Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Apply to be on the E-Board for RESTORE!

 RESTORE is a low commitment environmental service based organization on campus with deep ties to and supported by the department of environmental science and technology. We welcome all students, regardless of major, and would love to have YOU on our executive board for the next year!! 

RESTORE hosts one main event in the fall, Bags4Bagels, and one main event in the spring, Cotton Candy at MD day. Additionally, we engage with other environmentally minded organizations on campus to host different events and participate in campus clean ups. There is one general body meeting at the beginning of the semester. 

Here is the GOOGLE FORM to apply! 
APPLY BY MONDAY MAY 4TH TO BE CONSIDERED. 

Below you will find a brief description for each of the positions, please email Anushka Tandon at atandon1@terpmail.umd.edu with any questions or concerns! 

President: 
   - Make sure all of the terplink information is updated and we are in good standing with SORC and SGA
   - Lead the initiatives: plan the E-board meeting and General Body Meeting. Make the slides.
   - Spearhead each event and ensure everyone knows what they need to do for a successful event
   - Be the face of RESTORE: email people back through the gmail on behalf of the organization 

Vice President
   - Make sure the president is staying on track and filling their responsibilities. 
   - Remind the president of deadlines and assist as needed and requested.
   - Help ensure clear communication amongst general body members and E-board members.

  Personal Relations (PR)
   - Design the fliers for each event. Do so 2 weeks before so that we can get them approved by the rest of the E-board to print out and put them in the hallway and advertise our events. 
   - Once an event is established and the flier is designed and finalized, send to the rest of eboard. VP or Pres will then send it out to ENST faculty and agnr admin to send out in larger listservs 

Treasurer
    - Maintain the bank account
   - Determine what we can and cannot afford for each event 
   - Ensure people that need to be refunded get refunded
   - Manage the Venmo (tbd)

  Ag Council Rep
   - Attend bi-weekly AG Council meetings and represent RESTORE. Share what our events are with the council and other representatives. Take notes if needed.
   - Communicate AGNR-wide events and logistics to the rest of E-board (ex: tell E-board about the halloween bash and what is expected of us, or opportunities to table, etc) 

Volunteer Coordinator 
   - Assist everyone else on the team as needed. 
   - Take initiative to seek out opportunities for the organization to get involved on and off campus in a meaningful way. report back to the E-board. 

Monday, April 29, 2024

Education Specialist, Food Growing

 About the Organization

It is an exciting time at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as we continue to undertake our mission. We know that creating long-term solutions to food security requires more than meals. It requires education, training, and collaboration. We are seeking people with strong ideas and a passion to come together to address the complex interrelated issues of food security, poverty, and equity. We are expanding in multiple ways: providing food for today and addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that provide critical services like job training programs, health care and education. Food has the power to transform lives and move everyone forward. Find out how on our website at capitalareafoodbank.org. Let us discuss how food is at the center of everyone's healthy life!

Description

The Food Growing Education Specialist maintains, executes, and develops educational programming for the CAFB’s food growing spaces, including its Urban Demonstration Garden. The Urban Demonstration Garden is an on-site, half-acre, hands-on educational space that helps build knowledge around wellness, nutrition, and food growing for the food bank’s partners, clients, and the general public. The garden spaces (indoor and outdoor) and Urban Food Studio are used in tandem to show how to grow food in an urban setting, highlighting low-cost gardening techniques.

The Food Growing Education Specialist is responsible for managing all food-growing activities, including the gardening education curriculum, garden maintenance and planning, the garden volunteer program, and any associated grants. The Specialist serves as the primary organizational representative for food growing internally and externally but has opportunities to contribute more broadly to the food bank as a member of the Nutrition Education Department.

Essential Functions:

Manage and execute all garden maintenance operations of CAFB’s garden spaces (60%):

  • Grow, harvest, distribute fresh produce from the garden through food growing, nutrition education, and CAFB programming
  • Responsible for all day-to-day and seasonal garden and outdoor kitchen operations, planning and schedules- mulching, soil amendments, seed starting, planting crop rotation, weeding, etc.
  • Responsible for all garden expenses and budget tracking, including funding for partner support and utilizing grants
  • Manage food growing and nutrition education interns for garden assistance and program support
  • Implement food waste diversion practices and sustainable gardening, practicing waste reduction through composting and educational programming
  • Direct individual volunteers and volunteer groups efficiently for operational support; lead multiple shifts of volunteers weekly during growing season (April-Nov)
  • Identify and organize day-to-day and seasonal and long-term volunteer opportunities
  • Coordination across CAFB to host staff, volunteers, students, donors, partners, and other groups of interest in garden and outdoor kitchen space

Develop and implement all food growing educational programming and resource support to grow food in an urban setting and expand garden opportunities (40%)

  • Direct and implement all nutrition-based garden education & food preparation field trips for students, K-12 and college level visits
  • Design and provide educational workshops, open to public & targeted for specific groups such a food pantry partners, at CAFB, at partner sites upon request for services, in-person and virtually
  • Program evaluation, tracking, reporting, and research on best practices for nutrition-based garden education in line with CAFB mission
  • Support for partner gardens: consultation visits, education, coordination and distribution of resources such as seeds, seed packets, nutrition education and garden education
  • Identify and support new garden programming opportunities for CAFB, including at the new NOVA site, write project estimates and proposals
  • Collaborate across departments to provide and expand opportunities for garden engagement in line with broader CAFB mission: Volunteers, Operations, CLC, Marketing, Fundraising Development, NOVA, and more
  • Initiate and strengthen professional, beneficial relationships with local gardens, non-profits, clubs, agricultural organizations, schools, contractors and vendors, donors, partner organizations, and groups of interest
  • Participate in local garden and nutrition events on and off site, presenting internally and externally to different groups of interest
  • Assist with performance data review (financial, grant, and activity reports) to monitor and measure productivity, goal progress, and activity levels
  • Data entry (when necessary)
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

  • Associate’s degree in food growing, agriculture or related field.
  • Minimum of three years’ experience growing organic fruits and vegetables or two-year professional experience managing a large urban farm or garden. Including succession planting, pest management and healthy soil management.
  • Experience developing evidenced-based educational programming and education for various populations
  • Experience working with underserved community members with diverse backgrounds as well as school-aged children
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills
  • Experience and competency with various data management systems
  • Mastery of Microsoft Office programs

COMPETENCIES

  • Experience teaching and creating educational materials.
  • Experience and expertise in managing volunteers/volunteer groups and/or interns.
  • Excellent interpersonal communication and leadership skills ability to interact with food assistance organizations, clients, volunteers, and donors of all ages, from all walks of life.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Comfortable speaking in front of groups, including school-aged children.
  • Ability to work independently while also engaging in collaborative, team-based work.
  • Highly adaptable and creative.
  • Excellent time management and organizational skills, ability to prioritize and set boundaries.
  • Physical ability to do heavy outdoor labor in all weather conditions.
  • Experience constructing and maintaining garden facilities, including raised beds and drip irrigation.
  • Working knowledge and experience using power tools including but not limited to power drills, circular saws; competent in basic carpentry skills in order to build, maintain or fix garden features
  • Ability to drive to different sites throughout the DC, Maryland, Virginia regions.
  • Detail-orientated with ability to perform basic data analysis.
  • Project management experience, including budgeting and evaluation, preferred.
  • Bilingual (Spanish), preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Ability to lift/carry 30 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

  • This position’s main office will be the DC office in NE, Washington DC
  • This position requires the ability to work outdoors in all seasons.
  • This position may require occasional Saturday work.
  • Ability to travel to our Lorton VA office and partner sites throughout the DMV

REPORTING:

Senior Nutrition Education Manager

SCHEDULE:

Normal working hours are 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday; Saturdays as needed.

COMPENSATION:

Compensation is $52,700 to $58,500/annually

NOTE:

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

WE OFFER:

Competitive compensation and benefits * free onsite parking and complimentary shuttle to metro * professional development, growth, and volunteer opportunities * fun work in a diverse environment

Paid On-Campus Internship: Urban Ecosystem Ecology Lab

The undergraduate assistant will work with PhD students and the PI in conducting field sampling and lab analysis of plant and soil samples taken from local stormwater green infrastructure. They will learn protocols to determine physical, nutrient, and biological properties and processes that support ecosystem services. The assistant will also work with a suite of automated apparatus for measuring soil hydrologic properties and contribute to the development of laboratory workflows and protocols. The position would include a mix of field sampling and lab analysis and data entry. Previous experience in lab-based soil and ecosystem analyses is a plus but not necessary. The student must show a demonstrated work ethic, attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and stick to a regular work schedule for field sampling.


Pay rate will start at $15/hour with a need for 15-30 hours availability per week – funding is available for this summer, with potential for extension into the fall. Opportunities include learning research protocols and professional development with mentoring from graduate students, post-docs, and Dr. Pavao-Zuckerman. 

 

Applications should be emailed to Dr. Mitch Pavao-Zuckerman mpzucker@umd.edu. The applications should include an updated resume, a brief cover letter that explains your relevant experience and interest for that position and a schedule detailing the general proposed blocks of time (Monday – Friday from 8am to 6pm) that you would be able to work during the summer.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

National Young Farmers Coalition Development Associate

The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) represents, mobilizes, and engages young farmers to ensure their success. Since our founding in 2010, we have grown our grassroots network to over 200,000 individuals and partner organizations. We give young farmers tools to become leaders in their communities, building an effective political voice at the local, state, and national level. Together, we tackle the most critical structural and economic barriers that prevent motivated young people from starting and growing successful farm businesses—including access to affordable farmland, student debt, climate change, healthcare, racial inequities, and more. We have won historic investments in beginning farmer training, outreach to farmers of color, and farmland conservation. Our advocacy for a USDA Farm Service Agency microloan resulted in a loan program in every county that has served more than 30,000 farmers. 


Young Farmers seeks a Development Associate to support the Development team in administering and managing fundraising processes. You will help steward our fundraising operations by maintaining the Development calendar, donation portal, donor database, and project management tools (Classy, Salesforce, and Asana). Your contributions to our direct fundraising will include supporting prospecting research and processes, engaging a portfolio of mid-level donors, and maintaining peer-to-peer campaigns. Finally, you will provide direct support to our team’s fundraising efforts by logging all revenue and ensuring donor data is accurate, compiling organizational data for grant submissions and reports, creating templates, coordinating submissions, monitoring emails, and liaising with operations staff. 


To skip a section that is not applicable to you please click the “next” button


Disclaimer: Part-time and full-time positions require legal authorization to work in the United States.


You will receive an email confirmation when your application has been submitted and no further action is needed. The team will reach out to you directly if your application is selected to move forward in the process. Email jobs@youngfarmers.org with any questions.



In alignment with our commitment to racial equity, the right candidate for this role will be excited at the challenge of adopting community-centered fundraising practices and developing systems for accompliceship and accountability. 


Title: Development Associate

Salary: $57,680 plus benefits

Reports to: Associate Development Director

Status: Full Time

Location: Remote, U.S. Based Home Office– Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Start date: July 2024


Responsibilities:


Development Support (40%)


  • Supports the Development Team in creating templates and initial drafts for grant proposals and reporting, and compiling data from campaigns teams.

  • Supports the Development Team in compiling and submitting administrative data for external reports and platforms. (i.e. Guidestar profile)

  • Support the prospecting process to research new funders and assign outreach tasks as directed.

  • Provide administrative support to the Development team including scheduling meetings, helping prepare for meetings (including creating meeting briefing documents), updating salesforce with notes and interactions, drafting correspondence, and preparing documents.

  • Supports fiscally sponsored chapters with their fundraising process, including coordinating grant submission support with the National Organizing team and assisting with chapter fundraising page logistics as needed.

  • Monitors the donorsupport@youngfarmers.org email and directs inquiries as needed.

  • Manages our donation platform, Classy, and coordinates with the Operations team and contractors for improvements and changes.

  • Maintains development calendar and leads on communicating monthly development activities to staff.


Data and Grants Management (30%)

  • Logs revenue including ACH and checks in Salesforce and processes acknowledgment letters, creates weekly contribution reports, and monthly revenue reports for milestone tracking.

  • Generate customized lists for email engagement, mailings, and other outreach.

  • Ensure the accuracy of data and performs routine data assessments and reporting for analysis and respond to inquiries from program staff.

  • Inputs current and prospective grants and funder tasks and deliverables using salesforce and project management system (Asana) including grant information, reporting requirements, and funder engagement.

  • Supports government grant reporting process (quarterly, annually) in coordination with the Grants Manager and program teams. 


Individual Giving Support (18%)


  • Support individual giving campaigns through drafting donor communications and direct donor engagement.

  • Assist Associate Development Director in planning and execution of fundraising events and peer-to-peer individual giving campaigns.

  • Maintains outreach, engagement, and stewardship of a portfolio of donors giving up to $1,000/year.

  • Supports peer-to-peer giving outreach and engagement and oversees peer-to-peer fundraising pages.


Operations Liaisons (2%)

  • Ensure appropriate use of all staff software on the team.

  • Participate in quarterly Operations Liaisons meetings as a representative for the team.

  • Submit and manage the status of operations support requests on behalf of your team.


General Staff Responsibilities (10%)

  • Serve as a contributing team member who willingly supports organizational efforts in alignment with the strategic plan and models the organizational values.

  • All staff admin: individually complete time cards and expense reports on time, attend weekly staff calls, supervisory meetings, team meetings, staff retreats, and other staff social spaces, and participate in providing feedback and implementation of annual processes. 

 

Qualifications


This could be the right position for you if you can demonstrate the following:

  • A commitment to social justice and the ability to apply your racial equity analysis and intersectional approach to fundraising processes and donor engagement.

  • Ability to multi-task, prioritize, stay organized, and complete work within due dates. 

  • Ability to self-start and proactively manage routine job processes. 

  • Ability to support a team with fundraising administration and process-related tasks.

  • Ability to work in collaboration with other teams.

  • Experience using customer relationship management databases such as Salesforce.

  • Experience with logging, compiling, and ensuring the accuracy of data.


The ideal candidate may also have: 

  • Experience providing fundraising process support to a non-profit organization.

  • Experience working fully remotely. 

  • Ability to troubleshoot ad hoc technology-related issues.

  • Experience with planning and/or executing peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.

  • Experience managing grants including government and foundation grants.

  • Experience working on a farm or ranch and/or rooted in the agricultural community.

  • Experience with donor outreach and engagement.

  • Knowledge of community-centered fundraising principles.

  • The ability to participate in fostering a warm and welcoming remote work environment that values honesty, creativity, humor, justice, and responsiveness.


Schedule and Compensation

  • Regular full-time exempt employees work 40 hours per week including a one (1) hour paid lunch break each day. 

  • The current salary for this role is $57,680 in accordance with our 2024 Salary Guidelines

  • Young Farmers offers a competitive benefits package, health, vision and dental insurance, generous paid time off, paid sick days, personal days, paid family leave, and retirement matching.   

 

How to Apply


Apply by 9am (ET) / 6am (PT) on May 28, 2024 using the form at www.youngfarmers.org/about/jobs/ to be considered for an interview. Applications without both a cover letter and resume will be considered incomplete. 


 The job post is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing every activity, duty or responsibility that is required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change slightly or be added depending on the needs of the organization.

Old Glory Nursery Position

Old Glory Wholesale Nursery, LLC is now accepting applications for our Nursery Driver position. This position is an exciting opportunity to join our exceptional team in a fast paced growing company with great benefits and competitive compensation. The Nursery Driver will contribute in many aspects of the company as we believe that every team member has the ability to and should participate in the process.


NON-CDL NURSERY DRIVER

The focus of the Nursery Driver will be:

● Serving as the face of Old Glory to our delivery based customers

● Safely operating company vehicles efficiently

● Assisting customers in the unloading of material ensuring proper counts are met

● Recording mileage weekly so that the fleet can be properly maintained

● Performing basic maintenance checks on fleet vehicles daily

● Picking up plants from partner farms insuring proper quality and size are met

● Assisting the Nursery Manager with essential tasks when not on the road

The ideal candidate will:

● Operate Non-CDL delivery trucks in a safe and efficient manner

● Have worked in a nursery or as a landscaper for more than 2 years

● Understand what it means to be a team player

● Find motivation in focusing on the needs of customers

● Show urgency in completing time sensitive tasks

● Strive for excellence

● Share ideas for improvement and growth

The selected candidate will receive:

● Competitive Compensation

● Platinum Health Care Plan

● Incentives and Bonuses

● Retirement Plan

● Paid Time Off Including Holidays

● Uniforms

● Cellular Phone

● Weekday Schedule with Flexible Hours

● Discounts on Plant Material

Job applications are available for download on our website. To apply for this position email your application or resume to julia@oldglorywholesalenursery.com or apply in person.


OLD GLORY WHOLESALE NURSERY, LLC.


9502 Old Court Road

Windsor Mill MD 21244

410-701-9262


www.oldglorywholesalenursery.com

Montgomery County Farm Bureau Scholarship

The Montgomery County Farm Bureau with contributions from the Friends of Montgomery County Farm Bureau realizes the importance of supporting the next generation in order to keep agriculture viable and to keep family farms and agriculture related businesses in the state of Maryland. To this purpose, the Montgomery County Farm Bureau is pleased to offer academic scholarships for the 2024-2025 year. The Friends of Montgomery County Farm Bureau would like to recognize and thank the Edward Byrd Foundation as the major supporter of the scholarships offered.

 

These scholarships are designed to assist students who have demonstrated character, scholarship, and talent and who are interested in pursuing an education and eventual career in the Maryland agricultural, plant related industries, and/or Maryland education.

 

Eligible applicants must be a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland; major in an agricultural field, and have family or individual or family/guardian membership in Montgomery County Farm Bureau; be enrolled or accepted in an undergraduate or graduate curriculum at a vocational, two-year, or four-year institution (student must carry a full-time course load during the semesters the scholarship is granted); demonstrate an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher; receive one excellent letter of recommendation from employers, instructors, or industry contacts; provide response to an essay prompt of 500 words or less. If selected, applicants must attend the Montgomery County Farm Bureau June picnic on Sunday, June 9th at 4 pm. If unable to attend the June picnic, recipients must attend a MCFB Board of Directors meeting.

 

Please contact MCFB Secretary at 301-467-1419 or by email at mcfarmbureausecretary@gmail.com to obtain an application. The completed application and all required documentation must be submitted by Friday, May 17, 2024. Applicants will be notified of the results by email.

 

Montgomery County Farm Bureau, with a membership of over 3,000 family members, is part of the Maryland Farm Bureau, a private, non-profit membership organization. The Maryland Farm Bureau mission is to promote and protect Maryland agriculture and rural life. Its strength comes from the active participation of over 37,000 member families that belong to the state’s 23 county Farm Bureaus. For more information, visit www.mdfarmbureau.com/montgomery

Urban Ag Education Specialist - US Botanic Garden, Washington DC

 



The USBG is a leading public garden and museum that inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally. Comprised of four divisions, the USBG provides educational experiences to 1 million visitors annually, presents horticultural displays and exhibits, strives to break down barriers to inclusion, and advances the exchange of ideas and information through national and global partnerships and initiatives. Learn more: U.S. Botanic Garden.

 The Urban Agriculture Education Specialist with emphasis on urban agriculture and leads educational programs that fulfill the USBG's mission. The incumbent is responsible for developing partnerships and educational programs and conducting outreach in urban agriculture.

Partnerships

  • Identifies, develops, and oversees urban agriculture partnerships between the AOC/USBG and public gardens and other institutions nationwide.
  • Works with USBG colleagues to identify potential partners and develop new collaborative programs aimed at providing educational and job training experiences in urban agriculture, food production and preparation, and related areas in urban communities.
  • Works with partnerships program coordinator to provide management and oversight of programs and partnerships, including jointly developing work plans, budgets and deliverables, and tracking program progress.

Educational Programs

  • Develops, writes, facilitates, and evaluates educational programs that fulfill the mission of the USBG, focusing on agriculture production and sustainable food systems to improve access to healthy foods and strengthen urban resilience.
  • Provides farm-based learning programs and training in best gardening and food crop growing practices.
  • Develops and offers formal and informal educational programs and hands-on activities for classroom, greenhouses, and outdoor gardens, through a range of formats, including workshops, classes, discovery carts and festivals.
  • Assists with volunteer training, creates content for interpretive signs and coordinates materials preparation and classroom set-up.

External Relations

  • Works to advance urban agriculture by developing relationships and new engagement opportunities.
  • Identifies and builds relationships with a diversity of relevant stakeholders in agriculture and food systems locally.
  • Engages with other public gardens and institutions nationwide that have or are developing urban agriculture programs. 

Plant Cultivation

  • As part of an educational program, assists with design and installation of agricultural and horticultural demonstrations in an urban setting and provides for their maintenance and upkeep through activities like planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing and related tasks.
  • Performs complex plant cultivation tasks and may utilize a variety of equipment including but not limited to hand and power-operated garden tools, such as spreaders, edgers, hedge trimmers, pruning shears, and sprayers.

 

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Open Until: Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 12:00
Salary: $68,405.00 - $107,590.00 PA
Pay scale & grade: GS 09 – 11

 

For more information and to apply visit the link