Farm Assistant

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

Start Date: 3/5/2025  Compensation: $20 - $22/hour

Red Hook Farms, a project of Red Hook Initiative (RHI), is a youth-centered urban farming and food justice program in Red Hook, Brooklyn. We create opportunities for teens to expand their knowledge base, develop their leadership skills, and positively engage with each other, their community, and the environment. We operate two urban farm sites, and our programs include a teen farm apprenticeship, weekly farm stands, a CSA and Fresh Food Box, a Garden Club for NYCHA residents, afterschool and summer middle school clubs, and a school workshop program. Since 2001, we have strived to improve access to healthy, affordable produce, while nurturing a new generation of green leaders.

RHI is a community-based nonprofit working to improve the lives of the more than 6,500 residents of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing complex. RHI believes that the social change to overcome systemic inequities begins with empowered youth, and that change in communities should come from within. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co-creators of their lives, community, and society.

Youth development, community building, and community hiring are at the core of our approach to strengthen Red Hook's future. Our model gives young people and residents the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to interrupt the systems and barriers that perpetuate historic inequities for the community. Residents lead the way toward a more equitable, hopeful future. Over our 20-year history, RHI's model and dedicated team have been nationally recognized for its innovative, place-based approach to social change. RHI creates a culture of excellence with our ten core values as the foundation: community leadership, mutual respect, welcoming space, strengths-based perspective, trust, high expectations, encouragement, inspiration, holistic approach and adaptability.

Responsibilities/Duties

  • Support food production goals and ongoing farm maintenance through daily tasks such as seeding, planting, watering, weeding, weed whacking, chicken care and integrated pest management;
  • Process vegetables for distribution including harvesting, washing, and bunching;
  • Engage with farm stand visitors, volunteers, and members of the general public;
  • Serve as a positive role model and group leader for youth apprentices and adult volunteers;
  • Support site visits from funders, elected officials, peer programs, and others;
  • Support compost creation by building, turning, and sifting compost piles
  • Light data entry and other record-keeping;
  • Participate in staff meetings, and program planning as necessary.

Qualifications/Requirements

The Farm Assistant supports all production and maintenance needs of our two farm sites: the 2.75 acre Columbia Street Farm and the 1.1 acre Wolcott Street Farm. Under the guidance of the Farm Coordinators and Assistant Director, the Farm Assistant will perform a variety of tasks including but not limited to seeding, watering, planting, harvesting, processing produce, weeding, composting, mowing, mulching, and pruning. They will also be responsible for greenhouse maintenance as well as chicken care. The Farm Assistant will support distribution through staffing farm stands and farm share distributions. They will regularly lead high school-aged youth apprentices as well as adult volunteers as they engage in a variety of farm tasks. Some data entry (planting logs, harvest tallies) and related office work will also be required throughout the growing season.

COMPETENCIES (Knowledge, Skills & Personal Attributes)

  • Excited to learn/deepen knowledge of urban composting best practices and techniques;
  • Ready to work outside, in all types of weather;
  • An overall fix-it / figure-it-out-together attitude;
  • Open to direction, works well in a team;
  • Commitment to social justice;
  • Ability to work collaboratively with those from various racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds;
  • Outgoing, personable, able to effectively engage with community members;
  • Able to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Experience in the operation of farm stands or markets;
  • Knowledge of chicken care;
  • Social media savvy, particularly Instagram and Facebook;
  • Carpentry and other building skills;
  • Proficiency in spoken Spanish and/or Chinese;
  • Familiar with Red Hook community as well as NYC urban agriculture community.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE*

  • 1-2 years experience in urban farming or vegetable gardening;
  • Excited to learn/deepen knowledge of urban farming best practices and techniques;
  • Ready to work outside, in all types of weather;
  • Open to direction, works well in a team;
  • Willing to take initiative and lead farm tasks with groups of youth or adult volunteers;
  • Commitment to social justice;
  • Ability to work collaboratively with those from various racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds;
  • Outgoing, personable, able to effectively engage with community members;
  • Comfortable using Gmail, Google Calendar, Microsoft suite and Google Drive;
  • Able to lift up to 50 pounds.

*Employment data show that women and people from underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they think they meet 100% of the criteria. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for the role, we encourage you to apply.

WORKING CONDITIONS (ENVIRONMENT) & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

  • The work environment for this position is outdoors. The Farm Assistant must be able to work in inclement weather.
  • The work schedule is as follows: Wednesday - Friday(8:30am - 4:00pm), Saturdays (9:00am - 1:00pm).
  • While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of the job the employee will be required to operate farm equipment such as mowers and weed wackers, as well as a computer and other office equipment.
  • This job is based on-site at Red Hook Farms in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The ideal candidate will either be a resident of Red Hook or one of its neighboring communities or will be within reasonable commuting distance to Red Hook Farms.

Additional Information

To Apply

Please log on to the RHI career portal to apply for this position. Be prepared to upload 1) your cover letter, 2) resume and 3) names and contact information for two references as one single combined pdf document.

COMMITMENT TO DEI & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
RHI actively engages individuals from all backgrounds and is committed to embracing diversity across all areas and aspects of the organization. We firmly believe that an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards individual differences and embracing an inclusive and equitable environment is indispensable to building a successful organization, contributing to a positive and meaningful employment experience for staff, and advancing the best possible outcomes for the clients served by RHI's programs. We are also committed to community hiring and supporting the job prospects of Red Hook residents.

As an equal opportunity employer, RHI is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or any other characteristic or basis prohibited by applicable law.

RHI requires that all staff be fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. RHI abides by New York State requirements and acknowledges those may change over time. If moved forward to the screening process, you will have a chance to ask the interviewer more about this requirement.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
RHI strives to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our core values and commitment to our employees. The rate for this position is $20 - 22/hour depending on experience. This is a part-time, temporary (28 hours/week), non-exempt position This is a seasonal position which begins March 3rd and runs until November 29th.

Contact Information

Red Hook Farms - a project of Red Hook Initiative
Website: Apply Online