The Park Ranger Unit of Prince George’s County Parks & Recreation is hiring for a part-time Youth Garden Coordinator. Please see the attached job description and contact the number listed with any questions.

Job closes next Wednesday, May 16.

Youth Garden Coordinator flyer (Word Document)

Youth Garden Coordinator flyer (PDF)

Tomorrow, May 5th, OLD CITY Green will be holding its first fundraising event for the new community garden, Wangari Gardens. Join us for a Cinco de Mayo themed pig roast, accompanied by vegetarian dishes and whatever people bring for the pot luck! There will be plenty of drinks, music and fun!

Please RSVP and purchase tickets through the event link here.

[Excerpted from an email from Duncan Hilchey sent out on the COMFOOD list serve.]

Training Needs Survey of Food System Professionals and Volunteers

We apologize for any cross-postings, but a high number of responses is critical to the value of this survey.Please share this message with your colleagues on listservs, blogs, Twitter, and other social media. The survey is open through May 31, 2012, and is open to practitioners throughout North America.

We are reaching out to folks involved with programs ranging from beginning farmers, farmland protection, food hubs, and food value chains to urban agriculture and community food security. American Farmland Trust, the Wallace Center at Winrock International, and the Michigan State U. Center for Regional Food Systems (formerly the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems) have teamed up with the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD) to conduct a survey of food system development practitionersin North America. The survey objective is to identify the specific challenges and training needs of current and prospective food system development practitioners. This anonymous questionnaire is largely simple checkboxes and should not take more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

For the purposes of the survey, a ”food system development practitioner” is anyone who, as a significant portion of their work, uses community development strategies in working with farmers, business people, government agency staff, local residents, or other persons or entities to create or strengthen the viability, equity, and sustainability of food systems.

We believe that improving knowledge and skills of practitioners will lead to more effective and efficient programs, and ultimately to more viable and sustainable food systems.

Thank you for your participation and for sharing this link with others! If you have any questions, contact Duncan Hilchey at duncan@newleafnet.com.

To complete the food system practitioner survey GO HERE!

Duncan

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Duncan Hilchey

Editor in chief, Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

Click the image thumbnail to enlarge the full description of the position with BrainFood or download the PDF document by clicking on the link below:

May2012_Brainfood Community MVPs Summer Workshop Intern Job Description 2012 final

DC Prep is looking for dedicated and talented interns to assist with our gardening program. DC Prep’s Green Thumbs Gardening Club has been running since the 2010-11 school year. Through the Garden Club, students inPrep EX!, our Extended Learning Program, work with our Gardening Instructors to grow, care for, and harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Students use the garden’s produce to cook healthy and delicious meals.

DC Prep is seeking gardening interns for the Summer of 2012 and the 2012-13 school year.  Interns will work with the Gardening Instructor at the Edgewood or Benning Elementary Campuses for a minimum of 10 hours per week.  This is an unpaid internship.

Check out their website for more information by clicking here!

Who We Are: Common Good City Farm (CGCF) is an urban farm and education center growing food for and with low-income residents in Washington, DC and providing educational opportunities for all people that help increase food security, improve health, and contribute to environmental sustainability. Our Mission is to grow food, educate, and help low-income DC community members meet their food needs. Our Vision is to serve as a replicable model of a community-based urban food system.

CGCF’s programs provide hands-on training in food production, healthy eating and environmental sustainability. CGCF’s presence in a multi-cultural, multi- racial, multi-generational community creates an opportunity for people from all walks of life to spend time learning about healthy food, gaining access to it, and exercising in the process of growing it.

What We Seek: We are looking for a well-rounded and outgoing individual who brings strong administrative and program coordination skills. The Green Tomorrows Fellow should have an interest in and commitment to urban agriculture and the food justice movement. The Fellow will join a diverse team of highly committed and talented staff and volunteers. This position requires dedication and skill in working with adults from diverse backgrounds, personal and professional maturity, creativity, and commitment to the vision and mission of Common Good City Farm.

Position Summary

The Green Tomorrows Fellow is responsible for planning, organizing and managing all the activities of the Green Tomorrows Program. The Fellow will work closely with program participants to foster an appreciation for fresh, healthy food and self-reliance.

Primary Duties:

* Establish and maintain working relationships with local community organizations to expand awareness of the Green Tomorrows program—including churches, social services, civic and tenants’ associations, and Howard University.

* Maintain open lines of communication with participants and encourage regular attendance.

* In collaboration with the Urban Grower and Executive Director, plan and publicize meetings and harvest dinner(s) for participants.

* Assist workshop coordinator and instructors with recruitment and set-up for scheduled workshops for participants, including cooking demonstrations.

* Assist Urban Grower with distribution of weekly shares of produce to participants.

Administrative Duties:

* Manage schedules, attendance records, paperwork and administrative tasks related to the program.

* Conduct participant and program evaluation and keep accurate data for grant reporting.

* Organize Green Tomorrows program binders and gather resources for participants.

* Research recipes that are simple, easy to understand, and use farm produce— compiling recipes in a standardized format for use by Green Tomorrows participants.

* Other related duties may be assigned.

Competencies:

* Experience working with disadvantaged adults

* Friendly, outgoing demeanor

* Interest in urban agriculture and food systems work
* Passion for community relations and outreach
* Ability to organize and maintain good records
* Telephone and computer skills
* Comfort working outdoors, in diverse neighborhoods, and with a variety of age groups
* Spanish language proficiency a plus

WAGE: Stipend
HOURS: 20 hours/week (Tues/Wed/Thurs 3:00-7:00pm; Fri/Sat 9:00 1:00)
DURATION: May 2012-October 2012 (6 months)
REPORTS TO: Executive Director

HOW TO APPLY: Attach cover letter and résumé to an email to
jobs@commongoodcityfarm.org. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until position is filled. Common Good City Farm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks to maintain a staff that reflects the diversity of our community and the population we aim to serve. We welcome applicants of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses and sexual orientations.

From The Herb Companion‘s March 13, 2012 e-newsletter and website:

Article by Leda Meredith

Wondering what to plant in those shady areas of your landscape? There’s no need to resign yourself to standard shade-fillers, like pachysandra and ivy, when you could be growing useful herbs that thrive in low-light conditions. While many culinary herbs do require lots of direct sunlight (like basil and oregano, which originated in the sunny Mediterranean), other herbs usually listed as full-sun plants will do just fine in partial shade. Parsley, anise hyssop, lemon balm and shiso are among the best herbs for dappled light or areas that receive only a couple of hours of direct sun daily.

Other, less-familiar herbs actually prefer shade. In nature, these plants can be found growing in the dappled light below trees, or at the edges of forests, where the sun shines directly on them for only a short time each day. These plants—which include wild ginger, spicebush and sweet woodruff—will do beautifully in a shady garden site, and will add enticing new flavors and aromas to your cooking.

For beds and borders shaded by trees, fences or buildings, try one or more of these seven stars for shade.

1. Sweet woodruff
2. Anise hyssop
3. Wild ginger
4. Parsley
5. Shiso
6. Lemon balm
7. Spicebush

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/gardening/7-herbs-that-grow-in-shade.aspx#ixzz1piQdXXL0