Farm Ed/Volunteer Coordinator – Sola Gratia Farm

Last Updated On: January 16th, 2024 at 11:13AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
2200 S Philo Rd
Urbana, Illinois, 61802

Primary Contact: Traci Barkley
Secondary Contact: John Williams

Primary Phone:
    Type: Office
    Number: (217) 367-1189
    Email: solagratiacsa@gmail.com

Secondary Phone
    Type: Cell
    Number: 2623705405
    Email: solagratiafarmmanager@gmail.com

    Email: solagratiafarmmanager@gmail.com

Website: https://www.solagratiacsa.com/

Internship information

General Farm Description: Sola Gratia Farm is unique in many ways. We are a community mission-based farm started by St. Matthew Lutheran Church, dedicated to producing locally-grown, high-quality produce following organic practices. The farm is committed to helping those who lack adequate food resources by donating at least ten percent of our product to support regional hunger programs, such as Eastern Illinois Foodbank and Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. We grow a wide range of produce to support our 200 member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, two farmers markets and several retail and wholesale clients. We operate a robust volunteer program and have many established and active community partnerships. The Farm promotes healthy lifestyles and community building through volunteering and service, special events and outreach and education programs. More information at www.solagratiacsa.com

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: March 2024
Internship Ends: Ongoing
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Minimum Length of Stay: 1 Season

Internship Details:

NOW HIRING: Farm Educator/Volunteer Coordinator

 

Location: Urbana, Illinois

Start date: Mid-March

Season: Year-round with fewer hours late fall through early spring.  The hours of this position will be variable but both weekday and weekend availability is essential 

Hourly wage:  The starting wage is $16 per hour, with 20-30 hours a week available. The right candidate may be able to work additional hours at an increased wage with strong work performance and desire to take on more responsibility. Along with financial compensation, crew has access to fresh produce throughout the season.

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

We seek a joint Farm Educator and Volunteer Coordinator for our not-for-profit community vegetable farm.

 

Volunteer Coordinator (approximately 10-15 hours per week)

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for recruiting, training, directing, and managing volunteers who assist with production of vegetables and development of the educational spaces at Sola Gratia Farm. Volunteer activities may include seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting, cleaning, and sorting vegetables, as well as providing general landscape maintenance. Previous growing and volunteer coordination experience is preferred. The Volunteer Coordinator will also be a part of the team designing and developing the educational site and resources, with an eye towards expanded volunteer involvement.

 

Essential Responsibilities:

• Train, direct, and engage volunteers in the maintenance and care of farm plantings and spaces;
• Lead volunteer orientations and workdays;
• Work closely with Farm Manager to determine tasks needing to be completed by volunteers on a daily, weekly, and seasonal basis;
• Manage online volunteer signups and database;
• Participate in community events and collaborate with farm communications personnel to recruit new volunteers;
• Participate in staff meetings to maintain connection with on-farm activities and messaging;
• Participate in education team meetings and in planning for further development of educational farm.

Farm Educator (approximately 10-15 hours per week)

The Farm Educator is responsible for providing community-based agricultural education programming, including tours, workshops, classes, and other events, at Sola Gratia Farm. This position will work to advance the farm’s goal of “building a community of cooperation and care” by creating and implementing programming that supports everyone in the Champaign-Urbana community and beyond in gaining knowledge and skills to source, grow, and prepare fresh, healthy, local foods, especially on a budget. Programming will primarily be based out of SGF’s educational farm, but could also occur on SGF’s production site or off of farm property. In collaboration with the Director and Outreach/Education Coordinator, the Farm Educator will organize events, develop new programs, and help to create a welcoming educational space for a wide range of Urbana-Champaign community members and agritourists to visit.

 

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead agricultural education events such as farm tours, workshops, field trips, tastings, etc. for youth through adults at Sola Gratia Farm’s educational farm;
• Research, develop, acquire materials for, and implement new events and programs;
• In collaboration with Director and O/E Coordinator, develop an annual educational plan and schedule for Sola Gratia Farm;
• Participate in education team meetings and in planning for further development of educational farm, including developing signage and layout, with an eye towards improved access and educational value;
• Participate in staff meetings to maintain connection with on-farm activities and messaging.

 

Minimum qualifications/skills:

• Demonstrate working knowledge of sciences (biology, chemistry, ecology, plant science, etc), from relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience;
• Comfortable engaging with and educating visitors and volunteers of a variety of backgrounds, ages, skill levels, knowledge base;
• Be a respectful and responsible public-facing representative of the farm;
• Able to communicate clearly in a engaging and instructive manner with visitors;
• Ability to be organized and flexible in response to changing conditions and apply good decision-making skills;
• Able to regularly lift 20-30 lbs;
• Able to work outdoors in varied conditions and on feet for hours at a time.  

 

SOLA GRATIA FARM:

Sola Gratia Farm is unique in many ways.  We are a community mission-based farm started by St. Matthew Lutheran Church, dedicated to producing locally-grown, high-quality produce following organic practices.  The farm is committed to helping those who lack adequate food resources by donating at least ten percent of our product to support regional hunger programs, such as Eastern Illinois Foodbank and Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. We grow a wide range of produce to support our 200 member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, two farmers markets and several retail and wholesale clients.  We operate a robust volunteer program and have many established and active community partnerships.  The Farm promotes healthy lifestyles and community building through volunteering and service, special events and outreach and education programs.  More information at www.solagratiacsa.com

Send cover letter and resume to Traci Barkley, Sola Gratia Farm, 2200 Philo Rd., Urbana, IL 61802 or to solagratiacsa@gmail.com.  Early applications encouraged. Scheduled interviews will begin February 1, 2024.

Educational Opportunities: This is not an internship, as we do not have a set educational component. That said, we will make every effort to thoroughly answer any production-related questions and share any educational resources that we have access to.

Skills Desired: See Job Listing

Meals: No

Stipend: This is a paid position at $16/hour

Housing: No

Preferred method of Contact: E-mail