TITLE: MARKET GARDEN GROWER HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP (FOR MONTEZUMA COUNTY YOUTH AGE 16-18)

STIPEND:   $11.10/hr 

DATES:   June 3rd, 2019 -  July 29th, 2019

TERM:  8  weeks 

REPORTS TO:  Montezuma School to Farm Project

LOCATION:  Cortez Middle School Garden, Cortez, CO 81321

SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION CORPS’ MISSION 

It is the mission of the Southwest Conservation Corps to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: 

Join the Southwest Conservation Corps’ summer high school intern team by working to promoting sustainable community agriculture!

The Montezuma School to Farm Project (MSTFP) unites our local agricultural heritage with our growing future by engaging students at the crossroads of sustainable agriculture, resource conservation, health, and economics through educational experiences in outdoor garden classes, on field trips, and summer farm programs. 

Montezuma School to Farm Interns will be participating in a "seed to market" summer program. The intern will spend time working with SCC FarmCorps around MSTFP Garden sites and spending one on one time learning varieties of vegetable crops, soil and weed management, safe harvest/food handling, and marketing. By allowing interns to grow, maintain, and sell their own market crop, the hope is to show a realistic look into the mysteries of everything it takes to make a living as a food producer.

The intern(s) will learn hands-on skills in seed starting and propagation, soil health, irrigation, weed and pest management, harvesting, safe food handling, farmers market setup, cash handling, and marketing skills. Essential functions and responsibilities include:

Seed starting and propagation

• Choosing your market crop

Bed preparations and planting 

• Preparing and amending soil to plant

Irrigation

• Drip and overhead sprinkler irrigation setup and maintenance

Organic weed and pest management

• Identifying problems and plan of action

Harvesting and safe food handling

• Food safety and good agricultural practices (GAP)

Marketing and sales

• Cortez Farmers Market

The intern will receive training in:

• Farm and tool safety
• From the garden to the farm - field trip with FarmCorps
• Starting seeds indoors
• Soil health and pre-planting preparations
• Drip and overhead irrigation systems
• Weed and pest identification and organic management
• Food safety and storage
• Farmers market cash handling and marketing

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Ability to lift 40 lbs
• Time management
• Openness to learn

The  successful  applicant  must  be  self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period. The applicant must be able to maneuver and operate in a mixture of office and field work. This can include long periods of standing or walking on rough, uneven ground, bending, crouching, and stooping.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Gardening experience
• Previous student of Montezuma School to Farm programming or FarmCorps

REQUIREMENTS: 

Resident of Montezuma County

U.S. Citizenship

• Permanent Resident Card, INS form I-551
• Alien Registration Card, INS form I-551
• A passport indicating that the INS has approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence
• A departure record ( INS 194) indication that the INS has approved it as temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence

APPLY NOW! 

To apply, please submit an updated resume and letter of interest along with the online application. 

Contact Clara at cmoulton@conservationlegacy.org or Teresa teresa@conservationlegacy.org with any questions.

Required Skills Required Experience