Company description
Viva Farms is a non-profit (501c-3 and charitable organization), Farm Business Incubator and Training Program established in 2009. We operate 119 acres, two locations in Skagit County, and one in King County, Washington. We lower the barriers for beginning farmers, and create the opportunity for success. Viva Farms has educated over 1,000 farmers (150+ Spanish speakers) in sustainable organic farming. We are currently incubating 29 farm businesses (9 Latino-owned, 44% female-owned) and anticipate having 40 students in our Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture in 2021.
Our mission is to empower aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing bilingual training in holistic organic farming practices, as well as access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing and capital.
Job description
Viva Farms aims to preserve sustainable farming and create a more resilient and just local food system. Viva Farms empowers aspiring and limited-resource farmers by providing training in organic farming, as well as access to all the essential resources needed to run a successful farm.
The Viva Farms King County Student Farm & Farm Incubator is a 10-acre farm and training facility in the Sammamish Valley. At the farm, students attain practical ‘seed-to-sales’ experience and farmers launch new businesses with Viva’s support. Program participants learn to grow annual and perennial crops using sustainable and certified organic methods and learn the skills to grow successful farm businesses. Both farm programs have access to arable land, essential infrastructure, and a suite of equipment and tools for use in small-scale farm production.
The Farm & Education Assistant will assist in the operation of the agricultural campus and training facility including both the 1-acre Student Farm and 9-acre Farm Incubator programs. In addition, the Farm & Education Assistant will execute a variety of education and training objectives while pursuing community relations and fulfilling grant objectives.
Essential Responsibilities:
● General Farm Operations – Sustain and develop farm-site infrastructure, equipment, and tools; restore and enhance farmland soil health and biological diversity; comply with Organic, GAPs, and other certifications; operate heavy equipment, including tractors
● Student Farm Program – Assist with farm production and operations (crop planning; succession planting; weeding and IPM; harvesting and packing; sales and distribution) and integrate education programs’ objectives and activities
● Farm Incubator Program – Assist in establishing and supporting new and existing incubating farm businesses; administer handbook policies and equipment and facility logs; provide on-going, technical assistance and participate in ongoing monthly meetings
● Education Programs o Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture (PSA) – Assist in instructing the 8-month, on-farm, training program in sustainable and certified organic agricultural production, management, and entrepreneurship o Workshops – Develop and implement workshops and associated materials, resources, activities, and evaluations for students and incubator farmers 2 2 o Volunteers – Promote and coordinate year-round volunteer opportunities for community members and K-12, college, and university students and educators o Research, tours, and guest speaking – Facilitate student research, host on-farm tours, and guest speak at workshops, conferences, and other special events
● Outreach and Community Relations – Maintain and develop relationships or partnerships with neighboring, King County, and western Washington farmers and sustainable agriculture and food system organizations, businesses, academic programs, and government agencies; sustain a quality presence through social media and public events
● Assist with collecting data and reporting in line with program evaluation and meeting grant requirements
● Other duties as assigned
Compensation
this position is: salaried, $35,568* - $50,000
Application instructions
This job expired on May 04, 2022
Deadline
March 27, 2022
Attachment
click here to download the attached document.