Guidestone Colorado - Farm Production Lead

Service Description 

Guidestone seeks a Farm Production Lead to be responsible for the production at the Community & School Farm (C&S Farm), including starting plants from seeds in our greenhouse, preparing beds in the high tunnels and production fields, leading volunteers to plant, seed, cultivate, and harvest crops, and creating and maintaining a vibrant community farm space. The C&S Farm is a 4-acre parcel owned by the Salida School District. Guidestone holds a 20-year lease for the Farm to School Program to grow food for school cafeterias, the hospital and community, and lead farm education and community service opportunities on the site. This member will work very closely with our Farm to School (F2S) Program Director, other Farm to School AmeriCorps members and volunteers to connect the community to the earth and their food, as part of our district-wide Farm to School program, bridging gaps that enable partner organizations to be more efficient and effective at providing healthy food to rural youth. The C&S Farm has a 24’x48’ high tunnel, a 16’x24’ movable high tunnel, and a 42’ diameter dome greenhouse to extend the season, along with a 3⁄4-acre production field, small orchard, and raised beds in the front garden. In addition, the Farm Production Lead will support local food systems efforts through outreach and engagement with the Chaffee Local Food Coalition.

AmeriCorps Member Primary Responsibilities 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Build, maintain, and expand production at the Community & School Farm through a full growing season.
• Raise greenhouse transplants, complete direct seeding and transplanting according to the Community &  School Farm crop plan
• In coordination with the Farm to School Director, prepare beds in the production field, front raised garden beds, high tunnels and greenhouse for planting and seeding.
• Assist with our ongoing shift in production to low-till. farming; which includes tasks such as using occultation tarps, a flame weeder, and a walk-behind tractor with a flail mower to manage cover crops.
• Support the Guidestone plant sales by helping to seed, pot up and label seedlings.
• Lead individual volunteers and school and community service groups in farm tasks, including transplanting, seeding, weeding and harvesting crops, and maintaining the farm
• Manage harvests for school, hospital, CSA, and Youth Farmers Market