ROOTS TO LEADERS

Our program offers a paid educational opportunity for candidates who want to learn about sustainable agriculture. This training is a big part of fulfilling our vision of "building a just and equitable food system." 

 

Individuals interested in applying should be excited about learning the ins and outs of organic farming. This program focuses on hands-on learning because doing it is the best way to understand farming! Remember that farm work can be challenging and tiring, and you will work in various weather conditions.

 

We are dedicated to teaching people the reasons behind and the methods of the different techniques used on our farm. We will provide this education during hands-on farm work and weekly lessons.

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This program is a trade: We trade our knowledge for your labor.

 

Skills & Responsibilities:

• In the field, fellows will work towards mastering technical skills associated with plant propagation in the greenhouse, crop successions and rotations, soil health, harvesting, and post-harvest handling.

• The intensive production of vegetables requires considerable hand labor (weeding, harvesting, trellising, etc.), accompanied by mechanized (tractor) tillage, cultivation, and bed preparation.

• The fieldwork will be very physically demanding and will require that fellows be motivated and have a good attitude, can tolerate working in inclement weather, and be able to lift at least 50 lbs at a time.

• In addition to fieldwork, fellows are actively involved in community outreach by preparing for weekly on-farm CSA pick up.

 

Educational Enrichment:

There is a tremendous amount to be learned in a season at Soul Food Project, where hands-on fieldwork dominates the workday and daily repetition of critically important tasks drives a fellow’s holistic understanding of the farm operation. 

 

To support fieldwork, we use a curriculum from UC Santa Cruz. We begin with issues related to starting the season, such as pruning, mulching, plant propagation, seedling care, and an overview of equipment and safety. As the season progresses, we cover topics including plant and soil health in the field, irrigation, harvest, post-harvest handling, successful produce marketing, comprehensive farm planning, budgeting, and a season review. Fellows will delve into these topics with the coordinator during weekly meetings, group field walks, and recommended reading assignments.

 

Upon completing the farming season, the goal is for each fellow to have the foundational understanding and skill set needed to advance to more complex work in agriculture or food policy elsewhere or to continue at SFP for additional seasons in a more advanced role at the farm.

 

Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong physical and mental work ethic, sense of pace and self-awareness

• Genuine interest in agricultural production, with the intention to continue a career in food or agriculture post-fellowship

• Desire to learn and improve skill set and knowledge base

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Ability and willingness to collaborate and work well with others, including coworkers and the public

• Prior agricultural experience is not required, although any work or study in the field of food or agriculture is a desirable attribute to fellowship applicants

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Schedule:

Monday - off

Tuesday - 10:00 am - 3:30 pm

Wednesday - 9:00 am - 5 pm (1 hr lunch)

Thursday - 9:00 am - 5 pm (1 hr lunch)

Friday - 10:00 am - 3:30 pm

 

We're looking for a Fellow who wants to make a difference in the food system.

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