Public Education

PCC ROCK CREEK LEARNING GARDEN AND FARM- FULL FOR 2024

PCC ROCK CREEK LEARNING GARDEN AND FARM- FULL FOR 2024

  • POSITION: 1 APPRENTICESHIP

  • PART-TIME (13 hrs/week, split between 2 sites on Portland Community College campus)

  • APPROX START & END DATES: 3/1 - 12/1

  • HOUSING NOT OFFERED 

  • LOCATION: Portland 

  • VEHICLE REQUIRED? No.

  • ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Yes.

  • LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English. Intermediate Spanish, Elementary Swahili.


Rock Creek Farm:

The farm is located in a corner of the PCC Rock Creek campus and it consists of a main barn, cattle lab barn, and 30 acres of pasture. The main barn houses the horses, cattle and sheep and has a classroom. The cattle lab barn has a squeeze chute and alley system for handling and doctoring cows. Although the farm is in the corner of campus and feels fairly remote, it does get a decent amount of visitors on a daily basis. 

The main purpose of the farm is to support the college’s Veterinary Technology program. Students in the program take two large animal classes where they learn how to provide basic medical care for livestock using the animals residing on the farm. We sell a small number of lambs in the spring and calves in the fall (this year we had 30 lambs and 3 calves). We have two John Deere tractors used for seeding and mowing pastures. We practice rotational grazing in spring, early summer, and fall using temporary electric fencing. We practice humane, low stress livestock handling. The farm employs 3-4 part time employees year round. Employees work mainly on weekends and holidays, with occasional weekday work. 

Farm manager Avery has worked on a variety of farms over the past 15+ years. “I have some experience in vegetable production but most of my farming has been with livestock including cattle, horses, sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, and chickens. The PCC Rock Creek Farm has existed for about 30 years and I have been the farm manager here for 4.5 years. I am experienced at operating equipment including tractors, mowers, skid steers, etc. and knowledgeable about basic livestock medical care. I have years of experience with kidding/lambing and I am a certified sheep shearer. I believe strongly in humane and low-stress livestock handling. I am interested in regenerative agriculture and I love teaching others about farming, as well as learning as much as I can. I have a masters in Ag Science and am working on a doctorate in Ag Education.”

Learning Garden: 

Portland Community College is the largest higher education institution in the state of Oregon. The Rock Creek Campus rests on 250 acres of  Tualatin Kalapuya land in Washington County, 20-30 minutes outside of downtown Portland. The Learning Garden is nestled near the main buildings on campus and consists of 3.5 acres with 50 fruit trees, 50 blueberries, grapes, brambles and many fruits and vegetables. Our campus is also home to wooded trails, the riparian habitat surrounding Rock Creek, a large recreational public park with sports fields operated by Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, as well as the 5 Oaks Museum. 

The Learning Garden produces thousands of pounds of food each season, which are primarily donated to the food pantry on campus. We rely primarily on hand work, but also keep a new BCS walk-behind tractor just in case! We are no-spray, practice extensive cover cropping and are moving towards the production of our own usable compost. Our farm crew is always in flux - we have volunteer hours 9am-1pm Monday-Friday and we meet whoever is volunteering where they're at and re-prioritize based on inclusion. 

The Learning Garden in its current iteration was established in 2012. Miriam has served as the Rock Creek Campus Learning Garden Coordinator since 2017. She ran her own 8-acre farm from 2011-2016, co-owned/operated a 25-acre production from 2006-2011, and worked on other peoples' farms from 1999-2003. She is interested in seed-saving, seed stories and the dignity of all living creatures.  

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Farm: 

On a daily basis, the main tasks to be done are feeding and watering livestock including cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens. In the spring and fall we graze rotationally, so Apprentices will learn about rotational grazing and putting up temporary electric fencing. Apprentices will learn basic livestock handling and basic medical care including administering injections, oral dosing, deworming, trimming hooves, etc. In the spring, we shear the sheep and Apprentices will get to be a part of that process and learn the basics of shearing. Apprentices will learn how to operate tractors and attach various implements. Apprentices will learn about the basics of managing a farm such as record keeping and maintaining a budget. 

This position will have approximately 6 hours per week of work on the farm. Of those 6 hours, 3-4 hours will be working/learning with the primary farmer during the week, and 2-3 hours will be working solo on the weekends to feed the animals. The weekday schedule can be flexible and will be created in coordination with the primary farmer, and the weekend schedule will be created quarterly in coordination with the current farm employees. Time off requests given at least two weeks in advance will be granted. 

Teaching skills through demonstration and working alongside the apprentice will allow me to provide instruction and training, specifically for the bigger tasks beyond feeding, such as trimming sheep hooves and moving cows. Once the Apprentice feels comfortable with the daily farm tasks, they will have autonomy to work on their own. Avery will always make myself available for questions and check-ins. A more formal check-in/meeting can occur monthly, or more frequently based on how the apprentice is feeling. 

Learning Garden: 

Crop-planning is collaborative. Greenhouse work begins in Feb. We plant, cultivate, harvest, wash and deliver food together. Efficiency does not dictate here! However, Miriam can offer insights based on her 15 years of production experience. 

Our production is highly unpredictable because of our ethic of working in community, where building trust and creating learning opportunities are valued more highly than task completion. That said, because the majority of work is by hand, it is possible and probable that work will be physical and conditions may not always be easy. 

The goal is to co-create a schedule that allows for 3-4 hours of labor in partnership, 2-3 hours of solitary labor pursuing a special project, and 45 minutes to an hour a week for check-ins, questions, and reflection.                                                                                                              

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Willingness to learn, honest communication, reliability, and attention to detail 

  • Considerate communication skills 

  • A genuine delight for people and plants

COMPENSATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS 

Farm and Learning Garden:  

$15.45 per hour 

The Apprentice can attend on-farm community education classes for free. Also available is: a share in the harvest, seeds and entry into the PCC hiring system and diverse community of students, staff, faculty and campus neighbors. 

The PCC Rock Creek site  is located in a semi-urban area of Portland with various options for housing close by. There is low-cost housing in the area, and the campus is served by public transportation. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Farm:

The farm is open to visitors and everyone is welcome here. PCC has a diverse student population and the farm is a place for students, staff, and the surrounding community to come and interact with the animals and ask questions. 

Learning Garden: 

As LG coordinator Miriam has been building relationships for years with colleagues in Accessible Education and Disability Resources, the Dreamer Center, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and so many other departments on campus. This has guided the direction of the garden and created a welcoming space for everyone who wants to be in the garden. 

Avery Tompson, Farm Manager PCC Rock Creek

Miriam, Learning Garden Coordinator

Guyon Springs- FULL FOR 2024

GUYON SPRINGS -FULL FOR 2024

  • POSITION: 1-2 APPRENTICESHIPS

  • PART TIME (30 hrs/week)

  • APPROX START/END DATES: 4/1 - 11/1

  • LOCATION: Dayville (Eastern Oregon)

  • ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED

  • VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes.

  • ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Preferred.

  • LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English. Elementary Spanish. 

We grow a variety of produce focusing heavily on three crops: garlic, peppers and chiles, and purple corn. We also grow lettuce and will make this one of our main crops for the summer of 2024. We also grow a variety of other produce for market and a small CSA and market, plus flowers and herbs. We have a 1/3 acre field that supports 36 beds, standard 50’by 33”. We hope to expand to 52 beds. This field, as well as the hay field, is watered by hand lines off the irrigation ditch. The flower and herb beds are in a different field and are watered by the well using drip irrigation.

We sell our garlic and chillies to customers in our community who pre-order and buy from our store or markets. We have many value-added items such as roasted chillies, pickled vegetables, jams, garlic braids, dried and fresh flowers, chili ristras, etc. We will be selling lettuce to two local restaurants for the summer of 2024. We have a goal of a 10 person CSA for the 2024 season. Previously we have had five subscriptions. We attend 4 markets a year, and sell from our store for other outlets. 

We are no-till and biodynamic. We use hand tools for most of our farming. Twice a year we rent a tractor to manage compost made by our two donkeys and two horses. We use cover crops, mulch and black plastic covering to manage our beds. 

Our farm crew has been two part time people (20 hrs. A week each) May-October. 

We are on the confluence of Conner Creek and the South Fork of the John Day river. Our fields are in an alluvial plain and we have five irrigated acres. Our property encompasses 120 acres, and it is  very dynamic in terms of topography. The top of the property is 1,200 ft. above the farmed portion. We live on an off-grid property that sits on the hillside above the farm and has a shared property line. There are numerous springs on the property, and a pond and a creek. Most of the 120 acres is steep hillside with wide ridges. Juniper and sagebrush cover the upper regions.  The farm has a house, barns, farm store and kitchen. Housing is available for interns in the farm house. 

Dayville is a community of 120 people. The closest, largest population center is John Day, 30 miles up river. We live three miles from public land on the South Fork of the John Day river; one mile from the confluence of the main stem. The river is our main recreation outlet, along with hiking and biking trails.

Jim and Kerri have been farming off grid on our property above the farm for 10 years. We live on a spring (no well) and use holding tanks for water. We acquired the property below in March of 2020, and have built and managed it for production since then.

Jim is a science, agriculture, and Computer Technology Engineering teacher in high school and has knowledge of no-till systems. He is also interested in native plants, and growing for government reforestation projects. 

Kerri is the business owner and also a high school English teacher. She grew up on a farm and enjoyed learning alongside Jim how to grow food in this desert environment. We both value community and growing produce that has as little impact on the land as possible while producing nutrient dense food. We have been in operation since 2021, expanding a little each year. 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Tasks to be done include but are not limited to: bed building, compost management, planting, transplanting, cultivating, harvesting, washing packing, delivering, processing value added products, animal care, mowing living pathways in our vegetable plot, and managing water and irrigation. We train and work alongside employees several days a week while our teaching schedules allow. 

We expect employees to work five days a week, six to eight hours a day on all areas of the farm. We divide our time on hot days into 2 shifts: a seven a.m. to noon shift, then a five to seven shift.

We meet in the morning to assess needs and decide what tasks to be accomplished. In the early season this is bed prep, planting, cultivating etc. We discuss longer projects and make sure we are tending toward the steps of production and sales. We demonstrate best practices with the goal of training for independence. Apprentices will grow into working solo on the farm for several days out of the week, as we teach until June and go back to work in late August. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

$15/hr. Also, of course produce and community camaraderie as perks! 

There is on-farm housing. We ask $500.00/month for rent for a bedroom in the farmhouse.  

We purchased the farm below us in 2020, and it has a nice house with two bedrooms. The house actually has four bedrooms, but we use the back part of the house for the business. For example, we have an office and a room that has freezers and some benches for starts, and another room where we store our furniture from the wall tents we use as seasonal Airbnbs. The front of the house has two bedrooms and a bathroom and kitchen.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for someone who loves the process of farming and being outdoors, with good communication / listening skills, willingness to learn, good mechanical skills, a commitment to agriculture, and lastly someone who enjoys animals and small communities.

An ability to thrive in a remote, rural, high desert environment and work independently is required.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

On our farm we all share in the work. This means we take turns doing all jobs understanding some are more fun than others. We are big on communication, assessing progress, and making sure everyone is heard. We have a great community that welcomes and includes everyone. For example, we host a weekly potluck where we feature our produce and a wood fired oven. For us, in this region, social justice looks like giving space for everyone, not just those who look or think like us. That being said, we are not always supportive of the industrial cattle ranching out here that depletes the beautiful John Day river each year. Likewise we do not support government efforts to subsidize Juniper cutting for rangeland habitat. We try to provide education for this unique environment. We are the only commercial organic growers in Grant and Wheeler counties, and we want to show that we have an imagination when it comes to growing food in this beautiful but challenging climate.

The Latshaw Family.

Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm - FULL FOR 2024

Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm- FULL FOR 2024 

  • POSITION: 1 APPRENTICESHIP 

  • PART TIME (20-30 hrs/week) 

  • APPROX START/END DATES: 4/15 -5/15 to 10/1-11/1

  • LOCATION: Boring (PORTLAND CHAPTER)

  • NO ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED 

  • VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

  • ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Ideally.

  • LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English. Some team members speak conversational Spanish.

2023 was our first year of production on this land, and we’ve been experimenting with no/low-till strategies for growing our annual vegetables to great success. This means there is a lot of hand work, including weeding, harvesting, and removing plants at the end of their cycle to leave roots in place whenever possible. Though we are not certified organic, we do not use pesticides or herbicides, and take a “from the soil up” approach - meaning we aim to build the appropriate soil biome for plants to thrive in using natural methods, and aim to keep the soil growing plants or in a protective cover as much of the year as possible. We are in the beginning stages of learning about the soil food web and how we can support this biome, and look forward to any experience or knowledge a potential apprentice can contribute. We believe farming is a constant learning experience that should be fluid, so we adapt our methods on a daily basis to account for the needs of the plants and those of us who tend them. In the winter, our fields are partially cropped to late-fall and over-wintered vegetables, cover crops, and partially covered with compost and tarps to ensure we have fertile ground ready to be planted in early spring. We have  newly-established perennial native plantings along our learning garden, as well as a small stand of mature blueberries and various herbs bordering our in-ground and raised beds. Finally, we have a mature orchard featuring apples, plums, pears and cherries, which we plan to refurbish in 2024 to better utilize the crop for our programs. 

So far, our farm crew consists of one full-time farmer (Drew), three staff on harvest and transplanting days as needed, a part-time farm assistant, and additional support from board members and volunteers during work parties and other events. 

We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and our produce is provided at no cost to the recipients through donations to local food pantries in east Multnomah county, as well as through a farm-to-table meal delivery program that we piloted this year. With this new program, patients of Wallace, a medical clinic in Rockwood, received weekly meals prepared and delivered to them by Milk Crate Kitchen, a non-profit production kitchen. We also set up a weekly, free farm stand onsite at the clinic where patients received fresh produce to take home. Our educational programs are constantly growing, so field trips and workshops involving school-age children as well as adults are a regular occurance on and off the farm. Finally, we have 6 laying hens and 1 rooster, which we hope to incorporate into the fertility plan of the farm by utilizing manure and “chicken tillage” of cover crop residue, as well as their pest management capabilities. 

We are situated on 5 acres just outside Boring, Oregon - 30 miles east of downtown Portland, 57 miles from Mt. Hood, and surrounded by some of the best natural beauty and recreational opportunities in Oregon. Approximately ⅓ of an acre of our farm is in no/low-till, mixed annual vegetables, and another acre is planted to boysenberries which are currently leased and managed by a nearby Organic certified farmer. We have a large learning garden with several raised and in-ground beds, as well as perennial native plantings, blueberries, and herbs, as well as a small, mature orchard of apple, plum, pear and cherry trees. There is a large shop which contains our packing/storage/refrigeration, a seed propagation greenhouse, and a home which serves as our office/communal kitchen/meeting space. 

Drew is the primary farmer/Farm Operations Manager at TCF. We are a small team of just 1 part-time and 3 full-time employees (plus an awesome Board of Directors), so on any given day each of us may be helping out in the field, learning garden, orchard, or supporting each other with other tasks not directly related to growing food. Though TCF was established just 2 years ago (2023 being our first season on our current land), Drew has 10+ years of farming experience, having previously owned my own CSA/market farm south of Eugene, Oregon, where he also grew using natural methods but with a more traditional tillage approach. Drew noticed that repeated tillage had a very detrimental effect on the soil and thus the crops, but didn’t have the resources needed to implement some of the exciting no/low-till methods we use here at Thimbleberry. He believes that farming and tending plants comes naturally to most people, so his general philosophy is that there is no “right” way to do something. That being said, through repeated trial and error he has developed preferences for how to approach tasks, and will expect anyone helping on the farm to utilize these techniques unless agreed otherwise. We have found that it is easy to become myopic in farming, so we encourage questions about the “why” of any given task or technique. Generally, we find farmers to be some of the smartest, most ingenuitive people around, and have no doubt that we can learn much from even the greenest thumb. We value direct communication, consistency, punctuality, hard work, laughter/fun, and camaraderie amongst the staff and community that surrounds us at TCF. One of our favorite parts of working at the farm is our weekly staff meal, prepared mostly with ingredients from the fields! 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Apprentices will primarily be involved in the day-to-day physical operations of the farm, including, seed propagation, transplanting, weeding, cover crop establishment/management, drip irrigation installation and management, harvesting, washing/packing/delivering produce, small machinery/hand tool operation (BCS walk-behind tractor, mower, weed whacker, stirrup hoes, shovels, etc.), compost production, chicken care, record keeping, and various other tasks related to the smooth operation of the farm. Occasionally, Apprentices may support other staff in activities such as field trips, workshops, or tabling at farm stands/farmer’s markets/events. In addition, Apprentices have the opportunity to engage in aspects of the non-profit side of the farm, such as supporting fund-raising events like our annual harvest celebration or community nights facilitated by local businesses. Much of the farm management aspect of the farm such as crop-planning, seed ordering, and budgeting is done during the winter months, so exposure to learning experiences in these areas will be limited, though time can be set aside to discuss these aspects if desired. Since we are not a typical “market” farm, experience in the retail, direct to consumer aspects common with many small farm operations such as farmers markets and CSA programs won’t be provided, though our farm-to-table program will provide experience in setting up a farm stand and interacting with other nonprofits serving the community. 

Typical start time is between 8-9am Monday-Friday, depending on the required task, and will generally end by 4:30pm, with Monday/Wednesday/Friday being harvest days and therefore requiring the most support. We do not generally work more than 8 hours on any given day. The majority of a prospective apprentice’s time will be spent supporting harvesting, washing, weeding, and transplanting crops. Essentially, every day is a “training day” in the sense that through repetition and working side-by-side with the Farm Operations Manager, the Apprentice will gain a thorough understanding of the day to day operation of the farm. Detailed training in other aspects of the farm will be determined through our regular check-ins and identifying gaps in knowledge or proficiency in real time. Questions about processes and techniques are encouraged to ensure work can be done safely and efficiently, and that the Apprentice ends the season with as comprehensive an understanding as possible. 

Time off requests will be granted within reason and with 2 weeks advance notice, to ensure the workload can be covered by existing staff. At this time, we are unable to offer paid time off, and will need to limit time off to sick days and shorter duration absences. However, we are flexible and happy to work with prospective Apprentices to find a consistent schedule that works for everyone. 

Occasionally, Apprentices may be asked to support staff during other activities that occur during irregular work hours, such as weekend volunteer days, evening events, etc., or in non-farming related events such as community workshops or field trips. These activities are an important part of TCF, and are integral to our function as a non-profit, educational farm serving the surrounding community. 

Most instruction and learning will be through hands-on application of farming techniques in day-to-day operations. Support such as reading materials in specific areas such as soil test interpretation, low/no-till techniques, etc., will be provided throughout the season when appropriate. Regular check-ins with the Farm Operations Manager and/or our Executive Director will help narrow in on prospective areas of mutual growth and development, and additional support and time to focus on filling knowledge gaps will be provided. Depending on hourly availability, Apprentices may attend weekly staff meetings to stay engaged with overall operations when appropriate. Drew will be working closely with Apprentices on a daily basis in the field, so there will be ample opportunity to ask questions, explore and deepen technical abilities, and work together to ensure all learning goals are met. Regular evaluations and feedback will be provided on a mutual basis, both formally and informally. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

We can offer $16/hour and access to food from the farm. We would also reimburse for RFC tuition. 

Local housing options in case a placement is coming into the area and needs housing: Rentals in Portland are fairly expensive and can be difficult to come by, and would require a commute of 30 minutes to an hour, depending on location. The surrounding community of Boring may be somewhat limited as well due to its smaller size, but nearby Gresham may provide more affordable options and a quicker commute. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Generally, a farm apprentice here at TCF needs to have a strong work ethic, good communication (direct and respectful), be punctual, and have an ability to be flexible and self-motivated to jump in and support wherever they are needed. An ability to work outside in various weather conditions, as well as tolerate days consisting mostly of physical labor and some repetitive tasks are essential. Consistency and attention to detail, as well as a desire to learn through trial and error are a benefit, and a desire to support our under-served community members is essential. A good sense of humor and ability to have fun while we work is one of the core values here at TCF, as well! 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Equity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission at TCF. Every aspect of our physical farm and learning garden space was created with accessibility in mind; From our semi-raised, permanent bed systems in the row crop area, to the permanent raised and ADA accessible beds and traversable paths in our learning garden, we’re making continuous improvements to ensure access for everyone. As collaboration is a key aspect of our organization, we treat each person we come in contact with as a potential partner/teacher and valued voice in the co-creation of our farm and the greater food system we inhabit. Our mission to increase access to free/affordable, healthy food for low-income, underserved communities is the guiding principle that ensures we are making the greatest impact on food justice and security that we can as a small organization. Partnerships with local schools and organizations that are already working to support these communities increase our potential to help create a strong and lasting network that can bolster existing efforts towards these goals. Undergirding everything is a sense of humility and openness to new ideas, perspectives, and educational opportunities. As a staff, we’ve incorporated weekly readings and film screenings in order to educate ourselves about the current and historical issues facing the various cultural communities that make up East Multnomah County, especially issues related to food systems and agriculture. We use what we learn in these weekly discussions to shape our programs, design our educational curricula and crop plans, inform our relationship-building efforts with community partners, as well as our team recruitment efforts, and more. Finally, we acknowledge that lived experience is a crucial component in an individual’s desire and ability to contribute to the work of food justice, and weigh it equally with other considerations when reviewing applicants for all positions within our organization. 

Drew

Sunbow Produce- FULL FOR 2024

Sunbow ProducE- FULL FOR 2024

  • POSITION: 2 APPRENTICESHIPS 

  • PART TIME (20-25 hrs/week) 

  • APPROX START/END DATES: March/April-December

  • LOCATION: Corvallis (Willamette Valley)

  • NO ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED 

  • VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes.

  • ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Yes.

  • LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Spanish, English. Fully fluent in both. 

We grow certified organic (OTCO) fruits, vegetables, pulses, and herbs through a customer direct e-newsletter and online store. We sell at the Philomath Farmers Market and provide weekly distribution through Linn-Benton Food Share through two channels. We practice a model of stewardship regarding soil, water and land use. Much of our field work is done by hand but we do use tractors for field prep, mowing, harrowing, tillage (spading, rototilling), spreading mulch, moving compost, and some weeding. We teach and encourage ergonomic practices to keep our bodies in good working condition. We do not employ mechanical harvesting, it’s all by hand with the exception of potatoes. Our fertility program includes deliberate rotations, cover cropping, mulching with leaves, and using minimal purchased inputs. Our farm crew consists of Yadira and Nate plus two to three part-time employees and occasional work-trade helpers who are compensated with our farm currency, Sunbacks. We have a comprehensive liability insurance policy and carry workers comp insurance. Our business is licensed in Oregon, we do not distribute out of state. 

We have two locations. The main one is at Sunbow Farm, a 14 acre property located on the outskirts of Corvallis and Philomath. We farm between 3-5 acres at Sunbow depending on the year. There are fields, 6 high tunnels, an orchard, a lot of wildlife habitat, a few old barns and some old crumbling out-buildings. There’s a house, a bathroom building, a market room and a pack/wash area as well as a cob structure. Four people reside here, including us. 

The other location is in Philomath in a residential area. It’s approx 3 acres that are gated and fenced and is part of a larger residential plot managed by the owner. Our leased zone includes a greenhouse and access to the fields.

Sunbow Farm was established in 1972, we took on management and created Sunbow Produce in 2015. We’ve both been farming between 10-12 years including some volunteer work and internships/apprenticeships. Before we became farmers, Yadira worked in a social justice/social services agency and Nate worked for the State of Washington. We came to this farm independently and met here. We’re devoted to organic and regenerative practices, and are certified by both Oregon Tilth and the Real Organic Project. 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

● All-season growing techniques in high/low tunnels: bed prep, annual crop planting, harvesting, and maintenance of crops and infrastructure. 

● Perennial crop harvesting and maintenance 

● Soil conservation and water management; irrigation techniques; water catchment 

● Dry farming techniques 

● Wildlife conservation and coexistence; pest management in an organic operation; agro-ecological practices 

● Field work: weeding with tools and by hand; harvesting; prepping beds for transplanting; transplanting, planting; clearing beds; setting up protection (low tunnels, bird netting, etc.); installing, maintaining, moving, and removing irrigation; seeding cover crops 

● Highly diversified crop production, identification, and management 

● Consumer-direct marketing techniques and farm stand/farmers market work

  • Time management/efficiency/work pace

 ● Harvest, wash and pack skills

● Food safety standards and management 

● Equipment and infrastructure maintenance 

● Possible tractor operation depending on the person 

● Small equipment operation (weed whacking, root washer operation, water pump problem solving) 

● Seed saving 

The first 4-6 weeks will be hands-on training with one or both of us. Independent tasks will be assigned after a successful training period. The work week will change with the seasons but is likely to start with two days/week and expand to up to 5 days/week. Lunch times will be 60 minutes regardless of the time of year.

Slower season: exertion is expected to be medium high with decent pace. Labor is medium. Harvest, wash, pack and deliver orders twice a week; field work two to three days a week. Minimum of two consecutive days off can be expected during the slower parts of the season. 

Busy season: exertion is high with a fast pace. Labor is heavy, a lot of repetitive work and heavy lifting. Farm managers work 7 days/week. 

Harvest, wash, pack and deliver three days a week; field work three days a week; farmers market and farm stand once a week. During the months of August-October harvesting becomes part of daily field work and is performed by all crew members. All crew members are expected to be present for all shifts during the busy season with the exception of illness. 

On excessively hot days, there will be unpaid time off during the hottest part of the day. Schedules will be adjusted in order to avoid heat stress but still get work done. This may mean early starts and late endings.

Evaluation will be based on performance, consistency, availability, and reliability. We will provide hands-on training, engage in frequent discussion, and provide opportunities to practice. Daily feedback will be given during the training period. In-person check-ins will be done as needed but minimally, at three and six months. We encourage apprentices to let us know when they need to discuss progress, interests, etc.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

$14.20-$16/per hour to start, depending on prior experience. A weekly produce stipend of $30, plus additional access to produce seconds when available 

Occasional farm-ily meals and gatherings will be offered but are not mandatory.

Access to personal growing space as long as there are no conflicts with time and resources (watering schedule, tool use, etc.) 

The farm will pay for up to $100 for local workshops per apprentice.

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a management or crew boss position with us. 

We provide basic equipment (tools) required for work and have loaner rain gear and rubber boots depending on shoe size.

No on-farm housing is offered, but we are more than willing to help find affordable housing within our community (with people we know and trust). 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Enthusiasm, eagerness, and self-respect. Curiosity, resourcefulness, and grit. Drive, desire to learn, desire to excel, attention to detail, investment in the operation (emotional, not financial), food systems interest, food, land and social justice. Excellent communication skills, good boundary setting. 

  • Applicants must be able to: 

  • Lift 50 pounds safely and regularly 

  • Follow directions 

  • Ask questions 

  • Spend extended periods of time doing repetitive work such as standing, crouching, kneeling, etc. 

  • Understand how to work safely around a tractor, within old buildings and crowded spaces. Be willing to get dirty 

  • Use equipment as directed and utilize suggestions for best ergonomic practices Respect all crew members 

  • Problem solve 

  • Avoid using violence, both physically and verbally 

  • Avoid using alcohol, drugs (including marijuana) and cigarettes during work shifts. Arrive sober, free of any intoxicants and fully functional to all assigned shifts. Arriving incapacitated in any way will not be tolerated as it could be a safety issue.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We welcome everyone, and do our best to engage with people positively and directly. We’re an equal opportunity employer, and are reasonable people who respect others and expect the same. 

We host Growing Ancestral Roots, a BIPOC organization of growers, providing them a high tunnel to further their efforts and grant them access to other parts of the farm during the main season. We connect people who have been disadvantaged and are looking for land access to resources and opportunities whenever we can. 

We provide hands-on job training to young adults who have disabilities through a school district program. 

We acknowledge that Oregon was home to Indigenous people well before white settlers arrived. 

We often find ourselves having open discussions about the intersection of race, class, history, policy and access. 

Yadira and Nate.

FOOD For Lane County Youth Farm- FULL FOR 2024

FOOD For Lane County Youth Farm- FULL FOR 2024

  • POSITION: 2 APPRENTICESHIPS 

  • PART TIME (30 hrs/week) 

  • APPROX START/END DATES: March - Nov

  • LOCATION: Eugene (Willamette Valley)

  • NO ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED 

  • VEHICLE REQUIRED? No, we are located close to public bus line.

  • ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Preferred. Will make accommodations if required.

  • LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English. Several of the staff speak some Spanish, but none are fluent.

We are a program of FOOD For Lane County (FFLC), the regional nonprofit food bank in our area. FFLC is a well respected and innovative organization with the mission of “Reducing hunger by engaging our community to create access to food”.  On the Youth Farm, we  cultivate 5 acres of diverse vegetable crops as well as approximately 70 mature fruit trees (apples, pears, Asian pears,plums), strawberries, thornless blackberries and a young blueberry patch. We are not certified organic, but we use all organic methods. We have two small tractors that we run on biodiesel that we use for discing, tilling, bed shaping and mowing.   Most other work on the farm is by hand, including transplanting, weeding, harvesting, and post-harvest handling.  We grow winter cover crops, and create our own compost.  Approximately half of our produce is delivered to the FOOD For Lane County warehouse for distribution through our network of partners to those experiencing food insecurity in our county.  The remainder we sell through a 170-member CSA, and an onsite produce stand on Saturdays, which includes an on-line store.  We also grow vegetable, flower and herb starts for two very large plant sale fundraisers each spring.

Our primary farm crew consists of a Farm Supervisor (20 years on staff), a Field Coordinator (11 years on staff), an Outreach Coordinator (4 years on staff) and an Assistant (1 year on staff), who work from mid-January-early December.  During the main growing season, we hire up to 16 teens to participate in a part-time work experience and job skills program where they attend classes and are trained to do farm work as well as operate our farmstand.  Some of our stellar youth are in leadership positions and return for up to 4 consecutive seasons. Our Gardens Program Manager oversees the program.  We also host numerous volunteer groups and individuals at our farm each year, which creates a dynamic and unpredictable element to our crew size on certain days of the week. Overall, our crew each day can range from 4-25 people, depending on the time of year.

The Youth Farm is located on a 10 acre site within Springfield city limits.  The land is owned by the local school district and is surrounded by single family homes, duplexes, apartment complexes and a city playground.  We share the land with a separately managed community garden as well as a garden project connected to Springfield School District. The only facilities on site are storage sheds, including several shipping containers, roofed, open-air structures, two walk-in coolers, and several high tunnels with over 16,000 square feet of growing space.  We are close to city bus lines and bike routes, and both downtown Springfield and Eugene are a 10 minute drive away.  The neighboring town of Eugene is a large college town with plenty of entertainment and recreation opportunities, including bike paths, fairly close-in hiking trails, lakes and rivers for boating.

Ted has been the farm supervisor/manager at the Youth Farm since 2004. He began his farming journey 25 years ago as an intern at Hey Bayles! Farm in Lorane, OR. After 2 seasons at Hey Bayles!,  he then participated in the Apprenticeship Program at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology.  He then returned to Hey Bayles! as a farm manager for 2 years before beginning at the Youth Farm. Ted is always seeking ways to improve our growing practices and systems while creating space for new leaders to develop and thrive. He really enjoys teaching the next generation of agricultural leaders and innovators. The other staff at the Youth Farm will also play a pivotal role in training and teaching Apprentices. As we like to say, “Team work, makes the dream work”.

The Youth Farm has been in operation for over 25 years, serving the community healthy food while creating opportunities for youth, beginning farmers and volunteers. We have worked with and trained well over 100 interns over the years. Many are still involved in agriculture, including some as farm owners.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Apprentices will be trained in various aspects of the operation including orchard care (pruning, fertilizing, thinning), nursery and greenhouse management, and growing a wide variety of annual produce (over 40 crops). Work will include seeding, planting, cultivation and weed management, fertilization, harvesting, wash/pack, irrigation set-up and watering, composting, CSA and market set up and distribution, and use of small farm equipment (root barrel washer, salad mix spinner, vacuum seeder, walk behind tillers, flame weeders and lawn care equipment).

Apprentices will also have the opportunity to help run our onsite produce stand, including set-up, take down and customer service.  They will be involved in packing boxes for our CSA customers, which we do 2 times per week for a 25 week season.

Depending on interest, Apprentices will have the opportunity to lead volunteers and youth participants once they are trained.

We would like apprentices to begin on  March 5, four days/week, either Tuesday-Friday or Wednesday-Saturday with some additional weekend duties on occasion.  We work from 9-5 or else 8-4, depending on the time of year.  An early start to the season will give Apprentices the opportunity to learn pruning on some of our fruit trees. They will also be integrally involved in preparations for our two plant sales, including seeding and tending starts, and organizing for the sales that occur in April and May. The apprenticeship will end between November 15-November 22.  Apprentices can request up to two weeks off, and will earn vacation time and paid holidays.

Our staff works alongside interns, and we train as we introduce new tasks.  We also have a curriculum of educational topics, including composting, nutrient management and soil testing, plant propagation and nursery management, orchard management and fruit tree pruning, crop planning and rotation, winter farming, greenhouse management and construction, irrigation, cultivation and weed management, food preservation, cover cropping and food insecurity. These on farm classes will supplement Rogue Farm Corps online Educational Event Series and weekend intensives.

Our Apprenticeship educational program consists of lectures, occasional field trips, hand-outs, literature review and mostly hands-on learning.  Our staff will work alongside the Apprentices, training as we introduce new tasks, and will be available for questions as they come up.  We do short daily morning check-in stretching circles as well as frequent meetings.  We do field walks monthly, and will do  our best to address topics that Apprentices are interested in.       

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

$17/hr for 30 hours/week.  Vacation time accrual, sick time, and holiday pay are included. Reimbursement of RFC tuition if complete the season. Farm produce and starts are provided as available. 

No housing is offered. Shared housing as well as apartments and studios can be found in both Eugene and Springfield. Check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to get an idea.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Passion for organic farming, gardening or outdoor work

  • Previous experience in working with plants outdoors, agriculture, landscaping, etc. (Prefer 1-3 years experience)

  • Interest or experience in working with youth and community members

  • Ability to lift 50 pounds and perform physical farm tasks in adverse weather conditions

  • Excellent attention to detail

  • Good communication skills

  • Organized and reliable 

  • Share FFLC’s values of Compassion, Inclusion and Collaboration  

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Inclusion is one of the values of our organization, FOOD for Lane County.  We are all invested in and strive to create a  safe, open, productive work environment for everyone involved, and prioritize community building, straight forward communication, and validation and appreciation.

FOOD for Lane County has an Equity Manager, and all of our staff take monthly trainings which include: understanding privilege and inherent biases, microaggressions and how to interrupt them, racism and other forms of oppression, intersectionality, how to celebrate diversity, and creating equitable and inclusive workplaces.  In addition, our supervisors have received training in conflict resolution and neurodivergence.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Youth Farm staff.