Waldorf Gardening Teacher Opening

2011-2012 School Year

Los Altos

We are seeking a full time Gardening Teacher for the 2011/2012 school year. The qualified candidate must have experience and knowledge of Bio-dynamic gardening, as well as experience working with elementary age students. Candidates should have an interest in Waldorf education and a commitment to working in an environment that fosters the education of the whole human being.

We welcome inquiries from experienced Waldorf trained teachers with a bachelor's degree who will help envision growing our new campus and garden which will hold our Middle and High School students. This creative process will involve teachers who are able to bring the heart of anthroposophy to our students and draw out those qualities and capacities in them.

Our Waldorf community is committed to salaries that allow enjoyment of this area's outstanding access to museums, symphonies, and intellectually stimulating venues, as well as hundreds of square miles of open space, trails, and nature preserves, that are accessible year round thanks to our mild climate.

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula (Nursery - Grade 12) is celebrating its 27th year in education with a lovely permanent site in the hills of Los Altos, California. We are a community of 40 full and part time faculty and staff and 280 students. Our school is an increasingly international community, and our unique tuition adjustment program encourages economic diversity.

The San Francisco Peninsula offers the natural pleasures of redwood forests, mountain ranges, and seashores in a mild year-round climate. The area has a strong cultural emphasis, with internationally recognized colleges and universities.

We are one of five well-established Waldorf schools in the area. This network offers many opportunities along with a rich calendar of events, workshops, and speakers. Our school has an outstanding community education program and serves as a teacher-training site for Rudolf Steiner College.

Our school is a full member of and accredited by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. The school is also fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Interested candidates should e-mail their resume and three references to Donna Davies atdonna@waldorfpeninsula.org.

Jewish Urban Farming Fellowship

Berkeley, CA

Urban Adamah, based in Berkeley, CA, is a three-month intensive residential leadership training program for young adults ages 20-29, that integrates urban organic farming, social justice work and progressive Jewish living and learning.

Twelve Urban Adamah Fellows are selected each season to operate an organic farm and educational center, intern with community organizations addressing issues at the intersection of poverty, food security and environmental stewardship, and learn an approach to Jewish tradition that opens the heart and builds joyful community.

Applicants do not need any farming or Jewish knowledge or experience to participate. Fellows come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We are looking for individuals most likely to leverage the gifts of the program to make positive change in the world.

Summer Fellowship: June 6 - August 26, 2011
Fall Fellowship: September 4, 2011 - December 4, 2011

Admission to Urban Adamah is rolling.
Visit the Urban Adamah website, www.urbanadamah.org to learn more and download an application today.

Camp Mendocino Garden Director

June 9 - August 13

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco

Camp Mendocino is a residential summer camp located in Northern California. All Camp employees are expected to live, sleep and work at Camp 5 nights out of every week.

Camp Mendocino is owned and operated by Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco which is dedicated to providing children and teens with safe, fun places to learn and grow, with professional staff who offer support and guidance, serving as caring mentors and role models. One aspect of Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco's programs is our Mendocino Summer Sleep-away Camp. Camp Mendocino is a nationally recognized program where counselors work with children of all backgrounds to help them gain the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders. We are a residential summer camp serving kids from the Bay Area and Northern California. Camp is located 160 miles north of San Francisco and spread over 2,000 acres in the breathtaking Jackson State forest. It takes approximately three hours to reach camp from the city. We provide transportation between San Francisco and Camp at the start and end of the summer.

We offer numerous programs such as nature, digital photography, mountain biking, archery, arts & crafts, high ropes, climbing wall, overnight camping, and boating.

Camp Mendocino Staff provide a creative, stimulating and supportive outdoor experience in a safe and nurturing environment for youth ages 8-15. Many of the campers who attend Camp Mendocino come from some of the most challenging neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area. Counselors build the self-esteem and confidence of young people by teaching them new skills, strengthening old ones and by providing opportunities for exploration and growth. 
The following staff characteristics are the most important for success at Camp Mendocino: high energy, a strong work ethic, teamwork, flexibility, patience, strong values, and a passion for serving youth!

In order to be considered for this position you must include a RESUME and COVER LETTER withSALARY REQUIREMENTS.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Garden Director is responsible for the garden program at Camp Mendocino.  This includes adapting lesson plans, teaching youth ages 8-15, and supervising teens in the day to day operation and maintenance of an interactive teaching garden.  In addition to teaching garden classes, the Garden Director also serves as a Camp Counselor and participates in all Camp activities, such as camp fires and talent shows.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
·    Experience working with youth in a garden setting
·    Gardening experience, including planting, cultivation, harvesting and maintenance of an organic raised bed garden and small greenhouse

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE PREFERRED:
·    Experience working with under served youth
·    Previous experience working with youth in an overnight camp setting

JOB SEGMENTS:
·    Teach engaging one hour garden classes to 10-20 campers at a time (4 to 6 classes per day)
·    Address disruptive behavior and implement BGCSF's positive discipline approach
·    Increase knowledge of food cycle, interest in growing fresh fruits and vegetables, and willingness to try new fruits and vegetables
·    Collaborate with Environmental Directors to integrate nutrition and garden education Camp-wide
·    Connect garden program to the dining hall by coordinating tastings, leading daily meal discussions with small groups of campers, and working with youth to promote vegetables of the day at meal time
·    Maintain garden, greenhouse and equipment

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENTS:
·    Ability to pass a live scan background check with the DOJ/FBI in order to work with youth
·    Ability to pass an education verification check

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Include salary requirements with your resume and cover letter. 
Applicants who do not include a salary range will not be considered.

To apply please send / fax a resume and cover letter to:
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco
Human Resources Department
Email: jobs@kidsclub.org
Fax: 415-445-5463

Kitchen Table Talks in SF: Strawberries in the Spotlight of California’s Ag Industry

When: Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Food and drink at 6:30 p.m.; Discussion at 7 p.m.

Where: Viracocha, 998 Valencia Street @ 21st Street, San Francisco

Register: Kitchen Table Talks: Strawberries in the Spotlight of California's Ag Industry 

What: Kitchen Table Talks is a joint venture of CivilEats and 18 Reasons, a non-profit that promotes conversation between its San Francisco Mission neighborhood and the people who feed them. Space is limited, so please RSVP. 


A $10 suggested donation is requested at the door, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Sustainable food and refreshments will be provided, courtesy of Bi-Rite Market and Shoe Shine Wine.


More Info: Strawberries are delicious, sweet treats that announce spring and warmer weather. We use them in baking, cocktails, and eat them straight out of hand. As delicious as strawberries are, they are also a huge industry in California–the state is the nation's leading producer and over 37,000 acres are set aside for strawberry production this year. They are the sixth most valuable fruit crop in California, with an approximate value of $2.1 billion.

Because they are such an enormous part of California's agricultural economy, strawberries are also a microcosm of many issues facing the industry, especially the proposed use of highly toxic chemicals like methyl iodide and the labor, health and safety issues that accompany it

Called "one of the most toxic chemicals on earth,” methyl iodide remains a pesticide that is used scheduled to be used in growing strawberries. A carcinogenic toxin, it is harmful to farm workers and the communities surrounding the strawberry fields themselves.  While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved methyl iodide for use in 2007, it wasn't until December 2010 that outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger controversially approved its use in California over the vehement protest of many scientists, and more than 53,000 public comments

Join us on Wednesday April 6th, at Viracocha in San Francisco, for the next installment of Kitchen Table Talks. We'll gather to discuss this important issue and some of the many related and critical issues facing agriculture in California. 

McClelland's Dairy Farm Tour Dates Posted!

A local family-owned dairy farm, McClelland's Dairy, will host a variety of tours and events on their farm this spring. The dates and brief explanations are included in the calendar on this page, but please contact the dairy for more details and to reserve your space.  

Make Money as an Urban Farmer Workshop

A 2-day workshop presented by the Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator (SCUFI) programand sponsored by the ShareExchange of Santa Rosa.

When: May 1st & 2nd, 2011, 8am - 6pm


Where: ShareExchange (531 5th Street, Santa Rosa)


Who: Featured Trainers Curtis Stone of Green City Acres and James Kalin  of the SCUFI program.

Curtis will share how in 2010 he used SPIN-Farming® to build a multi-lot 1/2 acre urban farm that in its 2010 six month first season grossed $20,000, and is on track to gross over $50,000 in his 2011 second season.

James will describe how a SCUFI trains farmers and helps them get money and land to set up their own commercial urban farms.  He will also explain how your farm can make extra profits by integrating farm operations into the grounds, structures and systems of nearby buildings and businesses. 

Sunday: Indoor lectures and demonstrations
Monday: Outdoor hands-on business and field exercises

Register: http://www.scufisantarosa.eventbrite.com

Early registration: $199.   

After April 17th: $249. 

Flyer (1-page): http://www.virtuallygreen.com/scufi/sreventflyer.pdf
Brochure (8-pages): http://www.virtuallygreen.com/scufi/sreventbrochure.pdf

Workshop blog: http://virtuallygreen.com/scufis/

Questions? Contact: 

James Kalin,  urbanfarms@virtuallygreen.com

Kelley Rajala, 707-331-6850 or kelley@shareexchange.coop

Please Send Me Interesting Links & Events to Share!

I am truly hoping this blog will be a valuable resource for farmers in the North Coast region and need your help to make it the best it can be. If you know of any interesting farming-related events in the area or of any helpful websites that other farmers might find useful, please send them my way. Thanks so much for your help!

New North Coast Land Opportunities!

I just wanted to remind everyone to keep checking our land opportunities listings on the website! We have updated listings frequently, so be sure to keep your eye on what's available. I won't necessarily always post new properties here on the blog but am happy to showcase these newest opportunities: 
#1288
#1283
#1281
#1242

UC Davis Cooperative Extension and UC Small Farm Program Offering Online Agritourism Course

Penny Leff, the Statewide Agritourism Coordinator through the UC Small Farm Program is teaching an interesting online course this spring for UC Davis Cooperative Extension - Agritourism Development: Selling the Experience, Supporting the Farm, Building the Community. 

Developed in partnership with UC Davis Extension and the University of California's Small Farm Program (a UC Cooperative Extension program), the course examines the growing demand for agritourism and the expectations of agritourists and works with students to assess local opportunities, create a plan, develop and market an agritourism enterprise, and collaborate for success.

More information is available on the UC Davis Extension website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Penny directly:  

Penny Leff
Statewide Agritourism Coordinator
UC Small Farm Program
530.752.7779
paleff@ucdavis.edu

Farmer-Vet Coalition Opportunity Listings!

Hey guys! Here's a great listing of farm-related opportunities posted by the Farmer-Vet Coalition (for all you farmer vets out there). If you're not aware of this non-profit, please check them out. They do amazing work.


Enjoy!

California FarmLink Farm Finance Expo March 29th

California FarmLink is putting on a Farm Financing Expo next Tuesday, March 29th, at the Corralitos Grange in Watsonville (from noon to 5pm). This exciting workshop will feature a variety of financing institutions and alternative finance promoters. It'll be great for anyone interested in financing their farming operations. 

Topics covered: meeting local farm lenders; operative, infrastructure, and farm purchasing loans; micro- and social-netword-based lending and crowdfunding; California FarmLink Opportunities Loan Program

Learn about financing your farm business! 

Cost: $20 per person (scholarships available)

RSVP by Friday, March 25th: Eric or Reggie at 831.425.0303 or eric@californiafarmlink.org

Spiral Foods Cooperative First Annual Spring Equinox Party

A local foods cooperative marketplace is coming to West Sonoma County! Join us to learn more about the project, connect with neighbors and of course, enjoy great food. Please, tell your friends.


WHEN: Saturday March 19th, 4-8pm


WHERE: Graton Community Club, corner of Main & N. Edison in Graton


PLEASE BRING: a dish to share for 6-10 people (if possible) and your own plate, cup & utensils.


SCHEDULE:
4pm~ Meet at Community Club to drop off your food and join us for a tour of potential co-op locations in downtown Graton. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the project, share your input and ask questions.


5pm~ The Hubbub Club will lead us back to the Graton Community Club.


5-8pm~ Potluck, Party and Discussion.
*Beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided on a donation basis to help cover event costs.


6-7pm~ We will answer questions and hold a group discussion for those who can't make the walking tour.


7-8pm~ Local musicians will regale into the evening.


Looking forward to celebrating spring with you on this day of equal day & night.
In Community, the Spiral Foods Cooperative Steering Committee, Barbara, Cricket, Jeff, Julia, Liat, Sabel & Tucker


~Spiral Foods Cooperative~
Our mission is to create a convivial local food marketplace and cafe that strengthens community from farm to table through ecological responsibility and cooperative ownership.


~S.P.I.R.A.L. Sonoma 501(c)3~
Sustaining People by Integrating Responsible Agricultural Living
www.countybounty@blogspot.com

Temporary Farm Manager Needed

2 acre organic vegetable farm with 60 member CSA looking for a temporary farm manager, from June through September. Duties would include oversight of crop production and maintenance, coordination of CSA program (harvests, delivery, customer service, billing) and management of part-time employees and volunteers. Must have prior farm management experience.

For more information, including location of this position, please contact Erin Shea at (707) 495.0727 or erin@cultivatingimpact.org

Preserving Agriculture in the Face of Climate Change: Food, Farming, and You: Addressing the Pickle We Are In

Please join leaders from Sonoma County government, business, education and nonprofit organizations for the seventh annual conference. Help realize the vision for our region that includes a healthy business environment and an exceptional quality of life. Protecting our
communities and natural resources in the face of climate change requires a community wide effort. Find out if Sonoma County is making progress toward its GHG reduction goal—25% below 1990 levels by 2015.

Where: Petaluma Community Center • 320 N. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma, CA 94954

When: Thursday, May 26th, 2011 ~ 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Cost:Early Bird Rate (through March 31): $45.00 per person, $55.00 per person as of April 1st
Student Scholarships are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Download the Conference Flyer

Questions? Contact Conference Organizer, Marinda Freeman, MF Productions; 415.924.9145 or via email at marinda@mfproductions.net

Visit www.everybodyprofitssonoma.com to register or for more information


Climate Protection: Everybody Profits is a yearly collaboration between Sonoma County local city government, the County of Sonoma, Sonoma County Water Agency and nonprofits working together to further the cause of sustainability in Sonoma County. Each year a different city hosts the
conference.

OZ Farm Seeking New Farm Manager for 2011 Season

March 2011
Oz Farm Manager Wanted for Coastal Mendocino County Farm

Oz Farm, located just outside Point Arena, CA, is looking for a new farm manager to begin work in spring 2011. Certified organic since 1991, Oz has nine acres under cultivation, including an heirloom espaliered apple orchard, plus an additional 11 acres certified organic. The 270-acre
property straddles the Garcia River, and is located three miles from the ocean, about three hours north of San Francisco.

Oz Farm also hosts seasonal retreat groups and weddings, supervised by a retreat manager who is already working at the farm.

In an unexpected but exciting development, Oz Farm's current farm manager has recently purchased farmland in Austria and will be moving there with her family later this year. We anticipate that the new manager and our current manager will overlap significantly to ensure a smooth transition later this season.

We are looking for someone (or a couple) with at least 2 years farm management experience who can take responsibility for the farm operation and expand our 30 member CSA as well as our Farmers markets, restaurant, retail and wholesale accounts to a year-round operation with additional clients. The farm manager will work closely with Oz Farm's owners, who are particularly interested in year-round farming.

Farm Manager responsibilities include: developing and following an annual work plan, budgeting time and costs, recruiting, training and managing seasonal apprentices, marketing and the management of our CSA and other accounts, maintaining organic certification, soil enhancement, crop production planning, procuring, planting, irrigating, harvesting and sales. In addition, the farm manager is expected to direct special projects, including fencing, carpentry, irrigation and other capital improvements.

The position is a full-time one-year contract with the prospect of a long-term relationship. Off-the-grid photovoltaic housing heated with wood stoves is provided as well as farm produce.

Pay commensurate with experience.

For more information: See http://www.oz-farm.com.
Please direct questions to John Hooper (co-owner) at 415-626-8880 or hooparb@aol.com