This is a position for a highly motivated leader with outstanding fundraising and communication skills. The duties of the position are demanding and varied, and the ability to manage multiple projects to completion is critical. Big-picture thinking and attention to detail are equally important, as are qualities of diplomacy and professionalism.

Primary responsibilities of the position are:
• Facilitate SGP funds development initiatives, including grants, direct solicitations and events
• Oversee finances and ensure compliance with legal and contractual responsibilities
• Support and supervise staff members to ensure program goals and objectives are met
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Board of Directors
• Interact with SGP member schools
• Collaborate effectively with project partners and pursue new collaborative partnerships
• Conduct outreach and represent the organization at community events and to the media

Compensation: This is a 30-40 hour per week position with a starting salary range of $25,920-$39,520 with some health benefits available.

For a full job announcement including desired qualifications and application instructions visit:
http://schoolgardenproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/ED-Job-Announcement-Feb-2012.pdf

Please do not reply to this message on the OFSSGN listserve.

Megan Kemple
Executive Director
School Garden Project of Lane County
execdirector.sgp@gmail.com
541-284-1001 office
541-225-8807 cell

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.

See website for details and application: http://www.jewishfarmschool.org/farm-apprenticeship/

Interviews begin after January 16th.

Apprenticeship runs April 16, 2012 to October 15, 2012.

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.

As we move into the New Year, we are excited to announce that pieces of the Agricultural Reclamation Act are going to Salem in the form of HB 2222, the Friends of Family Farmers Act of 2011.

MEAT and POULTRY:

1000 Limit Exemption for Poultry: This would align state statute with federal statute that exempts poultry producers who grow and slaughter 1000 birds or less from USDA or State Inspection. This would make lawful the sales of un-inspected poultry if the producer raises, slaughters and sells less than 1000 birds per calendar year.

MILK and DAIRY:

Expand the three cow/nine goat limit for raw milk producers who are willing to participate in a fee-based licensing program for facilities that process and distribute unpasteurized milk: Modeled after the State of Washington’s raw milk rules, this would allow for producers with more than three producing cows or nine producing goats to sell raw milk for human consumption legally if they have a milk producers and milk bottler’s license. This would not eliminate the three-cow/nine goat exemption for producers of raw milk who want to continue selling without expanding the herd. If operating under the exemption, producers would not require licenses.

NEW and YOUNG FARMERS/ FARM and LAND VIABILITY:

Allows property owners to earn farm deferment benefits if owner makes sufficient farming-related investments in the property: Currently, farmers are required to demonstrate they are making income from the farm for three consecutive years before there can be a change in the designation of land being used for agricultural purposes. This can be very costly for young or beginning farmers attempting to get a toehold with their agricultural business. If it can be well documented and demonstrated that there is concerted effort being made to build an agricultural enterprise from the land, a change in land use designation could take place in less than three year’s time.

ODA SUPPORT, CLARITY and COOPERATION:

Requires that two agricultural commodity producers serving on the State Board of Agriculture be persons engaged in marketing their products primarily for consumption within the state: Until there is true representation from small to mid-size farmers and ranchers who are growing food for their communities on the Board of Agriculture, there will be no change in the kind of support provided to this constituency by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Read more…

Progress on Other Fronts

In addition to the legislative priorities outlined in HB 2222, we have been working other angles to accomplish some of the priority action items.  There are also a few other bills we will be keeping our eye on this session as they support our mission and are outlined in the Agricultural Reclamation Act.

ISSUE: NEW and YOUNG FARMERS

• Oregon Farm to School and School Gardens: this bill will support the reimbursement of school meal programs for purchase of Oregon products and creates school gardens and a food-based grants program.
• The State Bank Initiative: this would provide low-interest loans for people who are not able to access capital through traditional lending sources.
• We continue to assist in partnership and transition options through our iFarm Oregon database and land connection program.
• We are working with Rogue Farm Corps and Rogue Community College to create an accredited program for on-farm internships that would provide a model for the state and be seen as safe and legitimate in the eyes of the Bureau of Labor and Industries.
• We have signed on as collaborators with Plots to Plates in Central Oregon as they work to establish a farm school and sustainable agriculture vocational program.
• FoFF is also working on the Southern Oregon Farmer Incubator Project with Thrive!, OSU Small Farms Program, and the Rogue Farm Corps in order to develop a comprehensive, three-year farm business incubator project for the Rogue Valley that can also serve as a model for the rest of the state.

ISSUE: ODA SUPPORT, CLARITY and COOPERATION:

• In October, Laura Masterson of 47th Avenue Farm in Portland was appointed to theOregon State Board of Agriculture.  Nearly 30 farmers and ranchers from across the state took time to apply for this position, resulting in more interest and applications than they have ever seen.
• The ODA now has a “Resources and Info for New or Small Farms” web page up to assist new and small farms.
• They have also designated two specialists who are dedicated to helping small or new producers and processors with food safety issues.  Read more…

Adelante Mujeres looking for an Organic Farming intern who will help lead production of the demonstration plot at La Esperanza Farm, a certified organic educational farm run by Adelante Mujeres. Adelante Agricultura provides resource-limited, aspiring Latino immigrant farmers and farm workers with the training and skills necessary to farm using organic methods and to successfully market their products. Intern will help lead organic vegetable production of the Demonstration Plot (a plot of about 40ft by 80ft in size) at La Esperanza Farm. The purpose of the Demo Plot is to serve as an educational resource for La Esperanza Farmers of intensive farming methods and the production of lesser-known yet highly marketable vegetable varieties.

Intern Qualifications:

• Commitment to the mission of Adelante Mujeres and to organic agriculture.

• Minimum of one year of experience in gardening and/or farming (preferably organic).

• Highly self-motivated and willingness to work outside in all types of weather.

• Creativity and interest in experimenting with intensive organic farming techniques.

• Ability to coordinate and supervise other volunteers in their work on the Demo Plot.

• Reliable transportation to and from La Esperanza Farm in Forest Grove.

• Preferred Qualification: Spanish-speaking ability and experience working with Latino families (not required).

Commitment: A minimum of 10 hours per week from March 2012 to November or December 2012. Work schedule is flexible; all work is performed outdoors.

Intern Responsibilities:

1. Work with the Adelante Mujeres Sustainable Farming and Conservation Educator AmeriCorps volunteer to refine the farm plan for the Demo Plot.

2. Take the lead on production of the Demo Plot. This work will include starting seeds in the greenhouse, preparing soil for planting, transplanting and direct seeding of vegetables, weeding and other maintenance, harvesting and produce washing, among other tasks.

3. Coordinate and supervise other volunteers in their work on the Demo Plot.

4. Maintain records as required for organic certification (these include planting and harvesting records and soil amendment logs).

Benefits to Intern: No monetary compensation will be provided by Adelante Mujeres for this internship but there are a variety of other benefits. The intern will gain valuable hands-on experience in Organic farming and will be able to design and implement intensive agricultural techniques (such as companion planting, trellising, succession planting, etc.). The intern will be able to take home a significant amount of produce for his/her own use.

To Apply: Please send a cover letter and your resume to Karin Pfeiffer-Hoyt at kpfeifferhoyt@adelantemujeres.org. Position is open until filled; please apply early for best consideration.

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.

• Recruiting for ongoing and upcoming International assistance programs.
• Identify and develop a research project for an Oregon industry sector.
• Assist with agency’s education & outreach for export development.
• Assist with marketing of state and WUSATA programs to Oregon industry.
• Assist with activity development to address industry sector barriers to export.
• Assist activity management of ongoing export development activities.
• Coordinate the writing and transmission of export trade leads to industry.
• Assist the Division with updating our exporters database, contact lists and Internet listings.
• Cataloging digital images and other media related to International marketing efforts.

Office Location:

Food Innovation Center
1207 NW Naito Pkwy. Suite 104
Portland, OR 97209

Qualifications: Must be a student, or within six months of graduation, Must be a U.S. citizen or have a visa that permits the individual to work.

Experience Desired:

• Experience working in an office setting
• Business and Marketing coursework/experience
• International Experience
• Grant Administration
• Food and Agriculture
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Sales experience
• Communications, web, digital and social media experience/coursework

*Those with strong interest in developing above skill sets may also be considered

Compensation:  $10-12 per hour
Schedule: 15-20 hours per week (with some flexibility for more hours)
Duration: Minimum of 4-6 months, ideally, looking for a commitment through the end of 2012

Please submit a cover letter and r?sum? by February 3, 2012 to:

Amanda Welker, International Trade Manager
Oregon Department of Agriculture
awelker@oda.state.or.us

Interviews will be scheduled the second week of February.

WUSATA prohibits discrimination in its program on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the WUSATA Executive Director at (360) 693-3373.

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.

The Community Manager will help build and foster a growing online community around Cooking Up a Story, an internet-based television show and blog about food and sustainable living. We will be launching a new YouTube channel in April called Food Farmer Earth, and principle responsibilities will focus on the promotion of this new channel to attract viewers. The ideal candidate will possess a strong interest in food, agriculture, and environmental issues with demonstrated effective use of social media skills.

Key responsibilities include:

1.  Develop an active community on the new Food Farmer Earth YouTube channel.

2. Through the use of social media, increase audience and community involvement around the CUPS content on multiple interrelated sites.

3. Write brief descriptions for short-form video content that will be published weekly.

4. Curate related video content using built-in YouTube publishing tools on a scheduled basis, and on related sites.

5. Provide weekly detailed written reports of current social media outreach efforts and results, and short written status updates throughout each week.

Required Qualifications:

—Strong social media skills using standard tools such as Facebook, twitter, Google+, and others.

—self-starter, well organized, with excellent time management skills who enjoys working on their own, and possesses a strong work ethic.

—solid communication skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively in written form.

—Genuine interest not only in the food and sustainability arena, but also an enjoyment, and interest in short and long form video content for acquiring new information.

—College Degree in one of the following, or related fields: Journalism; Communications; or Agriculture.

—Dependable, and ready access to internet broadband service.

—Must be available for work, Monday-Friday (excluding unpaid holidays) 4 hours per day.

Salary Compensation: $15-$17 per hour; DOE.  This is a part-time position, approximately 20 hours per week.

Please send a one-page cover letter (and resume) outlining your key qualifications, and why you feel you would be an excellent candidate to fill this position to: fred@cookingupastory.com

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.

Garden Manager duties include:

· Design and plan garden layout.

· Coordinate donations and purchases of supplies and plant starts.

· Develop and supervise garden work plan: including planting, watering and harvesting schedule.

· Recruit and work with community volunteers at the garden on a weekly basis.

· Coordinate additional group volunteer work parties and events during the growing season.

· Maintain irrigation system, garden tools and equipment.

· Track volunteer hours.

· Track produce donations.

· Coordinate deliveries with Stone Soup, South Corvallis Food Bank and other agencies.

· Supervise garden assistants and interns.

· Develop and teach adult garden education programs.

· Participate in budgeting for SAGE garden programs.

· Assist in grant writing and reporting.

· Develop and administer program evaluations.

· Participate in staff meetings.

· Plan community and fundraising events at the SAGE garden.

· Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Extensive large scale organic gardening and/or farming experience

· Experience working with volunteers

· Experience working with children

· Able to work independently and as part of a team

· Ability to lift 40 lbs and work outdoors in variable climatic conditions

· Familiarity with MS Office computer programs

This is a year-round, part-time position with the opportunity to expand.  Hours are flexible and seasonal; work on some evenings and Saturdays is required.  Pay is $13-$15/hour, DOE.  The position is opened until filled.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter addressed to Edible Corvallis Initiative Director.

Submissions may be made by email to: jen@corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.

Description:

Our goal is to provide our customers with vibrant, local, organically- grown produce at a fair price. At Simington Gardens we work to provide healthy and nutritious food to the community.  Sustainability is at the heart of our growing, harvesting, caring for the land, and consumer choices as farmers. Our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program allows for us to share the fresh and healthy food while providing opportunities to engage with the community, share ideas and practices that represent good stewardship of the land, and to celebrate the earth’s bounty.

At Simington Gardens we are proud of our commitment in reaching out to all corners of the community through farm stands, civic participation, and volunteer opportunities. We value education and the hands-on learning that is offered in farming and growing food. We work with a wide age range of students and other volunteer groups from the Portland metropolitan area that are interested in the work being done. There have been multiple volunteer days hosted at the farm to encourage the greater community to learn about where there food comes from and the processes involved.

Simington Gardens is heading into its sixth full season as a market farm in the northern Willamette valley of Oregon. We are positioned miles from Portland, Yamhill county and wine country, and are amongst the farming landscape that makes Oregon unique and vibrant. This past year we obtained our Oregon Tilth Organic Certification, along with successfully running a 35 person CSA, delivering fresh packaged lettuce and vegetables to New Seasons, a local grocery store in the area, and providing local fresh ingredients to local restaurants. Out plan is to increase our production area two fold this upcoming season with the intention of increasing our CSA memberships, salad and vegetable production, all while continuing to branch out to our greater community with partnerships and educational programming.

We are actively seeking two full time farmers to assist in our production and assembly, 50 hours a week from May until October. We are looking for folks that are dedicated to learning about their local food systems through growing food and working hard. Team work, willingness to learn, adaptability, customer service, a strong work ethic, and belief in sustainable practices are prerequisites to the success of our operation.

For more information visit: www.simingtongardens.com

Responsibilities and Skills Necessary

• Strong physical labor skills (e.g. squat, sit, stand, bend, lift, walk, carry)

• Working knowledge of organic gardening methods

• Demonstrated ability to both follow and give directions, seek assistance

• Ability to work early morning hours, evening hours and weekends; in all weather conditions

• Ability to work well with others while maintaining the tasks given

• Ability to work with community partners and engage in educational programming and community outreach when appropriate.

• Good attitude

Interested applicants send resume and cover letter to: info@simingtongardens.com

Compensation: DOE.

Friends of Family Farmers posts employment information exactly as we receive it.  We cannot certify that any of the information provided is true.