Urban Farm Courses, Eat at the new Chipotle to Support Young Farmers, and Volunteers Wanted for Stream Cleanup
Christian M
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Summer crops are blooming! We have cucumbers and tomatoes ripe, as well as kale that's still staying alive in this heat, beet greens, turnips, lettuce, chard, and more. Be sure to find us at the Riverdale Market from 3-7pm on Thursdays and Crossroads Farmers Market from 230-630pm on Wednesdays. We also have our food at Eatonville Restaurant and the Takoma Park Food Coop this week.We just harvested some honey!!! Come to market to get some before its all sold out. We got around 60 jars that are 8 oz from our hives. We also split the 2 hives to make 4, so much more honey to come in the next harvest.We've begun to experiment with composting so more, too. We have started trials of Bokashi, which is a anaerobic form of composting that is easy to setup and maintain when we have too much compostables to throw in our windrows. And we're upgrading our worm bins to be self-sifting. Come check it out!Finally, we'll be engaging in some oyster mushroom cultivation. We plan to start them in the next week and it takes only 3-4 weeks before you'll see them at our farm stand!
ECO City farms has partnered with the Anacostia Watershed Society to clean the two conduits that border the farm by removing all trash and debris from this area. The event scheduled for Saturday, June 11th from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Boots and gloves will be supplied however, it is recommended volunteers bring their own sunscreen and bottled water.
Any questions or concerns feel free to contact me via email (cmil...@gmail.com) or phone (240-277-7267).
ECO City Farms has partnered with Prince George’s Community College to offer the region’s first Certificate in Commercial Urban Agriculture.
Courses offered at ECO City Farms Edmonston farm are listed below. More information about ECO City Farms is online at www.ecociyfarms.org. For more details about the courses and to register, see the PGCC Summer 2011 Schedule of Noncredit Classes, available at local libraries and community centers, or online at www.pgcc.edu (click on Owl Link, then click on Workforce Development and Cont. Ed. Students, then click on Register Cont. Ed. Courses).
AGR-301 Urban Agriculture: The New Frontier
This course helps develop a shared understanding of the main types and dimensions of urban agriculture, its potential impacts, the constraints and opportunities facing it, the stakeholders involved in it, the historical contexts shaping it, and the local, regional, and international development trends bearing on it. Sustainable energy applications relevant to urban agriculture will also be explored. (1 session—$25)
Syn# 36792 M 5/23–5/23 6–8 p.m.
Syn# 36747 M 7/25–7/25 6–8 p.m.
AGR-320 Composting for Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Landscaping
An introduction to community composting, including a walk-through of the composting process, compost “recipes,” how to build and load a compost bin, and how to incorporate worms into your compost system (vermicompost) for a value-added product. (2 sessions—$70 + $20 materials fee)
Syn# 36282 M 6/6–6/13 6–9 p.m.
Syn# 36744 M 8/1–8/8 6–9 p.m.
AGR-330 High Tunnel Construction and Use
Learn the basics of high tunnel (also know as hoop house) construction and use. The course instructions on bending metal and building hoops, squaring off corners and placing corner posts, building end walls and covering the tunnel with plastic. Also explore special considerations when growing in high tunnels, such as water, ventilation, and soil. (2 sessions—$70 + $20 materials fee)
Syn# 36283 M 6/20–6/27 6–9 p.m.
Syn# 36746 M 8/22–8/29 6–9 p.m.
Application Deadline: June 26th, 2011
About EE/OKE:
Oke USA Fruit Company, a 100% Fair Trade banana importing company, is a
subsidiary of Equal Exchange, a worker owned cooperative fairly trading coffee,
tea and chocolate for over 25 years. Oke USA was founded in 2006 as an
alternative trading organization importing organic fair trade bananas directly
from small farmer cooperatives in Ecuador and Peru for the US market. Our
customers are mostly natural food stores and food cooperatives from the Mid
Atlantic to the NE as well as Minneapolis/St Paul. We are a small team looking
to offer a different banana with a social conscience and small farmer story to
the American consumer.
Duties/Responsibilities of marketing intern
• Assist Oke with all aspect of marketing and education
• Manage social media in collaboration with Equal Exchange
marketing/social media staff
• Assist with the creation of a monthly newsletter
• Compile and create marketing materials from materials collected during
past banana producer visits for educational and PR purposes
• Help organize events and demos
• Assist with web updates
• Research and present international banana market and industry reports
• Other various tasks.
• Intern will have the ability to think creatively and contribute
marketing ideas and projects to the team that, if approved, could become a
future project/campaign.
Desired Skills/Experience:
• Creative, skilled, passionate, entrepreneurial, enthusiastic,
independent candidate
• Excellent verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Experience with marketing tools preferred (such as Adobe photo shop,
video editing, online marketing services)
• Proficiency in social media
• Background in marketing, communications, international food systems,
food policy and/or agriculture highly desired
• Ability to be flexible and work with a fun, outgoing small team
• Spanish skill a plus
• Transportation to West Bridgewater
Time commitment/duration of internship:
Preferred 3 month Summer/Fall position depending on availability.
Part time, unpaid position with flexible hours
What you will gain:
• Experience and knowledge working with an international trade
organization working to change our food system through trade.
• Understanding and experience working with an alternative small
business.
• Marketing, event planning, organizational skills.
• Great resume experience for anyone in the field / study of
environmental science, nutrition, dietetics, food policy, agriculture, food
systems, marketing, communications, business, organic studies, international
trade, international business.
How to apply:
Send resume and cover letter to in...@okeusa.com by June 26th 2011
Overview
Sustainable Food Center (SFC) cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. Sustainable Food Center is hiring three (3) individuals through the Americorps*VISTA program of the Corporation for National and Community Service to organize school-based wellness teams that will plan and implement comprehensive health programming. SFC’s Sprouting Healthy Kids project is a farm-to-school and food-systems education initiative that includes incorporation of locally grown fresh foods into school cafeterias, plus in-class and after-school gardening and cooking educational activities. Marathon Kids is a free six-month endurance building running/walking and nutrition program for K-5th public, private and home-schooled children and their families. We are looking for a dynamic, bilingual, relational individual to organize community members in schools and neighborhoods for a Sustainable Food Center/Marathon Kids partnership project. Monthly living allowance and end-of-service stipend or education award provided through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Position Description
The VISTA will work through underserved middle and elementary schools in Austin to develop, support, and facilitate school wellness teams consisting of parents, teachers, and community leaders. VISTA will lead the teams in the planning, implementation, and leadership development phases of a comprehensive school and community-based nutrition program, with a focus on local food systems efforts such as local food in cafeterias, community and school gardening, healthy cooking classes, and the Marathon Kids physical activity program. Candidate must be fluent in Spanish and pass a written and oral fluency interview.
Primary Functions
· Identify and meet with potential leaders from among school stakeholders (current district and school program leaders, teachers, parents, neighbors, other community organizations) to identify those who will lead the nutrition/fitness program that includes elements of Marathon Kids and Sustainable Food Center’s Cultivating Healthy Communities initiative.
· Organize planning and training sessions with wellness teams on healthy food efforts, local food systems projects and physical activity programs.
· Connect wellness teams with SFC resources and other community resources to provide support and monitoring for school and neighborhood programming activities.
· Assist in the development and delivery of both formal and informal team leadership development training for wellness team members.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have an ability to relate to and connect with individuals and groups within the communities in which the work will be done. Candidate must be fluent in both English and Spanish, and must be able to commit to the Americorps*VISTA terms of service. The ideal candidate will have extensive community organizing skills and experience, a familiarity with school settings, and knowledge of farm-to-school, community gardening, and healthy cooking. Bachelors degree preferred, but appropriate experience may be substituted. Applicants must be able to inspire school, neighborhood, and parent stakeholders to commit to building a program that addresses the fitness and nutrition needs of the community.
Compensation
Sustainable Food Center is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), one-year position. Members of AmeriCorps*VISTA are eligible for a: living allowance of $11,232 per year, health insurance, childcare assistance, student loan deferment, and, upon completion of the program, a choice of a $4,725 education award or a $1,200 cash stipend.
Application Instructions
To apply, send by email a cover letter, resume, three references, and Spanish and English writing samples (1 page each) to Andrew W. Smiley, Projects Director, and...@sustainablefoodcenter.org. Interested applicants MUST also apply through AmeriCorps athttps://my.americorps.gov/.
Resumes accepted until July 05, 2011. Position begins approximately August 20, 2011.
Additional organization info: www.MarathonKids.org and www.sustainablefoodcenter.org
AmeriCorps*VISTA info:http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp
