Job Carving?
We believe that our “work” in life should align with our values and passions, and that we should be able to shine, learn, grow, and feel competent and valued in our work places.
Not everyone will check all the boxes of a specific job description, but everyone can provide much needed skills and talents into a tailored role that’s carved out for them uniquely – lived experiences, cultural knowledge, lifelong hobbies, secret talents, and passions can be as just as valuable as degrees and titles.
Job carving is the practice of shaping roles around the strengths, interests, and availability of people, a flexible way of working that helps us meet our goals and creates meaningful roles that help people shine authentically. It helps us stay nimble, inclusive, and grounded in what matters most.
It’s a win-win.
Job Carving is important to us because it:
- Values Everyone’s Contributions: Unique skills and perspectives make us stronger, as individuals, and as a group working toward a mission.
- Increases Engagement: When we do what we enjoy and are good at, we’re more committed and energized.
- Expands Capacity: By matching tasks with talents, we get more done – creatively and efficiently.
- Welcomes Diversity: People bring different life stages, schedules, abilities, and experiences. We make room for that.
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How We Put It into Practice
- We Start with People – Through conversations and simple onboarding tools, we learn what people are excited about, what they’ve done before, and what they’d love to try.
- We Look at What’s Needed – Across all our programs, events, and projects, we list where extra help, creativity, or energy could make a difference.
- We Match and Shape Roles – When we find a great fit between someone’s strengths and our needs, we craft a custom role—big or small. Each role is clear, flexible, and rooted in purpose.
- We Support and Collaborate – We work with the team for guidance, check-ins, and encouragement. Roles can grow or change over time, and so can people’s involvement.
Examples That Bring It to Life
- A gardener at the Tiny Farm with an artistic flair designs event posters and signage for events at the farm.
- A retired home inspector helps coordinate the Tool Library and tinkers to keep our tools in good condition.
- A 22-year old with 8,400 followers for her dog’s instagram account manages our social media while learning about food systems and climate justice.
- A busy parent spends two hours a week managing memberships from home after the kids go to bed.
As a team, we refer to this page to remind us how we welcome, support, and work alongside the individuals that we are aiming to reach, and that make our mission possible.
