2023 AmeriCorps VISTA Shares Production Summer Associate Job Description
 

Start and End Dates

June 5 - August 16, 2023 (Ability to commit to the entire 10-week season with some holiday, weekend, and/or evening work as required. There is occasional flexibility in the schedule with the supervisor's advance approval.)
 

Position Overview

A Feeding Laramie Valley (FLV) Shares Production Summer Associate will serve as a community-based activist and advocate for group and individual efforts to promote local food security and equity in Albany County, Wyoming. The Shares Production Summer Associate will assist in all aspects of work at the farm and gardens, including planting, weeding, watering and harvesting, and various maintenance tasks as needed. Additionally, members will have the opportunity to partake in the weekly distribution of grown, purchased, and donated produce to individuals experiencing food insecurity and will have diverse opportunities to participate in community engagement during farmer's markets, assistance with overall organizational operations and  Feeding Laramie Valley events.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Be able to work independently but also as part of a team - a lot of tasks such as planting, harvesting and overall garden maintenance will be a team effort or done in pairs, but some projects will be done on your own once training is complete and you are familiar with the tasks.

• Food Production: all aspects of production including but not limited to soil preparation and management, seedling propagation, hoop-house growing and maintenance, hand watering and drip irrigation monitoring, trellising and pruning, pest and plant stress management, harvest, washing and post harvest tasks for Shares Distribution.

• Assist with record-keeping of garden processes for future reference. Record keeping will include, but not be limited to, watering, yields, and pests.

• Expected to use care and consideration with the Feeding Laramie Valley Farm equipment, vehicles, and tools, including performing routine clean-throughs, returning all items to their proper homes, and keeping a tidy workspace, greenhouse, shed, and garden area.

• Keep detailed field notes, perform weekly walk-throughs as a whole team with the Shares Production and Distribution Director and assistant manager.

• Work with volunteers on tasks such as weeding, watering and pruning.

• Have the ability to safely lift 50 pounds and work in all weather conditions.

• Participate in the planning and execution of FLV-sponsored events such as Food and Fun in the Park.

• Assist in setting up and staffing the FLV booth at the Laramie Farmers Market on a rotating basis with team members and other FLV staff on Friday afternoons from mid-July through August. Market tasks include: 

  • Participate in educating the public on Feeding Laramie Valley's Shares program and food production sites.

  • Enlisting Farmers Market vendors to donate food at the end of the market.

 

Food Distribution
As occasionally needed, assist FLV Food Distribution team with planning and implementing the weekly distribution of grown, purchased, and donated produce to individuals experiencing food insecurity and participate in various public FLV events.

 

Scheduling
FLV Shares Summer Associate Hours:
June 5 - June 16: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (includes a 1-hour lunch break every day).
June 17- August 16: 4-day work week, daily schedule varies (includes a 1-hour lunch break every day)
Schedule may vary during FLV summer events - advance notice given for all schedule changes
.
 

Additional Requirements 

All FLV staff, interns, and volunteers are subject to background checks. In addition, a copy of a current driver's license record will be required to drive on behalf of FLV. At this time, we continue to track COVID-19 activity and adjust prevention and management practices as is advisable to help promote the health and safety of our community.

 

Contact information for 2 individuals familiar with the applicant's general work skills and experience  must be provided with the application. A resume may also be included but is not required. 

 

Application

Essay and interview required, resumes are optional, 2 references are required. Applicants are asked to write a narrative of interest in the position, including experiences with community and other gardening work; and/or other experiences with social justice projects. In this narrative, please describe why this position interests you, what relevant experience you may have, and why you would be a good fit for FLV. In addition, applicants may wish to include a statement on how you view this experience, enhancing your personal and professional goals. Gardening or farm/ranch experience is encouraged and valued but by no means necessary; this would be an excellent opportunity for an aspiring or beginning gardener or someone passionate, hardworking, and willing to try something challenging yet rewarding! Online application is found here. Alternative application methods are detailed below.

 

Compensation


• Living allowance for 10 weeks ($675 paid bi-weekly).

• Segal Education Award with Completion of Service, approximately $1,311

(Note: the Segal Education Award can be used for tuition as well as qualifying student loans.)

- or - End of Service Award/Cash stipend approximately $345.

• Weekly FLV Shares produce bag.

• Free made-from-scratch lunch Monday through Friday beginning June 12.

• Use of personal garden plot is available for the season, seeds and tool use included.

• Free participation in any summer Higher Ground Community Learning class.
 

For More Information and to Apply 
Apply online here. Alternatively you may email a completed, printed copy of the application, your narrative of interest and contact information for 2 references to the Food Production and Distribution Director, Sarah Gray, shares@feedinglaramievalley.org (please use the email subject line: 2023 VISTA Summer Associate – Shares Production). You may mail your complete application package to Sarah Gray, Feeding Laramie Valley, P.O. Box 536, Laramie, WY 82073, or drop it off at 968 N. 9th Street, Laramie, M-F, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

A resume may also be included but is not required.

Application Deadline

Applications will be reviewed and interviews will be set up on a rolling basis. The application deadline is Friday, March 24, 2023, for consideration for the 2023 AmeriCorps VISTA Shares Production Summer Associate - Feeding Laramie Valley.