Sustainable Urban Agriculture Internship

Sustainable Urban Agriculture Internship

Internship Description

Olivewood’s Sustainable Urban Agriculture Internship offers hands-on experience in sustainable urban agriculture and first-hand teaching experience in both our urban garden and school-garden settings. Interns will work closely with our Environmental Education Specialists to deliver garden and science lessons within our youth programs, while also supporting our Garden Support staff in our organic urban farm. This farm actively engages the community to support natural ecosystems, human health, and water conservation.

As an organization rooted in community, this role requires active participation in anti-racist work and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Internships are unpaid; however, class credit is available.

Commitment

The Sustainable Urban Agriculture Intern will commit to approximately 10 to 12 hours per week, for a total of 120 hours.

Internship Goals

Interns will practice techniques that include:

• Contributing to the planning of our Teaching Garden
• Basic propagation techniques
• Identifying plant diseases and pests
• Incorporating integrated pest management
• Garden bed preparation
• Irrigation
• General garden maintenance
• Gaining first-hand teaching experience in our youth programs
• Learning about experiential education techniques in a non-traditional classroom setting
• Building an understanding of local community health concerns and education challenges

Duties

• Assist with garden tasks such as identifying plant diseases and pests, watering, weeding, building compost, digging and clearing beds, planting, harvesting, propagation, and more
• Co-facilitate garden and science lessons for youth while adhering to lesson objectives, incorporating garden features, monitoring student behavior, and working within specific time constraints
• Provide feedback on lesson successes and suggestions for improvement

Qualifications

We are seeking individuals enrolled in courses related to sustainable urban agriculture, with an interest in supporting an urban farm, an interest in working with youth, strong attention to detail, and an appreciation for the life lessons the garden provides. Applicants studying education, child and family development, environmental science, sustainability, biology, or ecology are preferred. Spanish language proficiency is ideal but not required.