2 posts tagged “community food security”
On Tuesday October 21, 2008, we had the honor of accepting the Citizen’s Committee for the Children of New York City’s Samuel P. Peabody Award for Community Activism. We were presented with this award for our work through the East New York Farms! Project “to assure and expand access to healthy and sustainable food for East New York children and families.”
This award is so meaningful to us because it is truly a shared accomplishment
– the sum of the amazing efforts of more than 50 local gardeners, 100 young leaders, 5 regional farmers, and 100,000 customers. We began in the mid-90’s with an interesting idea – for youth and adults to work together to capitalize on the food-producing potential of community gardens to meet our community’s needs for fresh food, safe public spaces, economic development, and youth empowerment. Ten years later, we have transformed this idea into a viable strategy for working collectively to improve our own health, environment, and local economy.
Job opening - Urban Agriculture Coordinator, East New York Farms! Project
Responsibilities:
- Recruit and train new and experienced gardeners from East New York and surrounding communities in urban production for market (primarily vegetable production, possibility of chicken raising and bee-keeping)
- Lead and coordinate trainings for gardeners, as well as provide individual technical assistance
- Organize local gardeners and develop their capacity to support each other, sell at the farmers market, and oversee a micro-loan fund
- Provide group development assistance to 20-30 members of new 1/2 acre urban farm, and assist them in further developing the farm
- Supervise and support Urban Farm Manager in cultivating and maintaining a half-acre urban farm
- Co-supervise and train teens (ages 13-16) to grow vegetables, serve other neighborhood gardeners, and help run the farmers’ market
- Assist with designing and leading lessons to build skills and help youth understand the social context of their work
- Track and assist with reporting activities to funders
- Support farmers’ market operations
- Support outreach/promotion efforts of project
Qualifications:
- At least one full season of growing experience, primarily in small fruit and vegetable production
- Experience facilitating trainings for both youth and adults
- Experience working with diverse communities and individuals
- Responsible and able to work independently
- Drivers’ license a must
- Ability to work weekends (work week is Tuesday – Saturday from March through November) and occasional evenings
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Spanish language skills a plus
This is a full-time position with full benefits
Position will start part-time February 1, 2008 (for training) and become full-time March 1, 2008.
Please send resume and cover letter by December 14, 2007 to:
Sarita Daftary
East New York Farms! Project Director
The mission of the East New York Farms! Project is to organize youth and adult residents to address food issues in their community by promoting local and regional sustainable agriculture and community-led economic development.
