VYCC Food & Farm Program Seeks AmeriCorps Production Crew Members
Position Title 
Production Crew Members
Job Description
The farm at VYCC is seeking Production Crew Members who are interested in engaging in the hands-on tasks of a diversified organic farm. The main focus of the farm is producing local vegetables for the Health Care Share program. The Heath Care Share is a public health initiative that connects Vermont families who experience barriers to accessing locally grown produce or have a diet-related disease with a weekly vegetable they pick up at partnering medical centers. In this role you will experience all the parts of an organic farm production system, including: seeding, transplanting, weed management, harvesting, animal care and farm stand support.
Food and Farm Program Overview
The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps’ Food and Farm Program is a dynamic youth development, diversified agriculture and food security initiative. We believe in the power that food has to connect us to the land, our community, and each other. We engage young people in organic farming and culinary education on our historic 400-acre campus in Richmond, Vermont where we grow organically certified vegetables and pasture-raised chickens that are distributed to more than 400 families through our nationally recognized Health Care Share project.
The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps’ Food and Farm Program is a dynamic youth development, diversified agriculture and food security initiative. We believe in the power that food has to connect us to the land, our community, and each other. We engage young people in organic farming and culinary education on our historic 400-acre campus in Richmond, Vermont where we grow organically certified vegetables and pasture-raised chickens that are distributed to more than 400 families through our nationally recognized Health Care Share project.
The Heath Care Share is a public health initiative that connects Vermont families who experience barriers to accessing locally grown produce or have a diet-related disease with a weekly vegetable share they pick up at partnering medical centers. We also raise laying hens for eggs, pigs for meat, and additional vegetables, flowers, and herbs that we sell through our vibrant, on-site farm stand. Each year the program provides approximately 65 service opportunities to youth and young adults from Vermont and around the country who are essential to the daily operations of the farm. In addition to farming, the program has a strong food component which seeks to deepen the connection between the work we do in the field and the food on our plates. These projects are made possible through VYCC's partnership with AmeriCorps (A*C) and SerVermont.
Essential Functions
Crew Community
• Foster teamwork and respect fellow Crew Members
• Follow all principles, practices and policies of VYCC and AmeriCorps
• Contribute to a crew culture that prioritizes physical and emotional safety
• Participate in creating a supportive and inclusive crew community by being a part of all crew activities and communicating personal and professional needs
• Engage with personal and crew goals through goal setting, reflection and feedback processes
Crew Community
• Foster teamwork and respect fellow Crew Members
• Follow all principles, practices and policies of VYCC and AmeriCorps
• Contribute to a crew culture that prioritizes physical and emotional safety
• Participate in creating a supportive and inclusive crew community by being a part of all crew activities and communicating personal and professional needs
• Engage with personal and crew goals through goal setting, reflection and feedback processes
Education and Training
• Participate in AmeriCorps Orientation and scheduled trainings throughout term of service
• Engage in learning opportunities across all parts of the Food and Farm Program
• Attend SerVermont events
Project Accomplishments
• Contribute to farm projects including vegetable production (transplanting, weeding, harvesting, and washing crops), packing weekly Health Care Shares and caring for VYCC livestock
• Serve alongside other crews, volunteers, and the Farm Team
• Maintain production, quality, and safety standards
Communication & Reporting
• Complete bi-weekly timesheets in timely manner
• Maintain regular, effective communication with Crew Leader, Crew Members and Farm Team
Required Qualifications
• Be a U.S. citizen, a national, or legal permanent resident non-citizen of the U.S.
• Be at least 18 years of age or 17 years old with parental permission upon entering the PreService Orientation
• Willingness to undergo a National Service Criminal History check, if 18 years of age or older
• Willingness to undergo Agency of Human Services check, and have not been convicted of murder or sexual assault
• Commitment to the mission of AmeriCorps and SerVermont
• Be a U.S. citizen, a national, or legal permanent resident non-citizen of the U.S.
• Be at least 18 years of age or 17 years old with parental permission upon entering the PreService Orientation
• Willingness to undergo a National Service Criminal History check, if 18 years of age or older
• Willingness to undergo Agency of Human Services check, and have not been convicted of murder or sexual assault
• Commitment to the mission of AmeriCorps and SerVermont
Compensation & Benefits
• AmeriCorps Living Allowance paid biweekly:
• $437.5/week
• Eligible for Segal Education Award upon completion of service: $1678.57
• Access to fresh produce from the farm and daily lunches
• Opportunity for personal and professional learning, collaboration, and networking with other programs through SerVermont events
• Organizational dedication to on-going professional development
• Potential eligibility for student loan forbearance and interest payment
• AmeriCorps Living Allowance paid biweekly:
• $437.5/week
• Eligible for Segal Education Award upon completion of service: $1678.57
• Access to fresh produce from the farm and daily lunches
• Opportunity for personal and professional learning, collaboration, and networking with other programs through SerVermont events
• Organizational dedication to on-going professional development
• Potential eligibility for student loan forbearance and interest payment
Terms of Service and Dates of Service:
450 Hour (Quarter-Time) term From May 23rd 2022 – August 19th, 2022
450 Hour (Quarter-Time) term From May 23rd 2022 – August 19th, 2022
Food & Farm Program applicants:
Katie Robertson, Program Manager
Katie.Robertson@vycc.org
1949 East Main Street
Richmond, VT 05477
Katie Robertson, Program Manager
Katie.Robertson@vycc.org
1949 East Main Street
Richmond, VT 05477