Bulletin Board
Posted by Anne on 4/25/12
Veggielution is excited to announce 2 Silicon Valley HealthCorps positions. This is a great chance for you to spend your summer on the farm, contributing to and learning about food justice, getting dirty, and having a great time with great people. One position is focused on the Dig Crew, our high school youth program, and the other is focused more fully on the farm. Please forward this opportunity to anyone you think might be interested. We need to fill both positions quickly. Read the descriptions on our website, or find them copied below.
About Silicon Valley HealthCorps
In an innovative partnership, The Health Trust has joined together with AmeriCorps and 11 local organizations to form the Silicon Valley HealthCorps. The goal of this collaboration is to use gardens, farm to school programs and the work of AmeriCorps members to bring fresh fruits, vegetables and education to residents of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The program seeks to engage the community as active participants in promoting and sustaining community and school gardens, and to provide a coordinated, county-wide approach to expanding garden based learning. The program will also increase access to fresh produce through the development of new healthy food resources such as community and school gardens, farmers markets, and community supported agriculture programs. Click here to learn more.
Overview of Veggielution
Veggielution is a non-profit community farm dedicated to creating a more sustainable food system in San Jose. We empower people to change the way they think about food by getting their hands in the soil, connecting with the land, and tasting the fruits of their labor. We make the food we grow available to the community at affordable prices.
The Santa Clara Valley, its soil, ecosystem, and watershed are important resources for future generations. We are a catalyst for food system change by providing local community with access to a unique open space, access organically grown local food, and educating people about cooking and gardening. We are uniquely equipped to bring people from different backgrounds together in a shared vision of a organic, local food system.
Our Members can expect to be fully integrated into the Veggielution team, where we emphasize open communication, innovation, and taking personal responsibility for our own success. We are looking for self-motivated people who are ready to become a major part of our farm community.
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Dig Crew Facilitator/ Farm Crew (Silicon Valley HealthCorps)
Duration of Contract: May 12th to August 10th 2012 (dates negotiable)
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 8a to 3:30p (hours will vary slightly depending on youth program). You must serve 450 hours total, including some training time.
Compensation: Living allowance stipend in the amount of $4,000 (distributed bi-weekly) AND Post-Service Education Award of $1,510
Qualifications: Applicant must be at least 17 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent, and be a citizen of the United States, or a lawful permanent resident. Applicant must also submit to and clear a background check.
Here at Veggielution, our mission is to empower YOUTH and adults from diverse backgrounds to create a sustainable food system in San Jose. We strongly believe in the power of youth and the importance of bringing folks together to work towards change. Our Dig Crew program work with local high school students to create a positive community that centers around shared work, food, and land.
Dig Crew is a summer program for teenagers interested in learning about agriculture while working on our 1.5 acre community farm. The program runs for 6 weeks, meeting Tuesday-Friday, with a few Saturday workdays and field trips. Dig crew participants will also learn about sustainable agriculture, health and nutrition and environmental issues.
Throughout the program youth gain transferable job skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. Each week they will get to take home produce. They also act as agents of change in their families and communities, spreading the knowledge and skills they have learned on the farm. The Dig Crew will spend about 65% of their time on farm work, and about 35% of the time on curriculum. The farm work portion will include training on how to do the work. Our Dig Crew youth are paid a stipend for their participation and thus are not considered volunteers. It is important to maintain a high level of rigor and focus for their work.
The Dig Crew Facilitator will work to support the goals of the program by creating and maintaining an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect amongst participants. They will take a lead in facilitating the farm work aspect of the Dig Crew, as well as assist the Youth Program coordinator in planning and delivering curriculum. The Dig Crew Facilitator will be a positive role model for Dig Crew youth, at all times acting professionally. Staff will not allow swearing or other inappropriate behavior and help to address any issues that arise with specific Dig Crew participants. Conversation about drug or alcohol use and other sensitive topics will be avoided unless they are being addressed as issues that youth face.
Dig Crew lasts for 6 weeks, so there will be several weeks of your term that the program is not running. During these weeks, you will help with program setup and closing, as well as joining the Farm Crew to learn the inner workings of the farm and helping to facilitate workday volunteers.
Responsibilities
Work with the Farm Crew to develop a list of farm work for the Dig Crew for each program day
Make sure that the Dig Crew youth are trained for the farm tasks they are assigned, either by training them yourself or arranging with the Farm Crew to provide the training
Maintain a high standard of rigor and focus with farm work
Organize teams of youth efficiently and set high goals to encourage more efficient work
Help lead games and lessons with Dig Crew
Assist Youth Programs Coordinator as needed with planning and delivering curriculum
The ideal candidate will have...
1+ year experience working with at-risk high school aged youth in a non-school setting
1+ year experience with farming and/or gardening, preferably including the Veggielution Farm
Confidence to independently plan, make decisions, and problem solve
Knowledge of current issues around food, health, and sustainable agriculture
Creativity, organization, ability to work independently and as part of a team
Articulate oral and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Comfort in talking to groups of people
Enthusiasm and passion for Veggielution's mission
Spanish or Vietnamese language skills
How to Apply
Fill out this application: http://healthtrust.org/svhealthcorps/documents/SVHC_App.doc
Submit the application to amie@veggielution.org AND katies@healthtrust.org
You can use the same application to apply for multiple Silicon Valley HealthCorps positions.
More info at http://healthtrust.org/svhealthcorps/
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS UNTIL MAY 11TH OR UNTIL POSITION IS FILLED, WHICHEVER IS SOONER. DO NOT DELAY IN SENDING YOUR APPLICATION.
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Seasonal Farm Hand (Silicon Valley HealthCorps)
Duration of Contract: May 12th to August 10th 2012 (dates negotiable)
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 8a to 3:30p (hours negotiable). You must serve 450 hours total, including some training time.
Compensation: Living allowance stipend in the amount of $4,000 (distributed bi-weekly) AND Post-Service Education Award of $1,510
Qualifications: Applicant must be at least 17 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent, and be a citizen of the United States, or a lawful permanent resident. Applicant must also submit to and clear a background check.
The Seasonal Farm Hand will assist in all aspects of farm operations during the 2012 summer season. The Farm Hand will work with the Assistant Farm Manager to plan and facilitate weekly community workdays, youth program work sessions and other weekly farm work. The Farm Hand will help train volunteers, Dig Crew youth and interns to accurately complete a variety of farm tasks such as harvesting, seeding, transplanting, weeding, pruning, trellising, fertilizing and building. The Farm Hand will assist with produce distribution, record-keeping, irrigation system maintenance and other types of farm management tasks.
With this role also comes the extra responsibility of acting as a youth facilitator for our Dig Crew Youth Program. Our Dig Crew youth receive stipends for their participation in the program, therefore they are not considered volunteers and it is important to maintain a high level of rigor and focus for their work. The farm crew is responsible for organizing any time on the farm with the Dig Crew to a high level so that every minute is planned intentionally in order to teach organic farming concepts and complete work efficiently as a team.
The Seasonal Farm Hand will be a positive role model for Dig Crew youth, at all times acting professionally. The farm crew will not allow swearing or other inappropriate behavior and help to address any issues that arise with specific Dig Crew participants.
Responsibilities
Help harvest and pack Farm Boxes every week
Actively participate in weekly farm work planning meetings
Facilitate volunteers and youth in completing farm maintenance tasks
Help keep farm records accurate by weighing and recording harvests
Help run the Saturday Farm Stand
Effectively communicate the mission of Veggielution to volunteers
Assist with tabling at various community events
The ideal candidate will have...
1+ year experience with farming and/or gardening, preferably including the Veggielution Farm
Ability to perform physical labor
Confidence to independently plan, make decisions, and problem solve
Knowledge of current issues around food, health, and sustainable agriculture
Creativity, organization, ability to work independently and as part of a team
Articulate oral and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Comfort in talking to groups of people
Enthusiasm and passion for Veggielution's mission
Spanish or Vietnamese language skills
How to Apply
Fill out this application: http://healthtrust.org/svhealthcorps/documents/SVHC_App.doc
Submit the application to amie@veggielution.org AND katies@healthtrust.org
You can use the same application to apply for multiple Silicon Valley HealthCorps positions. More info at http://healthtrust.org/svhealthcorps/
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS UNTIL MAY 11TH OR UNTIL POSITION IS FILLED, WHICHEVER IS SOONER. DO NOT DELAY IN SENDING YOUR APPLICATION.
