Who We Are

Youth. Food. Community. Three important issues that intersect in one place: The Food Project. Here, we believe that food is a unique vehicle for creating personal and social change. Nothing else ties us so intimately to each other and the planet we share, affecting our health, the climate, culture, and poverty and privilege around the globe. If we — young and old from all walks of life — can unite to change the food system, we can change the world. From our urban and suburban farms to our community education programs, we aim to do just that by bringing together youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build local and sustainable food systems.

Since 1991, The Food Project has built a national model of engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. Each year, we work with more than 120 teenagers and nearly 2,000 volunteers to farm on 70 acres in eastern Massachusetts in the towns and cities of Wenham, Lincoln, Boston, and Lynn. We consider our hallmark to be our focus on identifying and transforming a new generation of leaders by placing teens in unusually responsible roles, with deeply meaningful work. In addition, we help others grow their own food and provide training resources based on all we have learned.

 

What We Seek 

We seek an individual to support the Root Crew.  The Assistant Crew Supervisor will support the crew as a group and their work on Saturdays in North Shore, in partnership with the Crew Supervisor, Peer Leaders, and individual youth.  

 

Root Crew’s primary responsibilities include performing skilled, rigorous tasks on the farms, and partner with TFP’s neighbors in Lynn to design and execute projects to build the food system that residents imagine for those neighborhoods. They will also take on big projects on our farms (major harvests, plantings, closing & opening).  Root Crew will be working with the Deputy Director, Regional Director and Root Crew Supervisors to align the vision and work of Root Crew with the overall mission and vision of The Food Project and respective Lynn Grows priorities.  New work may be emergent as we go through this process throughout the year.  

 

Responsibilities

• Partner with Crew Supervisor & Peer Leader to plan, prepare for, and support Saturday group sessions with the youth crew that align with the crew’s primary responsibilities, learning objectives, and goals.  
• Regularly provide staff support for youth crew members in the planning and implementation of community events, participation in conferences and/or learning exchanges
• Foster a culture of trust, respect, accountability, and growth among crew members.
• Provide mentorship for youth to achieve their individual, interpersonal and group goals, and give youth regular feedback through Real Talk and other mechanisms.  

 

Location & Schedule

• Availability 8/8:30 AM to 4/4:30 PM on most of the twenty-seven (27) Saturdays in North Shore that Root Crew is scheduled to work between September 24th to May 20th 2023.  There will be several unpaid Saturdays off for the whole crew, including supervisors, during that time.  Dates available upon request.  
• One afternoon/week to meet with Crew Supervisor and Peer Leaders.  Other times TBD to debrief, coordinate, and prepare with staff.
• Typical week will be approximately 10 hours/week.

 

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated skills in youth development, including creating safe space and responding effectively to the non-programmatic issues youth bring up in the course of their work.
• Capacity to uphold standards set by the community, and ability to motivate a group of young people while fostering their potential.
• Strong interest in working with youth as partners and supporting youth-led aspects of the work.
• Excellent organizational skills, dependability, flexibility, and capacity to manage time effectively both independently and on group projects. 
• Experience participating or assisting in discussions or training about oppression, power, and equity, as well as in working with diverse groups of people.
• Some familiarity with food systems and food access issues.
• CPR and First Aid certified or willingness to be trained.
• Ability to perform demanding physical labor.
• Valid driver’s license and able to drive a 15 passenger van/pickup truck in the city.

 

Compensation 

$17/hour without benefits

 

Recruitment Process

Please send resume and cover letter via email to: jobs@thefoodproject.org. In the subject line, write your name and the position for which you are applying, eg: “Jordan Smith – Assistant Crew Supervisor.”

 

We will review all submissions, identify viable candidates, and contact ONLY those individuals selected to continue in the search process. The position will be filled when the desired candidate is found. 

The Food Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to creating an inclusive organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for this position. 

Who We Are
Youth. Food. Community. Three important issues that intersect in one place: The Food Project. Here, we believe that food is a unique vehicle for creating personal and social change. Nothing else ties us so intimately to each other and the planet we share, affecting our health, the climate, culture, and poverty and privilege around the globe. If we — young and old from all walks of life — can unite to change the food system, we can change the world. From our urban and suburban farms to our community education programs, we aim to do just that by bringing together youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build local and sustainable food systems.

Since 1991, The Food Project has built a national model of engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. Each year, we work with more than 120 teenagers and nearly 2,000 volunteers to farm on 70 acres in eastern Massachusetts in the towns and cities of Wenham, Lincoln, Boston, and Lynn. We consider our hallmark to be our focus on identifying and transforming a new generation of leaders by placing teens in unusually responsible roles, with deeply meaningful work. In addition, we help others grow their own food and provide training resources based on all we have learned.

What We Seek

The Food Project is seeking four Agriculture Fellows to work on our farms for the 2022 season.  Our Boston position has been filled, so are we are seeking individuals who are able to access our Wenham and Lincoln farms.   The Agriculture Fellows will partner with the Farm Manager and Grower’s Assistants to learn all aspects of production at our farm sites. The farms are intensively managed to produce over 200,000 pounds of produce each year, and the Agriculture Fellows will assist with completing farm tasks (planting, harvesting, weeding, etc.) and supporting youth during summer programming. This position is a mix of production, community, and youth engagement. 

 

Core Responsibility: 

Farm Work

• Partner with the Grower’s Assistant(s) and Farm Manager to learn and accomplish all manner of farm tasks, with quality and efficiency, including composting, bed preparation, mulching, planting, cultivation, and harvest–all by hand, and site maintenance.
• Partner with the Grower’s Assistant(s) and Farm Manager to learn about, implement, and troubleshoot new farm practices. 

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Youth Engagement

• Seed Crew:  Partner with the Grower’s Assistant(s) and Farm Manager to lead farm work with youth in The Food Project’s Seed Crew, an intensive six-week summer job for teenagers.
• Root Crew:  During July and August, partner with the Grower’s Assistant(s), Farm Manager, and Root Crew, our more experienced youth, to harvest, wash, and complete more advanced farm tasks.

 

Organizational Health 

• Participate in weekly 1:1 supervisory and Ag team meetings 
• Feedback Participation: Real Talk, circle process, etc.  

 

Qualifications

This position is ideal for an individual who is interested in both sustainable agriculture and youth engagement. It is well-suited for someone who is ready to be part of an agriculture team. Our farms are run in partnership with youth and community members, therefore a candidate must have a passion for teaching and leading others, particularly young people.

 

 Experience working in diverse settings are strongly preferred. 

• Able to perform labor-intensive agricultural tasks 
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and energy for engaging with other people 
• Dependable, responsible, flexible, and open to learning 
• Ability to work a 40-hour schedule: Monday – Friday with a 1-hour break for lunch
• 18+ years of age 
• Enthusiasm for working with teenagers
• Team-oriented with a good sense of humor; able to work independently.
• CPR and First Aid certified or willingness to be trained

• Able to pass a CORI/SORI background check

 

Location & Schedule

This is a seasonal 40-hour week position Monday- Friday in Lincoln, or Wenham MA.  Employment will run from May 2nd- September 9th, 2022.

 

Compensation 

The rate of pay is $16.00 per hour for a total of 35 paid hours per week.

 

Application Process

Please send resume and cover letter via email to:  jobs@thefoodproject.org. In the subject line, write your name and the position for which you are applying with the region, e.g.: “Jordan Smith – Agriculture Fellow Wenham.” 

 

We will review all submissions, identify viable candidates, and contact ONLY those individuals selected to continue in the application process (phone screening, interview with staff, interview with youth).  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

The Food Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to creating an inclusive organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for this position.