Job Description

Job Title:Grow Appalachia Coordinator

Location:Red Bird Mission, Queendale Center, Community Outreach Building

Reports To:Community Outreach Director

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Maximum Hours:40 hours per week

Function: To teach and support the people of Appalachia in addressing the tragedy of hunger in the region by learning to grow, prepare and preserve their own food to feed themselves.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (other duties may be assigned)

  1. Learn about and understand the Grow Appalachia Project Plan.
  2. Report all activities monthly to Red Bird Mission Community Outreach and provide required reporting to the Berea College Appalachian Center Director (bi-monthly, final annual report, weekly blogs and others as determined).
  3. Provide accurate and timely data reports as well as narrative success stories and pictures.
  4. Follow project plan, timeline and budget closely.
  5. Utilize approved forms and contracts.
  6. Create and implement a Gardening Training Calendar in collaboration with the Clay County Extension Office and other Grow Appalachia project partners that meets grant requirements (minimum of 6 per year).
  7. Be aware of regional and national opportunities for Grow Appalachia(GA) members to receive training and apply for grants.
  8. Maintain communications with partnering organizations of Grow Appalachia, Red Bird Farmers’ Project, Clay County Extension Office and build new networks if possible to help sustain project.
  9. Work with Grow Appalachia Project members to achieve their training objectives; organize training sessions and create a monthly educational newsletter. Must cover at minimum: Garden Planning & Planting, Garden Maintenance, Heart-Healthy Cooking, Food Preservation, Cold Weather Gardening and Off-Season Preparation.Additional suggestions: micro-processing, heirloom seeds and entrepreneurship/marketing produce.
  10. Must recruit and manage Grow Appalachia Field Worker volunteers.
  11. Advertise, recruit and maintain active GA participants, adhering to grant requirements and maintain individual client files.
  12. Promote peer mentoring, sharing produce and marketing produce to GA participants
  13. Must help participants create individualized garden preparation plans, conduct soil testing, preserve heirloom seeds and implement organic gardening practices.
  14. Must order and manage seed, vegetable and fruit starts, and other tools and resource distributions.
  15. Attend local, regional, state, and/or national trainings if funding is available.
  16. Operate an on-campusgreenhouse and organize community gardens, i.e. through churches, schools, apartment complexes, senior centers, etc. as appropriate.
  17. Create a work schedule to visit each grower at least twice a year and help transport gardening equipment and supplies to community gardens and participating families’ gardens.
  18. Assist GA members in creating at minimum 20 x 20 home gardens, establishing education plans, and preserving and/or marketing their goods.
  19. Maintain and report harvest records, quantity shared and quantity sold for entire program.
  20. Maintain storage sheds, maintain and service commercial equipment and other gardening resources and assets. Keep detailed inventories.
  21. Organize and manage Farmers Market, maintain Kentucky Proud registration.
  22. Organize and supervise additional volunteers, interns and youth.
  23. Promote this project through media and with potential donors.
  24. Organize one Annual Harvest Picnic to share accomplishments and fellowship with group participants.
  25. Submit grant annually to the Berea College Appalachian Center to renew Grow Appalachia Grant. Apply for additional grants to supplement program whenever possible.
  26. Coordinate with other departments to leverage resources whenever possible.

Education and/or Experience:

General knowledge of horticulture through experience. Knowledge of sustainable horticultural practices and participatory community development preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

a)Ability to communicate with individuals representing many other organizations

b)Ability to communicate comfortably by telephone and by e-mail.

c)Must posses excellent organizational skills

d)Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

e)Interpersonal communications skills.

f)Ability to practice logical and independent judgment to resolve problems in any given situation.

g)Prefer computer skills in word processing, database management, and electronic communications, preferably Microsoft Office.

h)Must be willing to use social media.

i)Presentation, organizational, and budgeting skills.

j)This employee must maintain a valid driver’s license,if using company vehicle have license for at least 7 years and have acceptable MVR. Must be able to drive a motorized vehicle and transport equipment.

k)Must pass drug screen and have acceptable criminal background check.

l)Ability to cooperate effectively with all staff, other field personnel, project partners and collaborating organizations.

m)Ability to work flexible schedule.

n)Ability to write effectively and clearly.

o)Sensitivity in working with multiple cultures and belief systems.

p)Physical ability to operate and transport tillage and other equipment.

q)Organize and supervise workers, volunteers, interns and youth.

r)Be able to recruit project participants and retain them in the program.

s)Must be able to lift and manipulate seed, fertilizer and equipment that are over 50 pounds.

Page 1 of 2