The Garden / Internship position

A 6-week internship at UFI centering healing, joy, and care for ourselves and each other

This summer the Urban Farming Institute is inviting a small cohort of youth to join us on the farm in our movement toward building a healthy community. The Garden is a program that will serve as a site of belonging and transformation for youth where we will combine hands-on land-based skills, art, collective leadership, civic engagement, and political education to develop a loving relationship with the land, ourselves, and each other.

Together we will...
• Learn how to grow food through hands-on farming
• Explore nature and our local ecosystems
• Make art, share food, and move our bodies
• Design a community action project based on the needs in our lives and community
• Share what we learn with our community
• Consider our passions, experiences, skills, and the role they play in creating positive social change

Program Dates:
July 7th – August 15th (6 weeks)
This program will run from Monday – Friday
9:00am-3:00pm

Location: The Urban Farming Institute of Boston
487 Norfolk Street
Mattapan, MA 02186

Compensation: $16/hour; 30 hours per week

What happens on a typical day?
• We start the day with an introduction and group warm up.
• Next, we head to one of our farm sites where we will meet the production team for our hands-on farming skill share. We will spend this time doing all types of farm tasks such as trellising, harvesting, weeding, mulching, etc.
• Mealtimes are a chance for us all to get to know each other better and have fun.
While you will be expected to bring food for yourself most days, we will always have light refreshments and depending on the season, there is an option to harvest our own food and collectively cook lunch for each other.
• After we clean up, we will engage in whatever our daily afternoon activity or workshop is (some days this is a guest skill share, others it is work on our community action project, or supporting our weekly farmstand on Fridays)

Daily Schedule
9:00-9:30am Welcome & Warm up
9:30-12:00pm Hands on the Land
12:00-12:45pm Lunch
12:45-2:30pm Workshop (Farming & Land; Community; Guest skill share
2:30-3:00pm Closing Circle

Off-Site Learning
Once a week we will either spend the entire day or half the day doing some off-site learning at one of UFI’s local partners or inspiring organizations. Some of last year’s off-site learning partners included Revival Road Farm, Thornton Street Farm, BMC Rooftop Farm, and Soul Fire Farm.

Who should apply?
The Garden is a program for highly dedicated individuals who are committed to social justice and equity, are eager to get their hands dirty and learn more about urban agriculture. The Garden is an immersive 6-week program for youth ages 14 and up from the Mattapan, Roxbury, and Dorchester neighborhoods who are passionate about nature, community wellness, and activism.

About the Urban Farming Institute

The Urban Farming Institute (UFI) is a pioneering organization dedicated to the development and promotion of urban farming practices, working diligently to engage individuals and foster a vibrant, healthy community.

We recognize the immense potential of urban agriculture as a means to address various societal challenges, including food insecurity, limited access to fresh produce, and the decline of community connections. With a mission deeply rooted in sustainability and social equity, we strive to empower individuals and neighborhoods by creating opportunities for meaningful engagement in the cultivation of food.

Accessibility
- Fowler Clark Epstein in Mattapan is wheelchair accessible and has 4 bathroom(s) on site.
- Our other farm sites vary in accessibility. Our Fabyan St location has a bathroom on site, our other farm sites will have a porta potty on site.
- At Fowler Clark Epstein we will also have access to the shared kitchen space (light refreshments, drinkable water, plates, cups, utensils, fridge, microwave, and dishwasher)

Community Guidelines
1. I will respect the people – no matter what race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age – by using their requested name/pronoun and by listening to what they have to say
2. I will respect the land by picking up my trash, walking on pathways not on beds, being gentle with plants, animals, and tools.
3. I will respect myself by learning as much as I can and doing my best. I will set my cell phone aside, except to take photos. I will stay safe and not wander off. I will speak from the heart.
4. I will respect the home by cleaning up after myself, including dishes. I will ask before using things in the Education Center.
5. I will respect the youth by using strategies like mediation, question asking, mindfulness to resolve conflict rather than scolding, assigning blame, or punishing.
*Thank you to Soul Fire Farm for their inspiration, dedication and work with developing community safe space language. *

Timeline
• Applications Open: Tuesday, April 1st

• Applications Close: May 26th, 11:59pm

• Orientation Day: June 26th, 9am-12pm

>>>Interested? Apply here!<<<