Grow Ohio Valley Food and Farm Americorps

Grow Ohio Valley Food and Farm AmeriCorps Grow Ohio Valley is improving access to fresh, locally grown food in the Ohio Valley while creating a strong food-based economy. We operate five production sites, including an urban apple orchard, two high tunnel greenhouses, and a geothermal hothouse. Produce grown at these sites is distributed to food deserts - areas which have limited access to fresh foods. Complementary educational programs teach community members of all ages gardening skills, how to prepare healthy meals, and the importance of eating fresh produce. With these efforts, we hope to fashion a new economic landscape, one offering increased prosperity, improved health, and a better environment. A food system encompasses the path food travels from farm to fork. Members will improve social justice by joining Grow Ohio Valley's efforts to improve local food systems in Wheeling, West Virginia and the surrounding region. These positions will fill key roles to enhance and utilize bio-intensive urban farming sites. Members play a key role by serving at our farming sites, including an urban apple orchard, high tunnel greenhouses, a hot house, community gardens, and more. Members also play a key role in a variety of educational programs, including working with local schools to create and operate school gardens, provide educational materials and outreach to promote the advancement of nutrition and agricultural education, teach self-sustainability through cooking classes, college alternative breaks, and more. Join us as we improve access to fresh, locally grown food in an up-and-coming Appalachian city. We're looking for passionate candidates to help promote sustainable urban farming, proper nutrition, and equitable distribution of fresh foods in our community. Become a part of our AmeriCorps team, together we can grow a healthier future. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here. Member Duties : Multiple start dates and term lengths, rotate through GOV's initiatives: farming, food distribution, and education. Members will be involved in field preparation, planting, monitoring plant health, managing pests, harvesting food, and improving and documenting production processes and data collection. Food distribution includes coordinating food hub aggregation from farm sites, serving at mobile or stationary farm stands to educate about fresh food where food access is limited, and to educate and outreach the local community about nutrition and farming. Education Programs provide members with opportunities to teach students about growing food, meal preparation and proper nutrition where students gain hands-on gardening experience, observing, harvesting and eating healthy food, and assist teachers to develop and deliver garden-based curriculum. Members also help to coordinate service-based learning immersion programs for college and high-school students around the USA. Program Benefits : Stipend , Education award upon successful completion of service , Childcare assistance if eligible , Health Coverage . Terms : Car recommended . Service Areas : Education , Environment , Community Outreach , Children/Youth , Hunger , Neighborhood Revitalization , Health . Skills : Writing/Editing , Youth Development , Fine Arts/Crafts , General Skills , Gardening/Farming , Environment , Education , Team Work , Teaching/Tutoring , Communications , Leadership , Computers/Technology .