North East
Community Center
P.O. Box 35
51 South Center Street
Millerton NY 12546
tel: 518-789-4259
fax: 518-789-9279
Spring 2010
The following positions are open as of March 2010:
Farm and Food Education Leader
Position: Farm and Food Education Leader
Farm and Food Education Leader
Description:
Vision: the Farm and Food Education Leader creates a rich and diverse work experience for a team of 8 high school students who will spend about eight weeks in July and August learning about farming and food, working at local farms and at the Millerton Farmer’s Market.
The goal of the program is twofold:
- For teenagers (14-19) to gain real-world work experience and workplace skills including interpersonal relations, responsibility, communication, and work ethic, while earning minimum wage.
- For teens to learn about farming and food production – the nutritional and environmental aspects; the economic importance to our rural upstate New York area; the work and commitment farming requires; the value of farmers markets to local communities; and more, depending on the interests and background of the leader.
This is the third year NECC has operated this program. While flexible, the outline of the program is as follows:
Students work for 30 hours / week for about 7 weeks. Given that students’ personal and family schedules vary in the summer, the program overall operates for about 8 weeks.
- One day a week (or so) students are assigned to work at various farms in the area, assisting the farmer with whatever help is needed.
- One or two days a week: a project such as picking strawberries and processing jam for sale at the Millerton Farmers Market; this year we are also starting our own vegetable garden; tending this garden will be part of the team’s responsibilities.
- One day a week (or so) a field trip or educational experience around farming and food
- One day a week, work at the Millerton Farmers Market (a project of NECC) running two booths: the Market Manager booth and our own product booth at which we sell products from various local farms. The students may also assist other farmers at the market with setup, sales and cleanup,.
The Leader will:
- Develop a plan of activities for a group of 8-10 high school students to engage them in learning about farming, gardening and marketing at the Millerton Farmers' Market which may include anything from developing their own garden and products, to visiting and working on area farms, to working at the Millerton Farmers' Market.
- Be responsible for scheduling, tracking student hours, organizing projects and keeping track of any other information, such as outcomes, as funders may require.
- Collaborate with the Farmers Market Manager in the management of the students’ booth at the market, including tracking and reordering inventory.
(Note that there will also be a driver to assist with transporting the teens to their job assignments.)
Qualifications:
Required: 21 years or older; experience and knowledge of farming and/or food production; hands-on gardening or farming experience; experience creating and running programs for teenagers, drivers license, ability to lift a 50 pound box, walk up and down stairs, and do physical labor outdoors in various kinds of weather.
Desired: Bachelors degree, business background; Spanish-speaking a plus.
Other information: The position begins approximately June 10, runs approximately to August 31, for 40 hours/week. As a seasonal position the hire is not eligible for vacation or sick days nor health insurance. Pay commensurate with experience
Send a letter outlining your interest in this specific position and any relevant qualifications and a resume, if you have one, to Jenny Hansell via mail, fax, or e-mail.
North East Community Center
P.O. Box 35
Millerton, NY 12546
Fax: 518-789-9279
Email: Jenny at neccmillerton dot org
We welcome you to check back periodically for additional job related information. If you are interested in volunteering, please review our volunteer information.