Internships
Ideas
The following are possibilities for directed studies, internships, and research:
- Identify and assess suitable farmland for Farmland Program.
- Coordinate with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service staff to assess suitability for vegetable production and landowner requirements.
- Assist World PEAS Coop at area farmers' markets: coordinate transportation to markets, organize produce displays, assist with sales, manage sales and inventory records, and build customer relationships through promotion of ethnic recipes and crop information. Development of point-of-sale materials for farmers' market and produce buyers
- Assist with post-harvest handling and distribution of CSA shares. Research content and prepare weekly CSA newsletter
- Production assistance at training farm sites, maintain communications with Farm Site Manager and TA Coordinator regarding any production issues (pest management, irrigation, weed control, equipment supply and condition, farmer concerns), and assist farmers to develop field maps and harvest records.
- Training and technical assistance programming. Schedule training sessions, speakers, venues, field trips to area farms and markets, coordinate training materials, and develop low-literacy pictorial resource guides on agricultural production and marketing topics.
- Assist immigrant farmers to develop crop information sheets and recipes for specialty ethnic produce to distribute at Farmers' Markets and other marketing outlets.
- Database management. Develop and maintain a database of crop information (photos, nutritional information, recipes, production and harvest data) and NESFP media coverage.
Current work-study student positions available for 2007-08:
The following positions are open to any students who are work-study eligible and who can commit a minimum of 5 hours per week during the academic year. Occasional travel to NESFP's Lowell office, area farms, and markets may be required.
Agricultural Resources Development — assist with development of a Massachusetts "Guide to Farming" by research existing farm resources, regulations and programs into fact sheets and a comprehensive guide. Develop training curricula for classroom and field-based trainings and prepare materials/teaching tools to implement those trainings; develop plain language training resources; research criteria for curriculum accreditation; create a NESFP training manual; investigate/research development of an on-line farmer training course.
Outreach and Communications Coordinator — assist with phone calls to churches, community associations, area farms for outreach; assist to develop NESFP newsletters (monthly e-newsletter and quarterly print newsletter); develop outreach materials and press releases; update and input NESFP contacts in database; track media coverage; assist with postering around communities; develop bulletin board displays at farm sites; catalog project photos.
Farm Employment Directory Coordinator — assist with phone calls and emails to regional farms to update our 2007-08 Farm Employment Directory; format for web and print version.
Farmland Identification and Assessment Coordinator — follow up on farming sites previously identified to evaluate use by the project; initiate contact with landowners, assessors, USDA/FSA officials, conservation groups, and others to identify farmland; evaluate prospective farming sites, such as access, size, crop suitability, water/irrigation resources, costs and lease potential.
Farmer Training Course Assistant — prepare course materials for training sessions; schedule guest speakers and arrange field trips to farms and markets; assist in developing low-literacy pictorial resource guides and presentations; coordinate logistics for training courses; attend training sessions and provide technical assistance to participants; document and evaluate training sessions; revise the NESFP curriculum training manual.
Marketing Cooperative Assistant — assist with financial record-keeping and marketing activities of World Peas cooperative; create promotional materials for the World Peas Coop and assist with recruitment for the 2008 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program; expand content of our "ethnic crops" reference page and update our CSA harvest calendar with photos for the NESFP website.
For complete position descriptions, employment requirements, or to apply please contact
Jennifer Hashley at 617-636-3793 or email jennifer.hashley@tufts.edu.
How to Apply
To apply for a work-study job, internship, research project, or to discuss your directed-study requirements, please email a resume, cover letter, and your interest in the program to Jennifer Hashley, NESFP Director at: jennifer.hashley@tufts.edu. You may also phone 617-636-3793 and leave a detailed message. For Tufts University's academic requirements for the Agriculture, Food, and Environment Program (AFE), please contact Kathleen Merrigan, AFE Director at: kathleen.merrigan@tufts.edu.
More Information
To receive detailed work-study job descriptions or to get more information on our programs, current research, or other opportunities with the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, call our Boston office at: 617-636-3788, ext. 2, our Lowell office at: 978-654-6745, or email: nesfp@tufts.edu.
