Company description The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) is a nonprofit 501c3 organization whose mission is to teach young people personal responsibility through meaningful work that connects us to the land, community, and each other. Our campus is 400 acres of forest and historic farmland in Vermont’s Winooski River Valley.  We actively farm 40-60 acres of crop and pasture. We grow vegetables on 5-7 acres, raise 1000 pastured meat birds, steward a small laying flock for eggs, and custom graze a herd of Jersey heifers and dry cows for a partnering organic dairy.   Job description

A residential experience in food, farm, and leadership  

About the Project:

We grow food for the Health Care Share, a project originally created in 2012 by VYCC in partnership with Central Vermont Medical Center to provide a weekly supply of farm fresh produce and poultry to families in need.

Today the HCS is a unique public health CSA serving more than 400 families at 4 major medical centers across the state. Health care providers identify patient and employee families who are unable to afford or access fresh, nutritious food. Families enrolled in the HCS receive a weekly allotment of fresh produce, information on food storage and preparation, and increased access to nutritional counseling. The VYCC puts youth to work growing, harvesting and packing weekly shares while providing job skills training through this paid employment opportunity.

About the Crew:

The Leadership Development Crew is a team of 4 young adult Corps Members and 1 Crew Leader, ages 21-24. LDC participates in all aspects of production and distribution at The Farm at VYCC, including:

• Greenhouse management
• Field preparation
• Harvest, wash and pack of vegetables
• Livestock management of chickens, pigs and cows
• Farmers’ market and other retail sales and events

The crew will also complete work exchanges and gleaning projects at partnering farms across the state.

In addition to technical skills and professional development in agriculture, LDC Members study   leadership theory and style as part of their VYCC experience. They practice and refine their own leadership skills every day, whether through experiential opportunities like guiding volunteer groups, or during facilitated writing and discussion groups. Leadership Development is a serious endeavor, and this experience challenges individuals to engage in discovery and personal growth.

All LDC positions are paid and residential. Housing, facility-use and food provided at VYCC’s main campus in Richmond, VT. Off campus projects will include 1-3 days of camping.

The LDC season is 19 weeks long, June 6^th – October 14^th with 3 weeks of vacation.

The VYCC is a dynamic organization, and the Farm is a place for self-motivated, passionate individuals interested in hard work, creativity, and continuous learning. Those considering LDC will be prepared to make this job their primary focus.

Compensation this position is : stipend / non-monetary compensation Application instructions Deadlineno deadline