Vycc Production Crew Member

VYCC Production Crew Member

VYCC's Food and Farm Program is a youth development, diversified agriculture and food security initiative. We believe in the power that food has to connect us with the land, our community, and each other.

On the farm, young people engage in the daily tasks of organic vegetable farming. The produce grown by Corps Members is distributed to more than 400 families through the Health Care Share project-- a public health initiative that connects Vermont families to locally-grown produce through their medical provider. Patients who may have nutrient-related illness or have barriers to accessing fresh produce receive a weekly share of fresh food.

We also raise laying hens for eggs, chickens for meat, and additional vegetables, flowers, and herbs that we sell through our vibrant, on-site farm stand. In addition to the work Corps Members do in the farm fields, they also spend time in the kitchen learning cooking skills. Working with the food they've grown, they explore different recipes and help prepare a daily lunch that is served to all farm crews, connecting the work in the fields to the food on their plates. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : Production Crew Members spend every day working either in the farm fields, washing and packing produce, or in the kitchen processing and cooking with the most recent harvest. Production Crew Members participate in all the parts of an organic farm production system, including: seeding, transplanting, weed management, harvesting, animal care and farm stand support.

They will also learn technical farm skills, such as small equipment operation, high-tunnel production, irrigation setup and harvest of sensitive crops. Production Crew Members gain leadership skills by acting as the "Peer Leader of the Week." As the Peer Leader, Production Crew Members will facilitate and support their fellow crew members through the completion of daily farm tasks working closely with their Production Crew Leader.

Program Benefits : Training , Living Allowance , Education award upon successful completion of service .

Terms :

Car recommended , Uniforms provided and required .

Service Areas :

Health , Education , Hunger , Children/Youth , Community Outreach .

Skills :

Public Health , Environment , Youth Development , Leadership , Agriculture, Nutrition , Education , Community Organization .