Farm-to-School Coordinator – AmeriCorps

Last Updated On: May 6th, 2024 at 12:11PM MST

Contact information
Farm Address:
115 2nd St
Newport, Vermont, 05855

Primary Contact: Elyse Perambo
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 8023342044
    Email: jobs@gmfts.org

Website: http://gmfts.org/get-involved/americorps

Internship information
General Farm Description: Are you interested in gardening, working with kids, and supporting local food systems through farm-based education? The AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator position at Green Mountain Farm-to-School could be the perfect fit for you! This is an excellent opportunity for you to launch your career and engage in community service while experiencing Northern Vermont's unique beauty and culture. Who we are: Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is a nonprofit organization promoting the health and well-being of Vermont's children, farms, and communities by providing programs to connect schools and farms through food and education. GMFTS serves the school communities in the Northeast Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont with school gardens, educational programming, and fresh local farm foods.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 8/19/2024
Internship Ends: 8/1/2025
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: 5/31/2024
Minimum Length of Stay: 1 year

Internship Details:

Position Description

This position is part of the Lyndon Economic opportunity AmeriCorps Program (LEAP). LEAP is a national service program that places AmeriCorps members with nonprofit organizations throughout Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom to support those organizations in expanding their services that many communities rely on. LEAP supports their members in their path to educational and career attainment through direct service, on-going trainings, and professional development opportunities offered during the service year. This position is dependent upon LEAP federal funding. 

The primary responsibilities of the AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator will be to develop, grow, present, and evaluate GMFTS Farm-to-School Programs. This is a full-time year-long AmeriCorps position. The Farm-to-School Coordinator reports to the Farm-to-School Program Manager. The position starts August 19, 2024 and ends August 1, 2025 for a 1,700 hour term of service.

To Apply: Submit a resume, cover letter, and three references to jobs@gmfts.org by May 31st, 2024.

The AmeriCorps Farm-to-School Coordinator will:

  • Develop and maintain relationships with GMFTS partners
  • Serve as the primary contact for 3-5 schools
  • Create lesson plans for programming and maintain educational materials
  • Conduct Harvest of the Month taste tests by cooking with students and serving at lunch
  • Facilitate and lead farm field trips of various types
  • Deliver in-class workshops to K-8 students on food and agriculture topics
  • Plant, maintain, and harvest school gardens
  • Use database to collect, analyze, and report data for program evaluation
  • Photo document activities and download in a timely manner
  • Run after-school programs at schools
  • Create educational newsletters showcasing programming at schools and taste test results
  • Serve as an independent member of a team of coordinators
  • Work closely with staff, parents, food service directors, and farmers
  • Plan, organize, and attend community and organizational events, like Harvest Festivals
  • Recruit and train community volunteers
  • Design outreach and publicity materials 
  • Communicate organization’s mission through social media (Facebook, Instagram)

Educational Opportunities: Professional Development trainings and hours are part of the position

Skills Desired: Qualifications -US citizenship -Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience -Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation -Knowledge of local food systems and sustainable agriculture -Some teaching (formal or non-formal) experience -Strong interest in working with children -Some knowledge of gardening and vegetable production -Excellent public speaking, writing skills, and organizational skills -Strong interpersonal skills -Comfort working in a kitchen (home or commercial) desirable but not required -Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly growing non-profit environment -Offer contingent upon results from National Service Criminal History Check

Meals: No-Snap benefits

Stipend: AmeriCorps Members who complete their 1700 hour term of service in a full-time position will receive: -A biweekly stipend totaling approximately $25,500 for the year -Mileage reimbursement -Health insurance, if not covered under another policy -Child care, if necessary -Student loan forbearance -A $7,395 Education Award for past or future education (subject to adjustment based on funding) -Subsidized housing -Auto scholarship -Career mentoring, professional development, and strong work experience -Eligible for monthly SNAP benefits

Housing: Subsidized Housing

Preferred method of Contact: email

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