We are now accepting interns for our 2019 season, and trust us – it’s going to be a good one! We’re looking for folks to join us for the entire farming season, and gain an understanding of what it means to be an urban farmer. You’ll leave this program with theoretical plant knowledge, tangible hands-on skills, and a community of people that love growing food as much as you do!
What makes our program different:
- involvement in all aspects of farm: seeding, transplanting, greenhouse, harvest, market
- flexible hours – work with our farm team to create a schedule that works for you
- tons of learning opportunities (that you don’t have to pay for)
- access to farm fresh produce
- independent and team working environments
View the whole posting below and apply today!
Urban Farm Volunteer Internship Opportunity
Position: Volunteer Farm Intern
Type: Part-time volunteer with learning opportunities and access to produce
Organization: North Shore Neighbourhood House – Edible Garden Project
Location: North Vancouver, B.C.
The North Shore Neighbourhood House (NSNH) is a charitable organization that has been operating on the North Shore of Vancouver for over 75 years. The Edible Garden Project (EGP) is a program of the NSNH that builds community through growing local food on the North Shore.
This volunteer position provides a season-long opportunity to assist in running a successful social enterprise urban farm. Our Farm serves as a model of local sustainable food production and is a community hub, providing hands-on learning and volunteer opportunities to the community. Volunteer Interns will be leaders on the farm and gain hands-on experience in all aspects of enterprise, including farm management, volunteer coordination, community outreach and education with supervision and mentorship from our Farm Manager and Program Manager. We believe that the best way to learn about farming is by farming, and therefore the majority of the internship will involve working alongside our farmers and learning about the importance of planning, pace, efficiency and timing. We also leave time for more creative projects, like flower arranging, and we are happy to accommodate specific learning requests from dedicated interns.
We are not looking simply for labourers, but for people keen to learn as much as they can about running a successful urban farming operation. Our hope is that our volunteer interns will leave the program feeling confident that they have a solid base of understanding in how to run a small urban farm operation.
Internship Details:
- April – October 2019
- 6-8 hours a week, flexible scheduling to be determined with candidate
- Access to produce
Learning Opportunities:
- Field prep/planning: compost and soil management, season extension, crop rotation
- Seeding/propagation: direct seeding, seedling starting and maintenance, transplanting
- Crop maintenance: pruning, thinning, weed and pest management
- Harvesting and post-harvest preparation
- Marketing produce and managing a farm market
- Community outreach and event planning
- Beekeeping (Occasional)
What We’re Looking For:
- Self-motivated and passionate about growing food in the city
- Experience and willingness to do hard work in all weather conditions
- Team player with a sense of humour
- Good communication skills
- Capable of taking initiative and solving problems
- Attention to detail (organized farm site, tool maintenance etc.)
- Physically fit and able to squat, bend and lift at least 40 pounds
Assets:
- Basic construction skills
- Experience working with diverse volunteers
- Basic horticultural skills
- Experience with outdoor/experiential education
How to Apply:
Please send a brief letter (max 500 words) outlining the following:
- Relevant experience
- Skills that you will bring to the team
- What you hope to gain from such an internship experience
- Specific interests or topics that you would like to learn more about
Send email to admin@ediblegardenproject.com
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. All local shortlisted candidates will be required to fulfill an interview and complete a Criminal Record Check. We are recruiting up to five (5) interns for the 2019 season.
To learn more about the Edible Garden Project and our social enterprise farms (Loutet Farm and Sutherland Schoolyard Market Garden), visit our website: www.ediblegardenproject.com
We look forward to your application!