New Roots Farm Intern

Requisition ID: req47077

Job Title: New Roots Farm Intern

Sector: Food Security

Employment Category: Intern

Employment Type: Part-Time

Location: Phoenix, AZ USA

Work Arrangement: In-person

SCOPE OF WORK: In this role, the intern will assist the program coordinator in managing the two farm sites operated by New Roots Phoenix. This includes a community garden with raised garden beds for individuals, an aquaponics greenhouse as well as flood irrigation and drip tape row farming methods. Tasks will include propagation, production, harvesting and marketing of produce to customers through the farm stand or CSA program. The intern will also support general maintenance of the property, including weeding, watering, picking up trash and site projects. Finally, the intern will support outreach and education of refugee farmers and community members in horticulture/farming and nutrition.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Learn about the aquaponics system and community gardens to actively contribute to the Community Food Hub
• Completing assigned daily checklist responsibilities, including aquaponics system maintenance and site maintenance (including, but not limited to: taking care of fish, cleaning settling tanks, weeding inside greenhouse, keeping greenhouse organized, etc.)
• Contributing to educational programming around farming for clients
• Assisting with group volunteer days
• Performing other general site-related improvement projects
• Communicating regularly with farmers and community gardeners
• Alerting New Roots Staff of any issues that may come up at the garden
• Assisting with growing on the IRC demonstration plot (seeding, watering, weeding, caring for seedlings/transplants, pruning, harvesting, etc.)
• Assisting growers as needed with crop plans, pest management and irrigation
• Developing and completing at least one focused side-project related to farming, aquaponics, gardening, or agricultural practices, as planned and discussed with New Roots staff

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Develop a working knowledge of managing and working an urban farm site
• Planning, propagating, growing, harvesting, and marketing produce
• Planning and executing educational programming for refugee farmers/gardeners
• Build outreach skills with residents as well as many non-English speaking farmers

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ability to obtain an AZ Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• A strong passion for and knowledge of food and farming issues
• Bachelor’s degree or coursework in related field preferred
• Prior experience working in urban agriculture, gardening, or aquaponics preferred
• Prior experience working with refugees, immigrant or pre-literate populations in non-traditional setting preferred
• An understanding that this is a mostly outdoors internship with the majority of the time focused on hands on tasks
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills required
• A flexible schedule and ability to travel to both farm sites regularly
• Ability to lift 30 lbs.

Note: This is an unpaid internship. Intern must commit to at least 10-15 hours per week for a 3-month minimum. Internship hours are completed between Monday and Friday from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM and/or occasional Saturday availability from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

This position reports to the New Roots Development Coordinator

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability