Community Gardens Intern

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW 

Food Well Alliance (FWA) is a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build thriving community gardens and urban farms across metro Atlanta. Our mission is to provide resources and support to local growers to connect and build healthier communities. Our vision is for an equitable, local food ecosystem in which everyone can participate and benefit.

In 2015, Jim Kennedy, chair of Cox Enterprises, and Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, had an idea to build healthier communities across metro Atlanta by connecting and supporting members of our local food movement. FWA exists to bring this vision to life. Today, we support more than 120 community gardens and 35 urban farms in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties.

Since 2015, FWA has engaged thousands of people annually around the issues of local food and has provided more than $4 million in direct resources to nearly 200 farms, gardens and local food organizations across our 5-county service area. We have turned farmers into entrepreneurs, community gardeners into vocal neighborhood leaders, and citizens into champions for healthy soil.

Food Well Alliance accomplishes its work through two primary program areas:

• Resource Center - We provide centralized resources to build a supportive ecosystem for thriving community gardens and urban farms. We accomplish this work through 5 areas of support: Knowledge (e.g. trainings and workshops), Volunteer and Labor Support, Compost, Tools & Equipment, and Capacity Building Grants (for urban farms, community gardens, and community food organizations).

• Policy & Advocacy - We bring local government leaders together with community and local food leaders to develop plans that bring urban agriculture into city planning processes similar to a housing or transportation plan. We accomplish this work primarily through our City Agriculture Planning, in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission. We are currently focused on implementing the region’s first ever City Agriculture Plan in the City of East Point and taking steps to launch the next metro Atlanta city to participate in City Agriculture Planning. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

Food Well Alliance is seeking a Community Gardens Intern for the summer of 2022 to support our organization's community garden programs. The Community Gardens Intern, reporting to the Community Gardens Manager, will immerse themself in the local food and urban agriculture movement and play a key role in volunteer coordination and harvesting.

Projects include:

• Park Pride Community Gardens Partnership

• Community Orchard Project

He/she/they will also learn diverse food production techniques and distribution models, become acquainted with the operating structure of small nonprofits, and develop data collection skills. Ideal candidates for this role should be hands-on, self-directed, and a good team player.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Harvest and distribute fresh, nutritious food to people in need

• Learn and apply safe field food handling techniques

• Wash, pack, and weigh harvest

• Distribute through partner agencies and farmers markets

• Support our collaborative work with Park Pride Community Gardens

• Become familiar with participating community gardens and garden leadership

• Assist with annual survey and garden needs assessments

• Work with Park Pride staff to coordinate database updates

• Assist with workshops, open houses and other community engagement efforts

• Function as Community Garden Volunteer Team Leader

• Perform administrative functions of volunteer administrator

• Instruct and lead volunteer teams at urban garden sites

• Promote proficient communication amongst the team/volunteers

• Support the Community Orchard Project

• Site visits to 2022 orchard installations, including light maintenance

• Research and collect data on legacy orchards planted over the past ten years

• Assist with educational workshops as assigned

REQUIREMENTS

• Availability for the 2022 summer; preferred time frame is June 1 - July 31, with optional extension

• Ability to work 35-40 hours per week with availability Mon-Fri, with some exceptions

• Ability to work indoors and outdoors, as assigned

• Appropriate dress which includes business casual in the office and at events & casual, protective and weather-appropriate clothes in the garden

• Reliable transportation to work; public transportation in Atlanta is challenging but available

COMPENSATION

This position offers a $300 per week living stipend, paid bi-weekly with an optional mileage reimbursement.

DIVERSE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Food Well Alliance is a community that is proud to represent different racial, socio-economic, gender, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders in the local food movement and our city.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email your letter of interest and resume to fred@foodwellalliance.org to the attention of Fred Conrad, Community Gardens Manager, by February 21st, 2022 at 5 pm. Include “CG Intern_Last Name” in the email subject line.