Organization Overview
The Rio Grande Farm Park’s mission is to create and sustain a vibrant place where people come to learn, play, and grow. The Farm Park maintains 15 arable acres for disadvantaged farmers to grow food regeneratively, while the whole 40 acres provides youth and community education, robust volunteer programs, and a public park and orchard. The populations served are everyone, with particular focus on families in Alamosa and populations that seek farming opportunities but lack access to land, water, and capital.
Service Description
The Rio Grande Farm Park seeks a curious, hard-working Farm Assistant AmeriCorps volunteer to support activities on a 38 acre community farm in Alamosa, Colorado. The Farm Assistant AmeriCorps Volunteer will assist with land-based work, lead volunteer programs, and have opportunities to hone in on projects and programs based on their interests. This person will learn the ins-and-outs of growing produce in an arid climate, from water management to soil health. This person will also become a leader for volunteer projects, integrating community groups and students into meaningful and creative projects. This person will work closely with the Farm Manager and Director to practice regenerative agriculture and create a vibrant community space.
AmeriCorps Member Primary Responsibilities
- Lead monthly Saturday volunteer workdays, including helping identify projects, planning and promoting events, and recording volunteer data.
- Assist with irrigation, including flood irrigation, drip line maintenance, and ditch maintenance.
- Assist with vegetable production, from seeding to weeding to harvesting.
- Assist RGFP farming program participants as appropriate.
- Assist with animals (in the event we have animals), which may include chickens or goats.
- Assist with the weekly Mercadillo during the growing season including planning, vendor orientation, site management, and data collection.
- Assist with land health activities such as cover cropping, tree care, and noxious weed control.
- Assist with landscaping projects in community areas.
- Assist with growing produce and general maintenance in the greenhouse.
- Work with each RGFP Farmer’s Cooperative grower for 1 day/month to learn different growing techniques, provide feedback, and encourage educational exchange between growers.
- Help integrate meaningful and creative volunteer opportunities into needed tasks at the Farm Park, and work with community groups to plan events and accomplish these tasks.
- As needed, create social media and newsletter content
- According to interests and skills, consider the needs of Farm Park and offer creative solutions to problems.
- Participate with the weekly Mercadillo farmers’ market during the growing season – helping to set up the RGFP information booth, utilize a Point of Sale system to exchange SNAP and Credit Cards for market vouchers.
Location and Service Conditions:
This position is based at Rio Grande Farm Park and will involve service at San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition Office at 412 State Ave, Alamosa, CO 81101. Position will involve frequent days of service outdoors.
Qualifications:
- Agricultural experience preferred but not required. Experience working in the manual labor and/or service industry is a plus.
- Ability to safely lift 40-50 pounds and work bent over for extended periods of time in any type of weather.
- Ability to work efficiently with teammates and independently.
- Attention to detail and willingness to focus and learn.
- Positive attitude is key, and the ability to maintain calm with frustrated program participants is necessary.
- Priority given to bilingual English/Spanish speakers. Those who are not bilingual will need to be able to comfortably work alongside monolingual Spanish speakers.
