Part-Time Community Farmer

AVAILABLE POSITION: Part-Time Community Farmer

GROW Windham, Willimantic, CT

GROW Windham is seeking a passionate and wholehearted_ Community Farmer_, to work as part of our team to cultivate food, youth empowerment, and community development in Willimantic, CT. The Community Farmer is supervised by the co-director of programs and works alongside our youth development coordinator and youth staff members, as well as other program staff.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Target start date is March 26th, 2024. Position is open until filled.

*We highly encourage applications from local candidates who reflect and are familiar with the Windham Community. This is a great position for a beginning farmer.*

About GROW Windham: GROW Windham cultivates relationships and creates space for youth, community members, and food system partners to work together to build a stronger community and local food system.

We do this by:

• Building youth power, through our Windham Youth CORE program and collaborations with school- and community-based youth programs.
• Cultivating resources, in local community gardens, such as our Thread City Family Garden in Lauter Park.
• Strengthening relationships in our local food system, through backbone support of the Windham Community Food Network.

About the Position:

Hours: Average of 15 hours/week. Hours vary depending on the season, peaking at 30 hours per week during our summer program (July 1st 2024-October 31, 2024). Hours and responsibilities may be increased depending on skills and interest of the candidate, and pending available funding. *To support a smooth transition, the Community Farmer will be offered guidance from our past Community Farmer to ensure they are set up to succeed*

Salary: $18-24/hour depending on experience. This is a staff position with partial benefits.

Special Requirements: Must be 18 or older (no maximum age), and eligible to work in the U.S.

Education Level: No minimum required.

Deadline to apply: We are interviewing applicants on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until filled. Target start date is March 26th, 2024. .

TO APPLY: Submit a letter of interest and your resume on indeed on our job posting.

Job Responsibilities

Cultivate and sustain the Thread City Family Garden by:

Coordinating the development of the Thread City Family Garden alongside youth, community members and other staff to,

• Cultivate annual and perennial fruits and vegetables
• Develop planting and crop rotation plans
• Research and implement best practices for sustainable, no-spray agriculture, pest management
• Implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to ensure harvest and worker safety
• Maintain harvest records

Cultivate youth leadership within the garden and local food system by:

Supporting the co-facilitation of the Windham Youth CORE Summer Program, with the youth development coordinator and youth staff, which includes,

• Supporting the planning and facilitating of youth and community workshops and workdays
• Mentoring Windham Youth CORE members to develop garden and food system projects
• Help with the steering of our garden development

Build and nurture our regional growing community to further strengthen our local food system by:

• Recruiting and Hosting volunteers and interns from the community, local schools and youth programs, and universities, to support our gardens development.
• Nurturing and developing partnerships to co-create and host workshops for local students and community groups, around diverse themes, such as sustainable growing practices, food justice, and food system and community development.
• Participating in and cultivating local and regional community growing networks
• Building partnerships that promote local food justice and community development

Participate in GROW Windham program development:

• Participate in regular staff meetings, with youth and adult staff
• Support grant development, fundraising, evaluation and project development for our programs.
• Actively participate in personal and professional development around food justice, anti-racism, critical consciousness, food system and community development, and sustainable agriculture

Ideal Qualifications. The ideal candidate has, or is committed to cultivating, the following:

Skills and Knowledge.

• Knowledge and experience growing organic/no-spray vegetables and produce in New England
• Experience building relationships in diverse communities
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Experience facilitating groups and recruiting and managing volunteers, including promoting cooperation, team-building, problem-solving, and shared leadership
• Experience working with youth in formal and/or informal educational settings
• Experience or eagerness to learn about social justice advocacy/community organizing
• Experience or eagerness to learn about planning and managing projects
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Drive Applications, and social media
• Highly-desired experience includes:
• Bilingual (Spanish and English) and
• Knowledge of and connections to the Windham community

Characteristics.

• Self-starter: able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Self-awareness: ability to step back, create space for other voices, and center youth and community voices
• Strong organizational skills, including an ability to multi-task and work through multiple priorities
• Creative, flexible, and patient
• Effective problem-solver
• Rich interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated cultural competency, and dedication to promoting anti-racism, equity, and inclusivity
• Passion for food justice and community development.

Other Requirements.

• Drivers’ License
• Personal transportation/vehicle is important but not essential
• Physical ability to walk, lift, bend and carry up to 50 pounds
• Flexible schedule: Ability to work weekends and evenings throughout the year

WE WELCOME APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL CANDIDATES FAMILIAR WITH THE WINDHAM COMMUNITY, and UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS.

GROW Windham/WRCC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 15 – 30 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person