Farm to Table Garden Program Internship – Kinderhook, NY

Organization: The Sylvia Center at Katchkie Farm

Position Title: Farm to Table Garden Program Intern

Location: Kinderhook, NY

Hours & Compensation: The number of days and hours per week will vary over the course of the season. May and October will be 5 days/week at 40 hours/week. June and September will be 5-6 days/week at 50-55 hours/weeks. July and August will be 6 days/week at 55 hours/week.  Monthly stipend of $1600 and eggs and healthy portions of farm produce provided.

Position Dates: May 6, 2013 – October 15, 2013

Application Deadline: None posted.

Posted On: February 19, 2013.

Organization Overview:

The Sylvia Center was founded in 2006 by Liz Neumark, C.E.O. of the catering company Great Performances, in memory of her daughter, Sylvia. Since then the center has served thousands of children. Approximately 90% of those we work with qualify for free or reduced lunch at school. With the support of foundations, grants, and private partners, The Sylvia Center has worked with over fifty schools, community centers, and other family service organizations and is currently expanding its presence in public housing.

Our classes take place year round at community centers throughout New York City. In these six-week programs, children are exposed to a wide variety of fresh food and cooking skills, including chopping, kneading, mixing, whisking, sautéing and roasting. The Sylvia Center’s curriculum advances the knowledge and skills necessary to make smart food choices for oneself and ones family: familiarity with a wide variety of seasonal produce and its sources, the ability to recognize the components of a healthy meal, and the techniques required to execute simple recipes.

May through October, we bring children to our own Katchkie Farm in Kinderhook, New York. Here they plant seeds, pull weeds, and harvest vegetables that they cook into a meal enjoyed while looking out over the farm and fields. They meet the farmer and learn about the work that goes into growing food. In many cases, it is their first experience outside of an urban environment.

Now more than ever, The Sylvia Center is an essential force for helping young people to establish lifelong positive eating habits, which will affect their well-being, productivity, and overall health. All of The Sylvia Center’s programs carry an important social component, as students work together as a group to share a sit-down meal. Equipped with new skills and knowledge, The Sylvia Center’s students enjoy healthier choices out in the world.

Description:

The Sylvia Center at Katchkie Farm is offering a 6-month internship for our Farm to Table Garden Program for the 2013 growing season. Working in collaboration with the Education Director and Farm-Based Culinary Instructor, the Farm to Table Garden Program Intern will learn to develop, prepare for, and eventually act as the lead instructor for the garden component of our farm to table educational programs. This individual will come to hold a leadership role in the management of the half-acre Children’s Garden, manage the care of animal on the farm, assist in leading volunteers in the field, help with the culinary portion of the program as needed, help conduct special on and off farm events and programs, and provide general operational and administrative support to the non-profit. Educational opportunity topics include: farm to table education for children, small scale organic gardening, basic culinary techniques and meal creation, and building community around food. The Farm to Table Garden Program Intern will work directly with, and be supervised by, the Education Director.

Qualification:

• Two full seasons of experience working on a small farm or an intensively managed vegetable garden
• Degree or work experience in education, agriculture, natural sciences, environmental studies, horticulture, outdoor recreation or other related field.
• Strong interest in the farm-to-table movement, children’s health issues, and participating in culinary work.
• Experience working with children, ideally in an outdoor setting
• A strong and cooperative work ethic and communication skills, a good sense of humor, and the desire to work as part of a close-knit team.
• Positive attitude, ambitious, motivated, organized, patient, flexible, conscientious, and responsible.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently on assigned projects.
• Ability to rise to the occasion with a positive attitude when unexpected tasks need to be completed.
• Desire to be involved in all aspects of a small non-profit organization.
• Current CPR and First-Aid Certification, driver’s license, and ability to operate a commercial van.