CFS VISTA Project: Farming & Operations Coordinator S 2022

Save to Favorites

Recruiting Organization: Community Food Security VISTA Project in Iowa

Hello! Thank you for your interest in this AmeriCorps position. Please apply to this position at https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=113013 in order to be considered. Good luck, and we look forward to hearing from you!

As a CFS VISTA Member, you will serve among a cohort of Community Food Security (CFS) VISTA members throughout Iowa, sponsored by the Center for Energy & Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa, & will have frequent opportunities to share knowledge within this community through regular cohort-wide meetings & site visits. In addition to all standard AmeriCorps VISTA benefits, you will engage regularly with thought leaders in local food via the Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network & Regional Food Systems Working Group, in addition to being invited to professional development opportunities coordinated by a VISTA Leader in your cohort. Feed Iowa First (FIF) is a grass-roots community of business, faith organizations, schools, farmers, and volunteers that unite in relationship-based service to help our neighbors to 'Combat Food Insecurity by Growing Food and Farmers’. We believe access to fresh, healthy produce can and does transform lives. Fresh, healthy food is a basic human right, and ensuring access to it is key to building vibrant communities where citizens can reach their full human potential. FIF is the main producer and provider of fresh produce to food pantries in Linn County. We distributed over 50,000lbs of nutrient-dense produce back into our community in 2021. After the 2020 Derecho, we had the unique ability to pivot and directly meet the needs of our most vulnerable Linn County residents.

Member Duties : You will be involved in: Grow Don’t Mow: Feed Iowa First (FIF) manages 20+ urban farm sites in Linn County growing nutrient-dense produce to distribute to the community free of charge. Each site has a Site Ambassador acting as liaison between the site & FIF to ensure farms are bountiful & morale is high. Distribution: FIF partners with food pantries, apartment complexes & resource centers to distribute produce directly to the community. Serving over 4,400 households each year, you would assist with weekly pantry drops, apartment deliveries & the Veggie Bus. Grow Some Rows: FIF partners with rural farmers to grow large amounts of nutrient-dense produce in town. You should be able to work in all different weather conditions; lift & carry 50+ lbs; work alongside diverse groups of people with accountability & compassion; be eager to establish & maintain positive working relationships; & have an equity centered mindset, excellent communication, & interpersonal & organizational skills.

Benefits

• Bi-weekly living allowance ($15,000/yr)
• Education award ($6500) or cash award ($1800) after completing term
• Childcare subsidy
• Relocation allowance if moving more than 50 miles to serve ($750 + a per-mile rate)
• Free supplemental health allowance plan for most costs not covered by insurance
• Paid sick and personal leave

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring