Parslow Lacy Garden and Food Pantry Intern

District Council of Madison , Society of SvdP•Madison, WI

About The Position

Exciting Internship Opportunity in Agriculture and Food-Share! Are you a passionate college student or graduate student eager to make a difference in your community? Do you dream of getting your hands dirty and making a tangible impact on local food production and distribution? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you! This is a valuable agricultural and food-share learning opportunity that offers an intern the chance to join an organization producing and sharing high-quality, nutritious, culturally relevant produce for neighbors in need in Dane County, WI. The Intern will gain hands-on skills in vegetable and vine crop production, small-scale farming techniques, soil health, and volunteer/youth coordination at the Lacy Garden, 5897 Whalen Road, Fitchburg, WI. Food pantry operations experience will also be gained at the Middlecamp Center for Vincentian Charity, 2033 Fish Hatchery Rd., Madison, WI. The ability to speak conversational Spanish is helpful in this role, but not required. The intern could expect to improve their language skills while working in this position. Additional skill demonstration, development, and networking will also be involved in special work sessions for corporate/youth groups. This internship isn't just about gaining skills - it's about making a real difference in people's lives while learning and growing in a supportive and collaborative environment. If you're ready to roll up your sleeves, dig in, and be part of something truly impactful, we want to hear from you!

Requirements

The Intern must be a current or continuing post-secondary student.
The Intern must be reliable and capable of occasionally working in inclement conditions.
The Intern must supply their own means of reliable transportation.
The Intern must be legally eligible to work in the United States (sponsorship is not associated with this role).
The intern is frequently required to stand, walk, talk, and hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls
The intern must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds without assistance, and occasionally lift/move up to 50 pounds with assistance
The intern must be able to follow instructions and work autonomously on assigned job duties
The intern must have a valid driver’s license
Specific vision abilities required by this internship include close vision and the ability to adjust focus
An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Nice To Haves

Education and/or experience in agriculture, plant science/pathology, entomology, soil science, or horticulture-related fields
Experience working with volunteers and familiarity with social media and Microsoft applications are highly desired
Tractor and equipment training provided, but familiarity with their operation is preferred
Display a willingness to communicate and interact effectively with individuals from diverse cultures, varying abilities, ethnicities, and races
Demonstrate the implementation of best practices as required by the SVdP Safeguarding policy when interacting with children and vulnerable adults
The ability to speak conversational Spanish is helpful in this role, but not required.

Responsibilities

Gain practical experience and knowledge of establishing/maintaining vegetable and vine-plots.
Apply skills in site preparation, seeding, transplanting, weeding, watering, mulching, and trellising
Provide harvesting and post-harvest handling, and implement crop rotation/soil conservation practices
Assist in the installation and use of solar-powered irrigation equipment.
Apply multiple weed control/suppression techniques (including tarp/trellising systems, traditional tractor cultivation, traditional hand cultivating tools, and use of rotational burlap/coffee bean bag weed suppression techniques)
Assist in a creative, welcoming, learning, and work environment for youth groups /volunteers
Lead occasional youth groups in gardening activities and farm-related learning activities
Participate in occasional evening and weekend work opportunities
Participate in creating and prioritizing a weekly task list
Assist in the transport of vegetables to the food pantry, and assist in established food share/pantry protocols for handling/processing/distribution of vegetables
Assist Service Center staff with pantry operations, donation distribution, and other duties as assigned, 2-3 shifts each week
Work with garden leaders in selecting/developing a special “keystone” project according to your growth needs and garden or pantry needs
Support the effort to create a more inclusive and equitable organization
Adhere to the Safeguarding Policy by ensuring timely completion of mandatory training, staying updated on relevant training modules, and undergoing the necessary background checks to maintain compliance