RGCF is excited to announce our 2010 Internship program. This program is open to young and old alike- students interested in sustainable farming, recent college grads, retirees and anyone interested in getting a hands-on experience in organic farming. The program runs from May 15, 2010 thru August 28, 2010. Requirements to participate in the program include:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must volunteer 30-35 hours per week at the farm
- Must work at least 9 of the 15 weeks
- Must submit a letter of interest and resume
- A willingness to perform physical work in hot weather
RGCF cannot offer any cash stipend, however housing will be provided for those that need it. Vegetables from the farm will also be available to interns. An 8 hour training will be provided that includes: Safety Training, Farm Orientation and “Rules of the Row”. Internship will include farm tours of at least 3 other area farms and an appreciation B-B-Q hosted by the RGCF Board of Directors.
Job Description- Farming Intern update date: 4/1/2010
General Description- the Farming Intern works under direct supervision of the Chief Farmer and Farm Manager. The farming intern primarily will complete field and greenhouse tasks necessary for the production of agricultural crops at RGCF. This position will perform field and labor tasks associated with preparing field areas for crops, starting plants in the greenhouse, planting out starts, tending crops, harvesting and arranging for delivery of crops. The position may involve tractor work and does involve use of hand tools and walk behind tractor equipment.
Specific duties include:
Greenhouse related
- planting starts in the early spring for plant out in the fields
- maintaining, pruning, fertilizing starts to maximize growth and health
- planting out starts in the fields
- watering all starts
- detailed record keeping of all activity for organic certification purposes
- learning and mastering the climate control system of the greenhouse
- cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining greenhouse to minimize disease/pest pressure
Field related
- preparation of field areas using hand tools and walk behind tractor equipment
- working in close communication with Farmer to coordinate tractor/hand cultivation
- pruning, staking, fertilizing starts planted out
- season extension activity such as hoop houses and row covers
- disease prevention techniques
- pest prevention activities
- harvesting of crops
- storage and packaging of crops for delivery
- following all NOP and NMOCC organic standards
- irrigating using all systems available: flood; well, gravity and City water drip systems
Infrastructure development
- digging trenches for buried pipelines using hand tools and walk behind equipment
- operating irrigation equipment
- maintaining flood irrigation ditches
Community garden
- assist with irrigation
- assist in filling and maintaining stock tanks
- assist in planting, weeding and harvesting crops from member plots
- add compost or other soil amendments to plots as necessary
- operate walk behind machinery, as directed by CGM
- maintain hand tools as needed
- irrigate weekly
- coordinate with Farmer irrigation of plots and maintenance of irrigation system
- operate walk behind tiller, mower and other small machinery
To sign up send a cover letter and your resume to: info@riograndefarm.org. Please put in the subject line: “summer internship”. For further information contact Minor Morgan, Executive Director at (505) 379-1640 or Chris Patchett, Farm Manager at: (505) 980-1693. RGCF is a 501(c)3 non profit and engages in public farming on public land for the public good. Thank you for considering Rio Grande Community Farm!