The Marion-Polk Food Share Youth Farm is a 6-acre urban farm and educational site that supports youth leadership and equitable food access by engaging young people in growing food for the community. Located in Salem, Oregon on the campus of Chemeketa Community College, our farm engages youth ages 13-18 in a summer farming program and a year round 4-H club. The Youth Farm also offers seasonal internships for aspiring farmers 18 and over who seek experience in organic vegetable production and community farming. The food we grow supplies a free prescription vegetable program for individuals who are seeking to reestablish health and food security for themselves and their households. For more information about the Youth Farm please visit www.mpfsyouthfarm.org.

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | LOCATION: 4320 Winema Place NE, Salem | | | | DATES: June through August, 2020 | | | | HOURS: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM | | | | STIPEND: $1000/month + free veggies | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION

The Organic Farming Internship is a 3-month working experience on an urban vegetable farm designed to give aspiring farmers extensive training in all aspects of organic crop production and community farming. Interns will gain supervised experience in greenhouse and field operations, tractor cultivation, planting techniques, irrigation management, pest and weed control, harvest methods, and distribution systems. Interns will learn alongside farm staff and youth volunteers in the field, the greenhouse, and the packing shed. Interns will interface with the community at our weekly prescription vegetable distributions and through volunteer work days. Finally, interns have the opportunity to develop an independent project on the farm to explore an area of personal interest related to organic farming.

EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the internship, participants will have a demonstrated ability to:

• Plant, tend, and harvest over 40 types of fruit and vegetable crops
• Properly use a wide variety of hand and motorized farm tools, including a small tractor
• Follow succession and rotation plans for organic production
• Monitor and respond to agricultural problems
• Supervise small volunteer crews for efficient and enjoyable work experiences
• Educate customers about the vegetables we grow

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful applicant will have:

• A strong interest in organic farming/gardening and small-scale farm management
• Excellent organization skills and a strong work ethic
• Good customer service skills
• A valid driver's license
• The ability to communicate and work well with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• The ability to perform physical tasks outdoors for extended periods and lift up to 50lbs
• The ability to pass an OSU adult volunteer background check to work with youth
• Passion for the Marion-Polk Food Share's mission, goals, and values

BENEFITS

• Stipend:  $1000 per month, June through August.  This stipend is intended as an approximation of the expenses the volunteer intern incurs during the program.  The stipend is not tied to intern productivity and does not vary with the amount of time spent volunteering.
• Fresh produce grown on the farm.

TO APPLY