On Wednesday, while the Mobile Market is open at Common Good City Farm in Ledriot Park, we invite you all to get a first-hand look and learn more about the program. There will be an informal meet & greet with the Arcadia team and sponsors that have made this groundbreaking program possible. A bounty of spring produce will be on display and on sale, while educational and nutritional programming and cooking demonstrations will also be taking place. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

When:  Wednesday, May 16 from 5 PM to 6:30 PM

Where:  Common Good City Farm at Elm and 3^rd Street NW

We’re also working with school gardens all over the city to celebrate the spring harvest.  Hundreds of school stakeholders will be involved in this city-wide event.  We’ll need volunteers to help out, too!  Learn more and get involved at www.strawberries-salad.blogspot.com.

CGCF’s programs provide hands-on training in food production, healthy eating and environmental sustainability. CGCF’s presence in a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-generational community creates an opportunity for people from all walks of life to spend time learning about healthy food, gaining access to it, and exercising in the process of growing it.

What We Seek: We are looking for a well-rounded and outgoing individual who brings strong youth development background and is interested in and committed to the food justice movement. We seek individuals with a strong desire to become fully invested in our enterprise during their time with us. We hold high expectations for our youth and in order to foster their potential we require our Crew Leaders to be strong role models. Ideal candidates possess enthusiasm for working with youth, interest in Common Good City Farm’s mission, a strong work ethic, and a good sense of humor. While our organization is deeply committed to building a sustainable food system, we do not require candidates to be well versed in agriculture or the food production system. Show that you can bring energy, and an open mind to the table and we will teach you the rest!

This is a very competitive position, and Common Good City Farm strives to maintain a diverse and inclusive team. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong familiarity with Washington, DC
• A high school diploma
• Prior experience working with teenagers
• 20 years of age by June 21, 2012
• Ability to perform rigorous and demanding physical labor
• Interest in community service, the environment, and multicultural teambuilding
• Ability to motivate a group of young people while fostering their potential
• Openness to one’s own personal growth
• Background and experiences that reflect the rich diversity of the young people who participate in the program
• The capability to uphold high standards set by the community
• Ability to work in a team as well as independently
• Strong administrative and recordkeeping skills
• Be dependable, organized, flexible, and have a sense of humor
• Available to commit to full eight week period, working 7 to 8 hours per day

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead youth in fieldwork: planting, weeding, harvesting, and other farm chores
• Build raised beds in backyards and housing complexes
• Co-lead workshops in assistance to Youth Coordinator
• Accompany youth on at least two field trips to farms outside DC
• Supervise and motivate a group of 8 teenagers and a youth assistant, giving them weekly feedback on performance
• Keep good attendance and performance records on youth

SALARY: Weekly stipend

START DATE: June 2012

REPORTS TO: Youth Program Coordinator

HOW TO APPLY: Attach cover letter and résumé to an email to jobs@commongoodcityfarm.org. Applications are due by May 7, 2012. Common Good City Farm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks to maintain a staff that reflects the diversity of our community and the population we aim to serve. We welcome applicants of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses and sexual orientations. Common Good City Farm is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks to maintain a staff that reflects the diversity of our community and the population we aim to serve. We welcome applicants of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic statuses, and sexual orientations.

With high levels of food insecurity, disparities in access to food across the city, and 13 different city agencies playing a role in shaping our local food system, a group of advocates and service providers has proposed the formation of a food policy council with the intention of improving DC’s fragmented food system. One of the approaches we’ve taken is something we’re calling “Community Brainstorms.”

We came up with the brainstorm sessions idea because those most affected by the failures of our current food system are those that tend to be left out of the decision-making process. Right now our meetings are primarily composed of staff of organizations. Those organizations are diverse — from direct service to urban farms to labor rights coalitions — but we’re still mostly working with staff paid to participate. We want to change that.

At first we considered a city-wide survey, but community brainstorms will better allow us to build relationships with people and organizations who want to take action to build a food system we are proud of. Also, the more open-ended and free-form conversations allow all ideas to come out, where they might have not in a standard form.

The three main goals of holding these two hour community brainstorm sessions are:

1. To introduce a “food systems” perspective on issues like food insecurity, hunger, and obesity, and the idea of a food policy council as a way of tackling them.
2. To solicit input from a wide range of people, in particular those most impacted by the challenges in our current food system, in order to shape the formation of a leadership body.
3. To recruit volunteers and get more people involved.

This spring we are planning to hold two community brainstorms at Bread for the City, as well as several more in partnership with Groundwork Anacostia and other organizations. We are always looking for more partners to host these sessions (and individuals to participate as community members or volunteers).

If you can’t participate in a community brainstorm, you can still share your story of food. In the last year, we’ve published everything from the story of an urban gardener to a former Bread for the City intern. These are important pieces to the puzzle of figuring out what our food system looks like and how it affects peoples’ lives. Share your own traditions, memories, hopes, and dreams related to DC’s food system at Bread for the City’s story bank.

Please contact Angie Stackhouse (astackhouse(at)breadforthecity.org) for more information, to get involved, or to share your story.

This past week Bread for the City was awarded a grant from Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States for the DC Food System Organizing Workgroup. This grant will provide the resources and support needed to build upon the almost a year and a half of work by a group of advocates, activists, and service providers, including several Bread for the City staff. (It also means we’re hiring!) This group convened to investigate ways to address food insecurity and injustice and lay the foundation for a food policy council in DC. We have a vision of a nourishing community in which all Washington, D.C. residents can enjoy a nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate diet provided by a local sustainable food system that fosters health, equity, interdependence, and self-reliance.

To achieve this vision, the group looked to examples such as Detroit’s Food Policy Council that have worked to engage the community of stakeholders and activists already working to better their food system. We believe that policy-makers, non-profit service providers, and other sectors of the food system must be equal partners with grassroots leaders in the effort to re-imagine a nourished DC. It is only through grassroots organizing paired with our institutional collaboration across the food system that we can break down structural injustices, create healthy and sustainable alternatives, and become partners with city leaders in formulating solutions.

Over the past year or so, over 50 individuals and more than 30 organizations have become part of the core group that has been meeting monthly to work towards this vision. The actions taken have fallen primarily under four categories: research, communications, community participation, and clarifying our mission.

One of the first steps was to do our research — to assess what information is already out there and what work is already being done. The group looked into the District government’s fragmented approach and explored structures of food policy councils. The DC Food Finder was updated and information was compiled about what is happening and what has yet to happen. A project to create introductions to key food policies in DC was started, and should be up online soon.

Our primary method of gathering input and engaging the community has been through “community brainstorms.” The idea was born out of the recognition that we need to be hearing from individuals and communities who are deeply invested in the fixing of our food system, but may not be able to participate due to disparities in resources and time constraints. To date, eight sessions have been held at ROC-DC, Rooting DC, Capital Area Food Bank, Farmers Market Collaborative, ONE DC and the People’s Co-Op.

A lot has been accomplished since we first gathered around the table and began these discussions of a fair and just food system for the nation’s capital. Moving forward in this new year, we will hold more community brainstorms, further strengthen our relationships, and establishing a web presence to connect with more people and increase transparency. (A website housed within dcfoodforall.com will be coming soon.)

As we move forward with our mission to transform the DC food system, we would love your involvement. Be a part of the DC’s food revolution! Contribute by telling your story, volunteering at a community brainstorm session, or sharing information with your neighbors, coworkers, family, and friends. Learn about these and other opportunities to take action for food justice through the DC Food For All Google Group. And please take a moment to fill out this online form to let us know how you would like to be involved: http://goo.gl/AEDkJ.

Contact Angie Stackhouse, Food System Organizer, with any questions or for more information. You can reach her at astackhouse(at)breadforthecity.org or 202-480-8916.

Finally, a big thank-you to everyone else involved in the project thus far — Accokeek Foundation,Capital Area Food Bank, Center for Social Science Research at George Mason University, Common Good City Farm, DC Hunger Solutions, DC Central Kitchen, DC Food Justice Coalition, Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Collaborative, Ecolocity, Groundwork Anacostia, Field to Fork Network, DC Farm to School Network, Healthy Solutions, Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association Health Disparities Committee, Neighborhood Farm Initiative, ONE DC, SHARE Food Network, Summit Health Institute for Research and Education (SHIRE), and Restaurant Opportunities Center DC.

Councilmember Tommy Wells, the chairperson of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks, Recreation, and Planning, touted the health, educational, and environmental benefits of community gardens.  He proposed that the D.C. government play a more active role to ensure that local residents have an opportunity to grow their own food.  Wells noted that under the District’s 1986 Food Production and Urban Gardens Program Act, the mayor was instructed to establish a food production and urban gardens program.  This program would collect and maintain an up-to-date inventory of vacant lots which would be accessible by the public and it would implement policies encouraging “the donation and cultivation of vacant lots.”

Julie Day and Rashelle Celestin, who work for Baltimore City’s Department of Housing and Community Development, were invited to describe Baltimore’s Adopt-A-Lot program, which makes more than 4,000 vacant lots available for community gardening and neighborhood beautification projects.  Each lot is listed on the department’s Web site.  The application process to license a vacant lot takes approximately two weeks.  After the group has used the space for one year, it can renew its license for up to five years.  The department works with the city’s Bureau of Water and Wastewater to provide each garden with water, charging $120 per growing season.  The city has also formed partnerships with land trusts to preserve community gardens and open green spaces.

Access to water is a challenge for many community gardens in Washington, D.C.  Scott Kratz of the Pomegranate Alley Community Garden in Capitol Hill explained that his garden relies on an adjoining garden center, Ginkgo Gardens, to provide the gardeners with water.  Addie Cook, the president of the Fort Stanton Community Garden in Anacostia, said that the garden has not had access to water since it opened in 2001.  At one time, the fire department sprayed the garden with water but that is no longer the case.

A common theme among those testifying is the lengthy and complicated process to lease vacant land.  Groups that would like to lease a vacant lot must work with numerous city agencies to identify the owner, acquire permits, and determine taxes and tax liens.  Stephen Coleman, the president of Washington Parks and People, pointed out that in order to build the North Columbia Heights Green community garden, his organization had to work with seven city agencies and invalidate 45 tax liens.  Many who testified suggested that the city should provide the public with a list of vacant lots that are available for community gardening and urban agriculture purposes, streamline the process to lease vacant land, and designate a staff member who would work with them to coordinate the process.  Several people recommended that D.C. tax codes and land use regulations be revised to make it easier and less expensive for groups to establish urban food gardens.

Through their testimony, individuals and organizations revealed that despite the barriers they face, they have managed to transform vacant land, rooftops and even the back of a truck into food-producing spaces.  As they shared their success stories and the challenges they face, citizens were making the case that with more government support, the District of Columbia could become a center of urban food production.

To watch the entire hearing, visit the D.C. Channel 13 on-demand video Web site for the week of December 11-17 and scroll down to the “12/15/2011 Public Hearing, Committee on Libraries, Parks, Recreation and Planning.”

About the author:  Cintia Cabib is a local documentary filmmaker.  Her latest documentary, A Community of Gardeners, explores the vital role of seven community gardens in Washington, D.C. and shows how these green spaces are changing people’s lives, their communities and their environment.

Skillshares are informal events for exchanging skills which might be useful to our clients. Turnout has been growing since our first two–”Share Photos on Facebook” and “Computer Tips and Tricks”–and each time we’ve discovered new ideas for things we want to teach and learn together.

We’d like you to join us on Friday, December 9th for our next skillshare, Interview Your Family.

We’ll be joined by guest facilitator, friend, and blogger Danny Harris. Danny interviews DC residents from all walks of life and publishes the stories he collects on his blog, People’s District. Thanks Danny!

Got a media skill to share? Email us at storybank@breadforthecity.org

How it works: You shop like any other day, EXCEPT that 5% of all sales at the two Whole Foods locations that day will go toward growing the WIC and SNAP (food stamp) programs at the 14th & U, Mount Pleasant, Bloomingdale and NoMa farmers’ markets during their 2012 season.

Learn more about the project here.

Position: Mobile Market & School Educator
Organization: Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture

Summary

Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture is looking for an enthusiastic, engaging, self-motivated School Educator.  The Educator will spearhead food education efforts for DC-area students in school cafeterias and on the Mobile Market when the bus visits local schools.

About Arcadia

Arcadia is a new non-profit organization with a mission to improve the health of our community, increase the viability of local farmers, and preserve the environment for future generations.  Arcadia’s programs raise awareness about healthy food and its sources and establish innovative connections between sustainable local farms and consumers.

Arcadia’s educational farm is located on the historic Woodlawn estate in Alexandria, VA.  The farm models sustainable growing practices and engages the community through volunteer days, field trips, and special events.  Our Mobile Market is a farmers’ market on wheels that distributes fresh, affordable food to underserved DC-area neighborhoods.  Our Farm to School program connects schools with healthy, local food for their school meals; and engages schoolchildren in the farm-to-table process.  Our Food Hub will aggregate local products that meet strict sustainability guidelines, and distribute them to schools, restaurants and other urban institutions.

Responsibilities

The School Educator will report to Arcadia’s Farm to School Director, and will develop and implement educational programming at DC-area schools.  In addition to participating in special events and other duties as assigned, the School Educator will oversee two main programs:

Mobile Market Education

• Develop engaging, standards-based, age-appropriate farm-to-market educational programming for Mobile Market visits to DC-area schools, to include interactive culinary activities, mock farmers’ market activities, and plant life demonstrations;
• Manage budget, equipment, materials and food for Mobile Market school visits;
• Lead Mobile Market educational programming at schools during school visits – pilot project in early Spring 2012 for full roll-out in Fall 2013;
• Coordinate visit logistics with school point people (teachers, principals, custodial staff);
• Develop systems to gather feedback and evaluate program effectiveness;
• Work closely with Mobile Market Director and Mobile Market Assistant; and
• Assist with special Mobile Market educational events related to youth/family engagement.

Local Food Taste Tests

• Develop in-cafeteria, local food taste test programming in conjunction with Arcadia’s Farm-Fresh Feature initiative, which celebrates a different seasonal, local produce item each month;
• Lead Local Food Taste Test pilot project in Spring 2012 for full roll-out in Fall 2013;
• Coordinate with school point people (teachers, principals, food service staff);
• Recruit and manage volunteer assistants (parents, teachers, food service staff from school community);
• Coordinate preparation of communication and educational materials, recipes, signage, stickers, and handouts;
• Source and prepare food and serving implements; and
• Develop system to gather feedback and evaluate program effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Culinary/food safety experience required
• Experience with and desire to work with children (pre-K-12) in the school setting
• Experience with curriculum development (in the DC school system a plus!)
• Experience working with low-income, diverse populations
• Strong commitment to Arcadia’s mission and values
• Strong understanding of and passion for issues such as nutrition, child health, sustainable agriculture, and culinary arts
• Self-starter; ability to work in a low-structure environment
• Dynamic, energetic personality
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Strong attention to detail and ability to coordinate complex logistics
• Excellent written, oral and presentation skills
• Ability to work well with a team
• Willingness to work evening and/or weekend hours

Hours & Travel

20 hrs/week; January 2, 2011 – June 15, 2011
Hours are flexible, but primarily be during school hours (8am-3pm), occasionally nights/weekends
Must be able to travel to schools in Washington, DC

Compensation

$15/hr, plus fresh produce from the farm when available!

To apply:

Email brief cover letter (300 words or fewer), resume, and list of 3 references to info@arcadiafood.org with subject line “Mobile Market School Educator Application” by 5pm on Friday Dec. 9.

The D.C. Farm to School Network is pleased to announce that the third annual D.C. Farm to School Week will take place October 3-7, 2011 in schools across Washington, DC!  The week will get students excited about local food and where it comes from.  Schools will feature seasonal, local foods in their school meals, and engage students in hands-on food education.

Get your school involved! Learn how at www.dcfarmtoschoolweek.org, where you’ll find tools, resources and instructions for registering your school.  The D.C. Farm to School Network will help every step of the way.

Sponsor the event! We’re looking for organizations and individuals interested to help make D.C. Farm to School Week a success.  Read our Sponsor Packet to learn more.

Cleveland Elementary students visit Common Good City Farm

The event will kick-off the first ever National Farm to School Month in October, celebrated by schools all over the country.  Last year, over 150 schools served up seasonal specialties such as honey-braised local apple and collard green salad, and Asian slaw with local cabbage during D.C. Farm to School Week.  And dozens of schools coordinated farm field trips and chef demonstrations to engage students in the farm-to-table process.  Let’s make this year’s event even better!

For more information, visit www.dcfarmtoschoolweek.org or email Andrea Northup, D.C. Farm to School Network Manager at the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture, at andrea[at]dcfarmtoschool[dot]org.  This event is brought to you by the D.C. Farm to School Network and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education Department of Wellness & Nutrition Services, in conjunction with schools and other community partners.  And remember, D.C. School Garden Week will take place Sept. 26 – Oct. 1!