Managing humanure
- Storing and using urine
- Preparing liquid feeds from local plants
Pest Control
- Using organic methods for prevention and treatment
Innovation and Research
- Trialling and developing effective gardening techniques to meet local conditions
- Co-operating with other departments to trial research projects;
- Supervising innovative volunteer projects
Education and Documentation
- Running and contributing to courses run at Sunseed
- Conducting tours of the department, the project and the local area
- Overseeing volunteers in the department
- Maintaining up to date information in the library and department files
- Production of written materials in the form of reports, leaflets, web pages, articles etc.
Skills, abbilities and knowledge – Essential
- Experience and knowledge of all aspects of organic growing
- Tolerance of hard physical work in hot conditions
- Ability to lead and motivate volunteers, who range from those with a wealth of experience to those with little or none
- Ability to work in co-operation with other departments
Desirable
- Experience of Organic Growing in a Dryland environment
- Ability to communicate well in Spanish and English
- Computer Literacy
- Clean Driving License
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