SerVermont - Retreat Farm

Company: Americorps
Location: Brattleboro
Posted on: June 13, 2021

Job Description:

SerVermont - Retreat Farm

Retreat Farm Ltd. is an independent nonprofit established in 2015 to restore the forests, soils, waters and barns of a historic community asset. We provide opportunities for people from all walks of life to access fresh food, connect to nature, and find community. Retreat Farm has worked hard to create a vibrant center for education and community life that is accessible to all, regardless of ability to pay. These efforts have included low-cost memberships, free and low-cost field trips, scholarships to our summer camp, and serving as a Summer Meals site. Additionally, we provide free and low-cost outdoor recreation, literacy, and farm-based education programming and events year-round. In response to rising food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Retreat Farm launched the Community Food Project. We grew more than 10,000 lbs of fresh vegetables, raised over 700 pounds of meat, and fed over 2000 community members in need. We donated produce to the Vermont Foodbank and several local food shelves and launched a weekly free food program that provided 65 families a week with healthy staple foods and produce, educational activity sheets, and simple recipes designed for families with young children. Our outdoor campus became a free public park where families could enjoy time in nature. We are excited to expand the CFP in 2021 and 2022. Fresh vegetables, meat, dairy, and easy recipes will be available through our new Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand, our weekly free food program, and Summer Meals at the farm. We will deepen our engagement with participants through taste tests of garden-fresh foods, gardening workshops, and outdoor recreation. In the winter we will provide fun outdoor activities for our nearby elementary schools as a Winter Sports site. These weekly visits introduce students and their families to the farm, increasing their comfort and familiarity with the farm, nature, staff and our programs. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : The VISTA will fight poverty in the Brattleboro area by building Retreat Farm's capacity to engage and empower the community members and families that need access to healthy food the most. The VISTA role will combine outreach and community engagement, volunteer recruitment and management, and establishing and strengthening partnerships with other organizations dedicated to ending poverty and promoting food equity in southeastern Vermont. The VISTA will evaluate the state of access to food and nutrition resources in the community and work with the Retreat Farm team to plan and carry out the Community Food Project with expanded educational and recreational programming and opportunities for authentic and empowering engagement. The VISTA will build a strong network in the community through engaging stakeholders in program design, implementation, and assessment and through building relationships with local businesses and organizations to solicit and procure in-kind donations.

Program Benefits : Relocation Allowance , Training , Health Coverage* , Living Allowance , Childcare assistance if eligible , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend .

Terms :

Car recommended , Permits attendance at school during off hours , Permits working at another job during off hours .

Service Areas :

Community Outreach , Health , Community and Economic Development , Environment , Children/Youth , Education , Hunger .

Skills :

Team Work , Recruitment , Public Health , Writing/Editing , Fund raising/Grant Writing , Leadership , Communications , Education , Social Services , Environment , Community Organization .

Keywords: Americorps, New England , SerVermont - Retreat Farm, Other , Brattleboro, Northeast