Garden Operations Intern
The Birdhouse Farmers Market and Community Garden is seeking an enthusiastic student with a passion for growing food and community to join us for an internship this season. The intern position will support BFM staff with maintaining daily garden operations as well as planning for monthly garden work days. This intern position is open to all students but will give priority to those who are aiming to go into the agricultural, forestry, or horticulture fields. This internship will run from April - November to allow for students to experience an entire growing season in the garden. Birdhouse Farmers Market is happy to work with students seeking college credit for internship opportunities.
With this internship, you will have the opportunity to assist with daily greenhouse and garden operations, dive into planning for community work days, get to put your plans into action, as well as completing an independent research project of your choosing.
Reporting to BFM staff, the intern will assist with day-to-day operations of the Birdhouse Community Garden (BCG) including watering, weeding, managing the greenhouse vents, planting, harvesting, and more. BCG Interns will also have the opportunity to complete an independent research project that aligns with the work completed at BCG and within your field of study. BCG is located in Petronius Jones Park and students must be able to provide their own transportation to the site.
Interns may work up to 20 hours per week at most. Students must maintain a consistent weekly schedule, but can create this schedule around their class meetings and other commitments. Due to the nature of the outdoor work during the summer months, the ideal candidate will be able to work during the mornings or evenings (occasionally both depending on daily management needs).
Responsibilities:
Assist BFM Staff with planning, prepping for, and running Work Days
Place ToolBank orders
Manage garden waterers (filling in when necessary)
Manage the compost pile with BFM staff assistance
Manage the Greenhouse with the guidance of BFM Staff
Work with Garden Programming Intern to ensure plans coincide with each other
Weekly maintenance of the garden between work days:
Weeding
Repairs
Keeping an eye out for damages/break ins
Watering when there is not a volunteer for that day
Harvesting
Distributing produce
Manage groups of volunteers in a variety of settings and situations
Skills and Qualifications:
A passion for growing food and community
An interest in community gardens and urban green spaces
Familiarity with some or all of the following topics is preferred:
Basic plant science
Basic garden maintenance activities
Growing seasonally-appropriate produce
Ability to make decisions in advanced based on predicted weather patterns
Ability to delegate tasks to garden volunteers
Willingness to learn new skills and information related to the position’s responsibilities
Ability to learn about the garden and answer questions if approached by park goers while working
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Able to lift and carry gardening equipment, tool buckets, produce bins and more
Able to work outside for extended periods of time - up to 5 hours per session - including during hot and/or humid and/or rainy days
Able to sit, squat, stand, and perform other physical tasks associated with outdoor labor
Learning Objectives:
Intern will gain first hand experience with the processes of running a community based and lead community garden.
Intern will gain experience managing groups of volunteers.
Intern will plan for and manage the garden season with assistance from BFM Staff in the following areas of garden management:
Planning when to start/sow seeds, thin and up-pot, plant, weed, and harvest
Managing crop rotation
Planning future plantings
Intern will gain experience planning for and running Community Garden work days for 15-50 people at a time with assistance from BFM Staff.
Intern will gain skills in leading groups of volunteers at work days, within the volunteer watering group, and any other volunteer opportunities that may present themselves throughout the season.
Intern will manage the greenhouse, making decisions about when to water, open airflow vents, and other greenhouse management skills with the assistance of BFM Staff.
Time Requirement: 15-20 hours per week expected. Hours will be completed onsite and at home.
Compensation: BFM is happy to work with students seeking college credit for internship positions. Arrangements to receive college credit must be made by the student, working with their advisor to ensure all details are sorted out before beginning the internship. We have a small stipend available based on student need and educational program requirements.