Urban Farm Apprenticeship

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Urban Farm Apprenticeship at New Haven Farms in Connecticut – 2019

About New Haven Farms

New Haven Farms’ nonprofit charitable mission is to promote health and community development through urban agriculture. We transform vacant, contaminated urban land into vibrant and productive organic farms. Our farm manager, garden captains, youth crew, and volunteer corps cultivate 7 urban farms, and our harvest is made accessible to low-income families who struggle with diet-related chronic diseases and food insecurity. Farm members receive produce baskets combined with farm education, cooking demonstrations, and nutrition education on a weekly basis. We also run a weekly farm stand in the Fairhaven neighborhood. For more information about New Haven Farms, visit newhavenfarms.org.

Urban Farm Apprenticeship Position Summary and Responsibilities

The Farm is really the heart of our organization—our farm is the home base to our programming and at the core of all our work. Our urban farms produce nutrient-dense, organically-grown vegetables, last year yielding 16,000 lbs of produce from a little more than an acre of land. As our Urban Farm Apprentice, you will work with our experienced farm manager and teen crew, to plant, cultivate, water and harvest the produce that gets distributed to the community. Skills gained in this internship will focus on agricultural production, though the intern will be involved with aspects of our teen crew, farm stand, and community-based programs. This is a wonderful opportunity to get your hands dirty, learn about urban organic vegetable production on reclaimed land, work directly within the New Haven community and enjoy the satisfaction of being outside and growing healthy food!

The Urban Farm Apprenticeship is 20-30 hours per week from May- October (6 months),with hours are tapered at either end of the season. This may be shortened to a 5-month apprenticeship (flexible start or end) to accommodate the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Desire to learn all aspects of small scale organic vegetable production in an urban setting
• Able to communicate effectively and connect with people from a variety of backgrounds (cultural, economic, linguistic)
• Dedicated to the mission of New Haven Farms, which is to “Promote Health and Community Development through Urban Agriculture”
• Familiar with/culturally and linguistically reflect the New Haven community in which they will be working
• Ability to lift 40lbs
• Desire to work outside in all conditions (heat, rain, cold, poor air quality), sometimes engaging in repetitive tasks
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work as part of a team with a teen crew
• Inquisitive/ proactive in asking questions to find solutions to obstacles
• Reliable transportation (personal car, bike, bus, etc.)
• Flexibility to adapt to the frequently changing daily tasks as a part of a dynamic and exciting community-based farm project

Preferred

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• Ability to drive manual transmission (or interest in learning) and valid driver’s license

Compensation:

The Urban Farm Apprenticeship is a paid position with a stipend of $1,000/month (before taxes). We can also work with individuals to secure additional funding from another source, such as a their college if they are an enrolled student. Housing is not provided. There are no employment benefits associated with this position, though produce will be plentiful and available for the apprentice to bring home. Workers compensation insurance is fully covered by New Haven Farms. The part-time employee is not entitled to any paid holidays. Mileage reimbursement at $0.54 per mile incurred on personal vehicle.

Our Hiring Process & Timeline:

To apply for the Urban Farm Apprenticeship, please email cover letter and resume to Haley Goldblatt at haley@newhavenfarms.org.

• We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.
• We will begin initial screening/phone calls to applicants in February.
• Finalists will be invited to an in-person interview at one of our farm sites and may include some practical tasks..
• We would like to have the selected candidate start as early as May 1st, and no later than June 1st.

 

• Learn more about farming and food jobs and internships, or learn how to post a job, internship, or apprenticeship opportunity on beginningfarmers.org by going to https://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/