Dr. Allen Williams and his colleagues at Understanding Ag. have been leaders in working with farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and around the world to increase their understanding of soil health practices and how they can make any farming operation more successful.
Dr. Allen Williams and his colleagues at Understanding Ag. have been leaders in working with farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and around the world to increase their understanding of soil health practices and how they can make any farming operation more successful.
Cool spring temperatures are ideal for growing many beloved crops, while others will need a little extra warmth and protection from potential frost. Join us for an exploration of row cover thicknesses, plastic and biodegradable mulch to warm up soil, tarping techniques to eliminate weeds, and peek inside our DIY low tunnel. These simple season extension techniques require minimal investment in materials to achieve a gardener's dream of harvesting luscious spring greens, getting an early start on brassicas, and prepping soil to welcome warm season crops in a few weeks.
Its time to begin thinking about the growing season and what better way to begin than with seeds. Join Nathan Lake in this workshop to learn the basics of starting seeds. We will cover strategies for having success starting vegetable seeds with common materials you can find at home or with materials used on farms. Bring any seeds you hope to grow this year or questions you have on how to start seeds.
Join us for the Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop where you will learn the basics of fruit tree and shrub pruning with Jacob Holzberg-Pill. Proper pruning of fruit trees helps to ensure that your fruit trees stay healthy and produce the highest quality fruit. Whether you're taking care of young trees, wrangling in that grandmother apple tree in your backyard, or cleaning up berry bushes, this class will teach and demonstrate tools and techniques to meet the goals of the trees, shrubs and the people in your orchard.
We are seeking an experienced and passionate farm-based or environmental educator to lead our Education Department. This position is ideal for someone who is enthusiastic about organic regenerative agriculture and communicating with and educating people of all ages.
The Education Programs Manager’s primary responsibility is to help grow the community of Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, connecting people with the process of growing regenerative organic food and fostering an appreciation for our land. This person serves as one of the farm’s ambassadors through educational programming and interacting with the public in their role; they should be outgoing and enjoy meaningful interactions with customers and visitors to the farm. As an active member of the management team, they will work directly with all other department managers to help drive a coordinated strategy that works towards achieving Cedar Circle’s annual and long term goals for the entire farm.
This is an exciting time to be a part of the leadership team at Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center! We are wrapping up our strategic plan, which will guide our education and research growth over the next several years, and are in the middle of a big renovation project that will allow us to grow our reach with expanded programming. This project will create a new indoor education center space, complete with a demonstration and educational kitchen as well as additional classrooms and offices.
To read the full job description and apply, visit https://cedarcirclefarm.org/about/job/education-programs-manager. Apply by March 31st for first consideration. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
The ACORN Food Hub invites you to celebrate and discover local food produced in Vermont's Champlain Valley. Join us at the Kirk Alumni Center on the campus of Middlebury College from 9:30am-12:00pm on Thursday, April 6.
This food fair brings together local food producers and buyers interested in local products. Enjoy light local fare, connect with the local food community, sample delicious products from Vermont's Champlain Valley, and learn about ACORN's Food Hub.
Registration is required.
Employee Status: Seasonal, Full Time
Start & End Date: May 1, 2023 - October 1, 2023
Salary: $15/hour plus free housing
About Us
Knoll Farm is a small family farm based in the beautiful Mad River Valley of central Vermont. Our farm is known for raising purebred Icelandic sheep for breedstock, meat and fiber and for certified organic blueberries. We sell our berries to small stores, CSAs and restaurants as well as offer a busy pick-your-own in July and August. Knoll Farm is also home of The Refuge at Knoll Farm, well known nationally as a place where leadership, relationships, and well being are given space to flourish. We host retreats, concert, food events and are a hub for our community. This is our 22nd year.
Job Summary
Our Farm Crew does a lot of everything: working with the sheep in our intensive grazing system, caring for and harvesting blueberries, assisting in the farm store and with events open to the public, fixing fences, mowing, weeding the gardens and turning compost.
Strong applicants have experience working outdoors in all weather, comfort working with animals and plants, professional manner with guests and the public, ability to self-motivate and problem-solve as well as to take direction and feedback. We value nurturing a community of teachers and learners, where we all play both roles at different times, and where communication, engagement, and the excitement to build something together go a long way.
The housing we offer is a private bedroom in a staff apartment in the farm house, shared kitchen and bathroom, use of laundry. We have space to do yoga, read and relax, and many nearby hiking trails and swimming holes for days off. We typically have about five staff who live on site and five others who live nearby.
We look forward to your application!
You can learn more about us at knollfarm.org, and check out the complete job description here: https://knollfarm.org/work-with-us/farm-crew/
Please submit a resume, cover letter, contacts for three references or any scheduling constraints you may have to [email protected]. Knoll Farm is an equal opportunity employer. Positions will be open until filled.
FEAST FARM - FARM MANAGER - MONTPELIER, VT
Position Description
The City of Montpelier Community Services Department seeks a Farm Manager to oversee the food production at the FEAST Farm program for the 2023 season. The Farm Manager is responsible for planning, growing, harvesting, and coordinating the delivery of food on the farm. They will also be responsible for supervising the wide range of parks staff, volunteers and school groups working on the farm. Because the farm program is only entering its fourth year, we are looking for a Farm Manager who can think creatively, is excited about working towards food justice, and has strong communication skills.
About FEAST Farm
The Montpelier Community FEAST Farm is a collaborative program of Montpelier’s Community Services divisions: Parks, Recreation, and the Montpelier Senior Activity Center (MSAC). FEAST Farm grows nutritious, local food for our food-insecure neighbors. Specifically, it grows food for the FEAST Meals Program at MSAC, to stock a low-income farm stand, to stock a free community fridge, and for a variety of different community groups on an on-demand basis. Additionally, we endeavor to bring people of all ages to the farm in order to provide them with meaningful work and volunteer experiences, and to educate them about sustainable agriculture. The site consists of a one-acre, no-till, market-garden style farm located at the confluence of the Steven’s Branch and the Winooski River.
Key Responsibilities
• Manage food production
o Collaborate with Community Services Department staff to solidify a planting plan
o Collaborate with Community Services Department staff to start/buy seedlings
o Oversee growing, harvesting, washing and distribution of the food
o Oversee maintenance of farm infrastructure and tools
o Purchase any necessary tools/materials
o Keep track of the quantity, value and destination of the distributed food
o Create a planting plan for next season based off of this season’s experience
o Put the farm “to bed” at the end of the season
• Lead volunteers
o Prepare farm tasks for the Montpelier Youth Conservation Corps (MYCC)
o Lead volunteers of all ages and abilities
o Tailor work to people’s abilities and interests
• Communicate with collaborators
o Communicate with the Montpelier Senior Activity Center (MSAC) about food needs of the FEAST Meals Program and the low-income farm stand
o Coordinate school group visits
• Coordinate volunteer times with the Community Services Department Staff
• Grow food for the yearly Harvest Dinner, which will take place on September 23rd.
This job is 32-hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8am - 4:30pm. It runs early April- late September. Start and end dates are flexible.
Qualifications
• Experience in annual vegetable production, no-till growing practices, and at least two years of farm experience.
o Knowledge of diverse herb and vegetable varieties, care, and harvest
o Ability to ID pest/disease damage and implement action using organic methods
o Experience with farm equipment including basic hand tools and small engines
• Experience leading a crew or volunteer groups, ability to organize diverse groups of people
• Passion for food justice issues
• Strong emotional intelligence and good communication skills
• Willingness to do physical work in all weather
• Strong work ethic
• Reliable transportation
Pay and Benefits
• This is a paid position at $20/hour.
• All the “seconds” vegetables and herbs you can eat!
• The City of Montpelier is an equal-opportunity employer.
• Potential to make this a 40/hr per week position based off the interest of the candidate
To apply, please email a resume, cover letter, and two professional references to Leila Faulstich-Hon at [email protected].
Length of internship: May 3– October 13
Hours: 6-8 hours/week
Applicants must be available on class days: Wednesday evenings from 4-8pm and the second Saturday
of each month from 8:30am-12:30pm. Hours used for meetings with the greater VGN team and social
media presence are more flexible.
Position Summary:
This is a full-season opportunity to gain practical experience in organic gardening and learn teaching
techniques in the context of an educational garden. The intern will work closely with the Lead Instructor
to run the 6-month long organic gardening course for adults. This is a dynamic position to take on the
responsibility of being both a teaching assistant to support the instructor and students, and a garden
assistant to maintain our educational garden site. A full-season commitment is required, with variable
weekly hours reflecting garden needs and class activities.
Primary Duties:
● Assist the Lead Instructor to prepare materials and tidy up after weekly garden classes
● Participate in various hands-on gardening activities including seeding, transplanting, watering,
harvesting, mulching, weeding, and pest management
● Participate in garden site maintenance tasks such as shed cleanup, tool inventories, and signage
● Co-facilitate garden work days for students and occasional volunteers
● Document the course through photographs and videos
● Share/like VGN’s social media posts
Skills & Qualifications:
● Interest in organic farming/gardening, community-based gardening, food systems, experiential
education
● Prior hands-on experience in organic vegetable, flower, and/or herb gardening is preferred
● Familiarity and active engagement with social media (Facebook, Instagram)
● Willingness to work outside and do physical work in all weather conditions
● Able and willing to work independently, as well as in partnership with program staff
● Ability to be flexible due to shifting needs of the program, students, and garden
● Willingness to take initiative and motivation to seek new learning opportunities
● Strong work ethic and ability to interact with the public in a professional and courteous manner
Compensation:
We can offer a stipend or academic credit. A $590 stipend is offered upon completion
of the internship. Or, students from accredited academic institutions may be able to receive academic
credit. The intern also enjoys garden perks such as a weekly harvest of fresh produce, make & take items
created during Saturday classes (i.e. herbal products, plant dyed fabric), and access to abundant seeds
and seedlings, if interested.
Applications due:
April 3, 2023
Candidates will be interviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We encourage early
applicants. BIPOC, queer & trans folks are strongly encouraged to apply!
To apply:
Please email a cover letter, resume, and a professional reference to:
Angela deBettencourt, the Partnerships & Engagement Manager, via angela(at)vtgradens.org.
To learn more about the Thriving Gardens Course that this internship position would be
supporting, please visit our website - vtgardens.org
