Community Garden Placement – Hunger Task Force

Position Title: Community Garden Placement 

Position Service Site: Kane Street Garden in La Crosse, WI

Service Time:  September 9, 2024 – August 22, 2025  (1,700 Hour AmeriCorps Term, 50 weeks)

9/9/24 to 11/17/24 – 40 Hours per week

11/18/24 to 3/9/25 –30 hours per week

3/10/25 to 8/22/25 – 40 hours per week

Benefits: Living stipend total for whole term = $23,000 ($460 per week). Education Award of approximately $7,300 upon successful completion of service. To find out more about the Award: https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award/find-out-more.
Health insurance optional (1,700-hour positions only, available for individuals who are not already covered).

OVERVIEW: The Hunger Task Force works to eliminate hunger by harvesting community resources and being the voice of the hungry. They are serving over 120 meal sites, food pantries, youth programs, and outreach sites in La Crosse, Vernon, Trempealeau, and Monroe Counties in Wisconsin, Houston and Winona Counties in Minnesota, and Allamakee County in Iowa. In 2020, over 1,500,000 pounds of TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), 250,311 pounds of Wis. Dairy Recovery foods, 1,500,000 pounds of Farmer to Family Boxes, and 2,300,000 pounds of “recovered” food was distributed to these partner programs.

SERVICE DESCRIPTION: Hunger Task Force’s Community Garden Placement will be responsible for providing opportunities through programming for community involvement in environmentally conscious food sourcing. They will spend a majority of their time maintaining the gardens and greenhouse, cultivating interest in area community gardens, giving input on the development of new garden construction, and assisting with volunteer mobilization and recruitment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Planting and Harvesting

• Collaborate with garden team to develop planting layouts and crop rotation plans for optimal garden health and productivity.
• Assist in transplanting seedlings or direct seeding according to proper planting depth, spacing, and watering techniques.
• Monitor crop quality and identify any issues such as disease or pest damage during the harvesting process.
• Assist in post-harvest activities such as cleaning and storing equipment, and replenishing garden beds for future planting.

Community Improvement

• Assist with development, management, and maintenance of community gardens.
• Research and implement a variety of urban gardening practices to educate students and community members about sustainable and reliable food sources.
• Assist with design aspects of new community gardens.

Programming

• Design and implement new programs for different age groups pertaining to urban renewal and community improvement projects while informing about environmentally conscious practices focusing on community gardening.
• Assist with planning, scheduling, teaching and general supervision of programs and events for youth and community members.
• Complete program and event evaluations.
• Keep detailed records of program types and attendance numbers for grant purposes.
• Use general budgetary and financial policies and procedure to assess feasibility of programs and events.

Program Marketing

• Assist in designing and creating publicity for programs and events.
• Assist in distribution of publicity for upcoming events, programs, and volunteer opportunities.
• Assist with website and social media to promote programs and events.

Volunteer Recruitment and Management

• Assist with recruitment, training, and evaluation of non-paid, non-AmeriCorps volunteers who assist with programs or who assist with garden maintenance
• Assist with scheduling and supervision of volunteers
• Make sure appropriate records of volunteer hours are kept

Warehouse

• Assist staff with all elements of the Food Recovery Program (donations, food pick-ups and deliveries, proper storage, etc.).
• Collaborate with recipient agencies, developing each agency’s needs to provide foods most appropriate to their programs.
• Develop methods to handle compost at warehouse and garden, and collaborate with farmers for animal feed
• Assist with program promotion (events, media, fundraising) where appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Able to perform duties in inclement weather.
• Maintains professional working relationships with peers, coworkers, vendors, and the public that are inclusive, collaborative, and respectful.
• Ready to take initiative in doing assigned work without prompting and seeks out other tasks that help the team accomplish their collective goals.
• Works hard with a positive mental attitude, in all weather and terrain conditions.
• Withstand the physical demands of work which involves some lifting, carrying, bending, and hiking across uneven terrain.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to multitask and shift schedule and priorities to meet changing conditions.
• Upon hire, a criminal background check will be conducted. Service with WisCorps will be considered probationary until all results are returned and have been reviewed.

WisCorps provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran per applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to assuring equal employment opportunity and equal access to services, programs, and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability, and need to access information in an alternative format, or need it translated into another language, please contact us at 608-782-2494, by email at staff@wiscorps.org or Wisconsin Relay 711.