Farm & Gardens Members receive hands-on training and will take part in every aspect of caring for production gardens throughout the growing season, including site planning, cultivating seedling starts, soil science, extending the season with greenhouses and cold frames, seed saving, irrigation and water management, land access and zoning codes, and more. All sites maintain high standards, employ organic and regenerative practices, and have a high level of community engagement.
Service Activities
Member Duties:
• Follow and teach best practices of regenerative agriculture
• Community outreach/engagement of targeted audiences identified by local host organization. Build partnerships.
• Coordinate plot rentals, provide resources and support to independent gardeners, organize neighborhood events, and expand volunteer involvement in the gardens. Coordinate and lead community workdays.
• Manage start-to-finish growing season. Field work (done by hand) includes; soil preparation, seeding production (hoop/greenhouse), planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, hauling, washing, and packing produce for distribution. Budgeting. Small machine and equipment use. Conduct soil tests and amendments, manage irrigation and season extension, procure supplies, maintain tools, equipment, and educational materials, succession planting, harvesting composting.
• Improve the overall garden and farm aesthetic, including gathering spaces, signage, fencing, landscaping features, art, and ecosystem components.
Community Need Addressed
One in ten Coloradans struggle with hunger. Barriers to access healthy food are economic, educational / cultural, and physical (geography, transportation, seasonality, production, and distribution). At the same time, the agricultural sector is trying to meet the challenge of feeding a growing population while reducing the negative environmental impact of agricultural activities.
Position Outcomes
Community-driven initiatives in the Healthy Futures Program include Farm to School, Sustainable Agriculture & Community Gardens, Hunger Solutions (Food Security), and Public Health programs, working together to build and sustain healthy communities, healthy people, and a healthy environment.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
First Aid / CPR
Skills you will gain
First Aid /CPR Certification, public speaking, coalition building, event coordination, project management, communications, leadership, meeting facilitation, agricultural management, and time management
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Tools
Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization