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Description
~ Maine Farmland Trust is a statewide organization that protects farmland, supports farmers, and advances farming. Our goal is not just to protect Maine farmland, but to revitalize Maine’s rural landscape by keeping agricultural lands working and helping farmers, and their communities, thrive. ~
We work with farm families across the state. We also work closely with dozens of other partners, including statewide groups, local and regional land trusts, and municipalities.
Our Current Benchmarks – January 2017
- 53,871 acres of farmland protected for future food production.
- 166 farm links, many with promising beginning farmers who will continue to feed Maine’s people and rural economy.
- 762 farm families supported with direct services, helping them grow strong businesses and develop new markets.
- 6,291 members who are passionate about the future of farming, the environment, and the economy.
Learn more about the next phase of our work and our current campaign, It Starts with the Land.
Position Overview
Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) is seeking an individual with two years of organic gardening experience to develop a kitchen garden for the Fiore Art Center’s artists-in-residence, tend the flower garden, as well as cover host functions for the Fiore Art Center.
This position will ideally begin May 1 and end September 30, but with the right candidate there is flexibility to begin later in May or end earlier in September. The Resident Gardener would be living at the Fiore Art Center at Rolling Acres Farm, Jefferson for the duration of this position. A detailed job description can be viewed here.
Responsibilities
- Tilling, planting, and maintaining a kitchen garden that would provide food for residents
and guest dinners. - Tending a small flock of laying hens and guinea fowl.
- Maintaining existing flower gardens.
- Being on-site for gallery visitors for 4 hours each Saturday during June, July, August and
September (Sat. 12-4). - Working in collaboration with staff from Maine Farmland Trust and Veggies For All to
support planning and design efforts relating to the proposed food bank food forest. - When outside guests are staying at the Center during the off-season (May/June), the
resident gardener may act as the point person and host for certain related details, e.g.
welcoming guests, laundry, answering questions (but Center staff will be responsible for
checking in/checking out, and other administrative details). - Serving as an ambassador for MFT, and reaching out to patrons for potential membership.
Qualifications
- Our ideal candidate is a farmer/gardener with at least two years of solid organic gardening
experience, who would love to be immersed in an artist residency experience with visual artists,
while being responsible for the Fiore Art Center’s farm and garden.
Additionally, we are looking for:
- Commitment to farmland protection and the future of farming in Maine.
- Appreciation for local farming, food, and the environment.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Affinity with art in some capacity, and being comfortable staffing the gallery for 4 hours
per week. - High comfort level in sharing space with other people.
- Good organizational skills and relatively high standard of housekeeping habits, as the
resident’s kitchen and dining space is also public space. - Basic computer skills for communication and record keeping.
- Kind and welcoming personality.
- Willingness to roll up one’s sleeves and do any tasks necessary to get the job done.
Compensation: $500 bi-weekly stipend, plus residency at the Joseph A. Fiore Art Center at Rolling Acres in Jefferson, which includes a private bedroom with shared bathroom and living space (the value of which will be reported as additional income).
Additional Information
The resident can expect to work up to 20 hours per week. While we understand and allow that the resident may need to be employed off-site part-time (20 hours/week max), we highly encourage the resident to spend time being involved in a creative practice as described above. There will be a studio space available to our resident gardener, and the opportunity to participate in monthly Open Studio Days.
Guests will be allowed according to certain parameters; however, this residential position is specifically for one individual. We cannot accommodate couples, children or pets. Moreover , due to the nature of the artists-in-residence program at Rolling Acres, maintaining an atmosphere supportive of the artists’ expectation of solitude and retreat, is imperative.
To Apply
Please submit your application by March 1, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.
Required application materials include:
Details on your farming/gardening experience, two professional references, and how and why this resident gardener position at Rolling Acres Farm would be a good fit for you. If you are interested in pursuing your creative practice during this time, then, a description of your creative practice with image samples should be included.