Sustainable Agriculture Internship

~ The Corvallis Environmental Center (CEC) envisions a community in which People Learn, People Care, People Act. ~

In pursuit of this vision, our mission is to educate, engage, and inspire people to create a healthy, sustainable community. We do this through nature-based education, local & healthy food initiatives, and energy conservation programs. The CEC was founded in 1994 as a grassroots effort to take action on environmental issues and today reaches over 15,000 people in Benton County and surrounding area through its programs and services.

CEC educational programming and community events are held at the Avery House Nature Center, Starker Arts Garden for Education (SAGE), in community schools, and outside at various parks and other locations. The CEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

About Starker Arts Garden for Education (SAGE) and Dunawi Creek Creek Community Garden (DCCG):

Starker Arts Garden for Education, or SAGE, is a one-acre production and education garden located in Bruce Starker Arts Park. All of the produce grown at SAGE is donated through our Food For Families Program to hunger relief agencies in our community. SAGE is also a place to learn. We offer programs for folks of all ages, including, farm field trips, summer camps, workshops, and garden-based family programming.

Dunawi Creek Community Garden is also located in Bruce Starker Arts Park. This 2-acre garden hosts nearly 100 community garden plots of three different sizes (100, 200, 400 square feet), a native plant garden, a shared small-fruit area and provides four ADA-accessible garden beds. Community Garden Members have access to irrigation water, community tool shed and equipment and CEC Garden Staff.

Responsibilities

Sustainable Agriculture Interns will work under the supervision of the Community Food and Agricultural Program Manager and Assistant and will have the opportunity to do the following:

• Assist in the maintenance and production at SAGE and DCCG, including but not limited to: irrigation, propagation, bed preparation, planting, pruning, mulching, weeding, harvesting, washing, packing, and delivery of produce, compost & vermiculture, moving organic materials, basic construction projects
• Lead volunteer and community groups in service learning projects and tours
• Administration and upkeep of program, production and donation tracking and records
• Participate in volunteer engagement and management, staff meetings and fundraising events
• Gain hands-on experience with sustainable agriculture practices (seasonality, crop rotations, succession planting, organic pest and disease management, building and maintaining healthy soil, etc.)
• Learn about food insecurity in your community
• Help with special events and projects in the garden
• Available 12-24 hours / week; T, TH, F, SAT availability; 3- and 6-month internship available

Qualifications

• Interest in, and desire to learn about: sustainable food production, garden education, local food systems, community food systems, local hunger relief, community gardens
• Experience working with families, youth, adults, seniors and individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather; ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs., stand, bend, squat, and safely use a variety of hand tools and gas powered equipment
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Punctual and reliable
• Outgoing and positive attitude

Benefits

• Learn how to work collaboratively to grow copious amounts ecologically farmed food through community power! Life skillz y'all!
• Earn Academic Credit - currently available to LBCC, OSU, or WOU students. See our website and check in with your Advisor to see if this internship qualifies for your academic program.

To Apply

• Please click "Apply on Company Website" below.
• For more information, contact the Community Food & Agriculture Programs Manager at:
  Kyler@corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org