Baxter Community Center USDA Neighborhood Garden Program Internship

This is a paid position for the summer, from February to July. Specific start and end date to be arranged by intern and staff. There is one position available at approximately 10-15 hours a week for 24 weeks of work the position will receive a stipend of $2,000.

This posting is for an internship position assisting the Greenhouse Program Coordinator with theNeighborhood Garden Program for the summer of 2016. Baxter is hoping to hire one stipend intern for the position. Baxter is one of five sites that are a part of a five year USDA study on Food Access in Michigan (FAIM). Grand Valley State University is partnered with Baxter to study the effects of gardening on family health and well-being. As a part of our program neighbors living in Baxter can receive, at no cost, a 4X8 foot raised bed garden in their back yard as well as seedlings, soil testing, garden mentoring and access to all of our classes and events. The role of the intern will be to assist with the implementation of this program.

About Baxter:

Baxter Community Center has been fulfilling its mission as a Christian Response to Human Needs since 1969 through four main pillars of programming--our Nationally Accredited Child Development Center serves children birth-12 yrs, the MiziziMaji Mentoring Program serves students 8-18yrs, the Wholistic Health Clinic offers medical, dental, WIC, prayer, and counseling for families, and the Marketplace provides emergency food and clothing, free tax preparation, senior programming, budgeting classes, gardening, canning, and cooking classes, and seedling distribution from our on-site greenhouse.

In 2006, the Kent County Health Department identified the Baxter neighborhood as a food desert, and we had begun to notice a rising trend in malnutrition and related chronic diseases through our health clinic. In response, Baxter began fundraising for an on-site greenhouse, which was completed in the fall of 2011.The greenhouse hosts two branches of programming--In the Garden and Around the Table. Around the Table offers cooking, nutrition, and food preservation activities to youth and adults with a focus on encouraging fresh, local foods and family meal time. In the Garden offers gardening classes, community events, and seedling distribution to youth and adults. In the Garden also encompasses the Neighborhood Garden Program which is open to all Baxter residents interested in starting a garden in their backyard.

Compensation

There is one position available at approximately 10-15 hours a week for 24 weeks of work the position will receive a stipend of $2,000.

Apply

This year's application deadline has passed.

Applications are due by Friday January 29, 2016.

Major Responsibilities:

 

Assist with the development and implementation of the Neighborhood Garden Program; including recruiting new gardeners for the program, organizing garden workshops, organizing the building of 20-30 raised beds in gardener’s backyard, following up with gardeners and their garden mentors, and participating in related activities as a representative of Baxter and knowledgeable grower. Additional tasks may include collection and analysis of program data, working on collaborations with other garden initiatives in the community, program development and communications work.   

 

Desired skills and experience:

 

• Intermediate growing knowledge (preferable experience in both home vegetable gardens and greenhouses)
• Ability to work independently.
• Highly organized
• Creative thinking and problem solving
• Enthusiasm for community gardening efforts

 

Interest or familiarity in the following areas:

 

• Community outreach in diverse neighborhoods
• Familiarity with healthy eating and cooking with fresh seasonal produce
• Interest in local, seasonal, and sustainable agriculture
• Interest in hands on, learner-driven education
• Interest in supporting community spirit and environmental awareness

Questions / contact

• Email: ajohnson@baxtercommunitycenter.org