New Farm Incubation Americorps VISTA with Sustainable Connections’ Food & Farming Program

[Kyle Montgomery]

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
New Farm Incubation Americorps VISTA with
Sustainable Connections’ Food & Farming Program

Help support beginning sustainable farmers, provide fresh food for the hungry, and develop a sustainable local food system in Northwest Washington.

Learn more about Americorps VISTA at: http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/ready/programs_vista.asp

Location: Bellingham, Washington
Term: Full time, one-year contract beginning August 18, 2008
Application Deadline: 5pm Friday, June 20

Sustainable Connections, www.SustainableConnections.org, is a non-profit membership organization of nearly 600 NW Washington business and community leaders working to transform and model an economy built on sustainable practices. Our Food & Farming Program works with 80+ local farmers, 40+ food-buying businesses, and the community to grow a sustainable local food system through networking & market connections, promotion & market development, and education & technical assistance.

Encouraging and supporting the development of successful, sustainable new farming enterprises, while addressing the food needs of our community, is central to the work of the Food & Farming Program. Our Food To Bank On project supports beginning farmers with training in business and agricultural practices, networking and mentorship, and a contract to produce food for a partner food bank. This project is now expanding (in partnership with Kulshan Community Land Trust, http://www.kclt.org/) to include a land-based element, the Whatcom Farm Incubator Project (WFIP), modeled after the Intervale Center in Burlington, VT, http://intervale.org/. Development of the WFIP is the primary responsibility of this VISTA position, as well as overall support & capacity-building for the Food & Farming Program. This is the first year of this VISTA project. Please see our Phase 1 report for the WFIP here:http://sconnect.org/foodfarming/folder.2008-01-09.3020842594/wfip

Sustainable Connections is a casual, results-oriented, small-team workplace located in downtown Bellingham, with a staff of 9. The Food & Farming Program team consists of a program manager, a part-time program coordinator, the Americorps VISTA, and the Sustainable Connections Program & Development Director.

VISTA Benefits:
Childcare assistance if eligible, choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend, Health Coverage, Relocation Allowance, Training, about $833 monthly living allowance

To Apply:
See the full position description on our website, www.SustainableConnections.org, complete the online VISTAapplication, and submit resume and cover letter to [e-mail] by 5pm June 20.

Questions? Contact Shonie Schlotzhauer at 360.647.7093 x106 or [e-mail]

__________________
Shonie Schlotzhauer
Sustainable Connections Food & Farming Program
[phone] x106 - [e-mail]

STRONG COMMUNITY ● HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT ● MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT ● BUYING LOCAL FIRST