About Fresh Roots
Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society grows resilient, engaging, education-based food systems accessible to Vancouver’s diverse communities.  Our neighbourhood market gardens are designed as commercially productive agriculture fields that serve two main functions: educational opportunities and food production.  Produce from our neighbourhood market gardens is distributed through our Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program, sold to local school cafeterias, and our new neighbourhood market stands.  Our fields are used as outdoor, hands-on learning classrooms; engaging school communities and residents of Vancouver in addressing food sovereignty, community health, and vocational skills development.

Position Description

Fresh Roots operates as a non-profit society.  Interns of Fresh Roots this year will have the opportunity to experience peri-urban farming as well as deepen urban farming knowledge and learn to utilize urban farms as spaces that grow community relations and outdoor learning classrooms.  As a youth-run and youth-lead organization, interns will participate in the growth of a small community-engaged urban farming operation.

Specific Tasks/Learning Outcomes

§  Market Farming Skills

§  Seed starting and propagation

§  Greenhouse and field production

§  Pest and disease management

§  Fertility management

§  Irrigation installation and maintenance

§  Harvesting and post-harvest processing

§  Proper tool selection, use, and maintenance

§  Compost and worm compost management

Farm infrastructure construction and maintenance

Community Farming and Engagement

§  Participate in community events by leading volunteer teams

§  Attend CSA pick-up and neighbourhood market stand sales

§  Farming at a Schoolyard Market Garden site, the first of its kind in Canada, representing Fresh Roots and connecting with school and neighbourhood community daily.

Food System Literacy

§  Explore the current agricultural system through lectures, events, and farm connections

§  Attend Food Policy council meetings

§  Connect to local food system participants

Preferred Skills

·      Good communication skills: ability to represent Fresh Roots to the public, and work with people from diverse backgrounds

·      Able to withstand hard, physical labour

·      Engaged team player, sense of humor, flexibility and patience an asset

·      Ability to take direction and complete tasks

·      Familiarity with and commitment to the vision and mission of Fresh Roots an asset

·      Familiarity with local and organic agricultural production practices and concerns is an asset

·      Must pass be able to pass a criminal record check

·      First Aid and Food Safe certificates are an asset

·      Self-motivated and able to work alone

Position Details:

·      Estimated Start Date: late March 2013

·      March – October 2013: Part-time, 12-24 hours a week

Working as farmers, we have a 7:00am start most days. Particularly during the height of the harvest season.

How to Apply

E-mail a cover letter and resume clearly detailing your experiences and reasons why you are excited to pursue an urban farm internship program this season to info@freshroots.ca

·      Attach to the email a single PDF document that contains your cover letter and resume. Ensure your name is included in the file name.

·      Ensure your e-mail subject line clearly refers to the position title for which you are applying.

·      Include a copy of the cover letter in the body of your application email.

·      Applications must be received no later March 5, 2013.

·      Interviews will take place the second week of March. We regret that due to the high volume of applicants only those selected for interviews will be contacted.