AmeriCorps Member Farming Intern for Rio Grande Community Farm

 Albuquerque, NM

General Description - The Farming Intern must be at least 18 years old and a legal resident. Members will serve under the direct supervision of the Chief Farmer and Farm Manager.  The location is a sustainable farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The farming intern will complete field and greenhouse tasks necessary for the production of agricultural crops. This position will perform field and labor tasks associated with preparing field areas for crops, starting plants in the greenhouse, planting out starts, tending crops, harvesting and arranging for delivery of crops. The position may involve tractor work and does involve use of hand tools and walk behind tractor equipment. Job may involve computer work. The work is difficult physical labor in the outdoors.

Specific Duties:

• Planting starts in early spring for plant out in the fields
• Maintaining, pruning, and fertilizing starts to maximize growth and health
• Detailed record keeping of all activity for organic certification purposes
• Preparation of field areas using hand tools and walking behind tractor equipment
• Working in close communication with Farmer to coordinate tractor/hand cultivation
• Implementing season extension activity such as hoop houses and row covers
• Utilizing disease and pest prevention techniques
• Harvesting of crops
• Storing and packaging of crops for delivery
• Following all National Organic Plan (NOP) and New Mexico Organic Commodities Commission (NMOCC) organic standards
• Irrigating using all systems available: flood; well, gravity and City water drip systems
• Repairing and maintaining irrigation ditches
• Hand weeding in fields and garden beds using weed whacker and hand tools
• Stacking hay bales and organizing barn area including moving fence posts, wire, lumber, etc          

Experience is not necessary but a willingness to work hard and learn new skills is.  All positions are for 1 year, with a possible 2^nd year.  The interview process includes background check and may include a field work evaluation. 

Compensation:

AmeriCorps members will receive a living allowance of $465 bi-weekly. Service hours for spring and summer are 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  At the successful completion of the year of service (1700 hours), the AmeriCorps member will receive a $5,600 educational credit that can be used to pay for schooling in the future or be used to pay off past educational debt. In addition, members will receive a health insurance package at no cost to the member.

More Information:

For more information about AmeriCorps service, visit: www.americorps.gov.  Start date for the CLASSIC positions is 9/1/2011 and ends 8/31/2012.   VISTA positions may be available 6/1/2011. For more information about Rio Grande Community Farm, visit: www.riograndefarm.org. For further information contact Minor Morgan at: 379-1640. If interested in applying, send a cover letter and resume via email to: minormorgan@northvalleyorganics.com. Please indicate if you are interested in the VISTA program that starts 6/1/2011.