Grumblethorpe Farmer Educator
The Grumblethorpe Farmer Educator is a part-time seasonal role at Grumblethorpe Historic House & Gardens, owned and operated by the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks (PhilaLandmarks).
This role is centered on the Grumblethorpe Youth Farmstand (GYF) program, a Summer youth-employment program for teens in urban agricultural food production and in the operation of an onsite farm stand, serving the Germantown community. As the Farmer Educator, you are responsible for preparing, starting and maintaining vegetable beds for the teen summer job program and benefit of other site programs, including the Grumblethorpe Youth Volunteer (GYV) program, the Grumblethorpe Elementary Education Program (GEEP), and historic site visitors. This seasonal role operates in collaboration with the GYV Mentor & participating youth, Operations Manager & Horticulturalist, Site Managers, and PhilaLandmarks staff. It is concentrated in the summer months of June through August, with a 13 hr/ week schedule, while it operates March through November, with an 8 hr/week schedule. Monthly participation in monthly GYV meetings and project on 2nd Saturdays year round is highly desired but not required.
Responsibilities:
- Plant and maintain Grumblethorpe farm sections with youth farm employees
- Plan farm production for optimum production with youth input and GYV Mentor, considering plants and seeds available from PHS City Harvest and other sources
- Plan and prioritize youth farm activities for youth farm shifts
- Communicate with youth farm employees regarding schedules, absences, and farm needs
- Coordinate harvest, processing, and storage of produce for Saturday Farmstand
- Attend and staff all Saturday Farmstands from 8am-3pm, June through August
- Stay after established youth farm shifts, if needed, to ensure tools and produce are properly stored and areas utilized are completely cleaned
- Help to coordinate produce donations locally for unsold produce
- Aid in fruit crop maintenance when time allows
- Harvest and process bulk herbs with GYV Mentor and youth for teas
- Educate youth employees on farm production, what is growing, and ensure those vending
- are providing accurate information
- Ensure Farmstand vendors are distributing Grumblethorpe program promotional materials
- Participate in PHS City Harvest program requirements, pickups, and annual meeting
- Work with youth in the garden, teaching the planting of seeds, seedlings, thinning, watering, basic plant care, pest control, weeding, harvesting, cleaning and storage for market sale
- Ensure on-farm and farmstand food safety protocols are followed
- Ensure accurate records of the following are kept: pounds of food harvested, number of farmstand patrons, number of patrons receiving reduced price produce through various means, and pounds of food donated
- Help to ensure Grumblethorpe Public Surveys are conducted during Farmstand
- Ensure all youth farmstand employees sign in and out for every shift
- Establish price list for farmstand with youth and GYV Mentor
- Ensure clear display and vending of Farmstand produce for sale vs. Grumblethorpe Merchandise and items as reward for donation fo the GYV program
- Prepare beds for planting in spring
- Perform fall cleanup in Fall
- Report all site, behavioral, and other issues to GYV Mentor, Site Manager, and/or Operations Manager as appropriate
Requirements / Qualifications:
- 2+ years experience in production based vegetable farming
- 2+ years experience leading youth programming and/or teaching experience
- Basic understanding of and ability to instruct use of garden and farm tools
- Knowledge of or ability to learn drip irrigation set-up and maintenance
- Additional experience in horticulture and landscape maintenance appreciated but not required
- June through August: Must be able to work all GYF Program Hours (13 hrs/week)
- Fridays 9am-3pm
- Saturdays 8am-3pm
- (Staff may substitute on 1-2 pre-arranged Saturdays per season)
- March through October: up to 8 hrs/week of farm planning, planting and maintenance
- Flexible schedule, while Fridays are suggested for overlap with other site staff
- Must get along well with and have a drive for mentorship of a diverse group of teens
- Must be comfortable working both independently and in a collaborative environment
- Must be able to regularly lift 50lbs and work in all reasonable weather conditions (temperatures between 40-95 degrees, for example, and light rain)
- Basic computer and phone communication skills: Email, text/call, Word document & Excel
- 2 professional references
- Background check and child abuse clearances
Compensation:
This role starts off at a rate of $20/hour and has an annual budget averaging $7,000 per year.
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