La Semilla is excitied to announce we will be working with Bowie High School in El Paso and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to hire a Food Coordinator for Bowie High School! The position will be employed by La Semilla and placed at Bowie to help expand our Edible Education model. Since January, Bowie has constructed beautiful garden infrastructure and engaged in developing links between the garden and classrooms, student groups, culinary arts program, and their business academy.
La Semilla is excitied to announce we will be working with Bowie High School in El Paso and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to hire a Food Coordinator for Bowie High School! The position will be employed by La Semilla and placed at Bowie to help expand our Edible Education model. Since January, Bowie has constructed beautiful garden infrastructure and engaged in developing links between the garden and classrooms, student groups, culinary arts program, and their business academy.
La Semilla is excitied to announce we will be working with Bowie High School in El Paso and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation to hire a Food Coordinator for Bowie High School! The position will be employed by La Semilla and placed at Bowie to help expand our Edible Education model. Since January, Bowie has constructed beautiful garden infrastructure and engaged in developing links between the garden and classrooms, student groups, culinary arts program, and their business academy.
Position: Food Coordinator Number of Hours: Full-time, Hourly, Nonexempt Employment Period: October 2014 July 31, 2016
La Semilla Food Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 2010, the result of community garden, youth development, and food system education efforts in southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Owing to these efforts, La Semilla is the only nonprofit organization solely devoted to fostering a healthy Paso del Norte region food system. Since our inception we have taught thousands of elementary and middle school students how to grow and cook fresh food while establishing a 14 acre education and demonstration farm in Anthony, New Mexico. We are committed to building strong relationships that empower youth and families to grow and cook good food, create positive change, and foster connections between food, health, and local economies. The Food Coordinator will oversee Bowie garden development and expansion, integrate school garden-based activities into the classroom, assist with culinary program and cooking activities, and coordinate post-harvest marketing activities. The Coordinator is responsible for developing Bowie as a model Edible Education program site, coordinating with students, faculty, and clubs to assist with activities, and promoting the Bowie garden in the community. Position Responsibility This position is based out of Bowie High School in El Paso, Texas and employed by La Semilla Food Center. The Food Coordinator reports directly to the Farm to School Director at La Semilla.
Scope of Work This position is created at Bowie High School to directly support the Bowie Jardin, Cocina y Mercado Programs. The Food Coordinator works with the principal, students, program coordinators, teachers, staff, academic experts, UTEP/Loya Center, parents, and community volunteers to:
Manage school garden development and expansion. This includes all aspects of food production from building soil fertility to post-harvest handling. Specifically, the Food Coordinator will help compost, water, plant, maintain, harvest, document and utilize the Jardin at Bowie. The Coordinator will collaborate to organize garden, nutrition and cooking activities that support the development of La Semilla Food Centers Edible Education program at Bowie and to expand knowledge of food and nutrition for all Bowie students and community, such as parents and grandparents. The Coordinator will also support planning for Phase Two of the Jardin at Bowie. This includes helping to procure additional funds, supplies, and other necessary resources.
Assist with cooking and culinary activities and programs. Coordinate with the Chef at the Bowie School of Culinary Arts regarding the growing and delivery of produce to the Bowie kitchen with knowledge and strict adherence to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulation. Coordinate with the Chef to lead family cooking nights where surrounding community members are invited to cook nutritious meals. Organize food tastings for students to try foods prepared directly from the garden. The Food Coordinator will research applicable food safety and handling rules and regulations, assist the Culinary Arts program in integrating garden produce into activities, and provide ongoing support for Cocina activities.
Help coordinate market activities. Coordinate with the Bowie International Business Academy Coordinator to and implement the marketing of garden produce and foods through the Academy. This includes helping to integrate marketing activities into the classroom and curriculum, developing an understanding of related rules and regulations, and coordinating with restaurants and local markets to develop market opportunities for Bowie products.
The Food Coordinator will facilitate activities in the following three areas:
A. The Jardin at Bowie
Work with master gardeners, educators, parents, children, academics and community members to assist with maintaining and expanding the garden; 2) facilitate extracurricular student gardening and cooking clubs; 3) help teachers incorporate garden-based education into classroom activities that meet education benchmarks and standards; 4) work to increase garden production, using more produce in classroom cooking and tasting activities; 5) provide general garden maintenance including tending to irrigation lines, pests, and other gardening challenges; 6) organize volunteer workdays at the school garden site and assist with Master Gardener training sessions; 7) monitor water use, document and prepare Annual Water Report to the PSB for Water Grant; 8) Support Phase Two Planning activities; and 9) provide limited guidance to other schools interested in school garden development and expansion.
B. The School of Culinary Arts at Bowie
Coordinate culinary and nutrition workshops, including family cooking events, and cooking and tasting activities in-class and after school; 2) assist with cafeteria fresh produce tastings; 3) work to grow, deliver and use fresh food in the school kitchen per applicable laws and regulations; 4) work with culinary school students to educate them on gardening and food production, specifically seasonality and production cycles; and 5) identify and assist chef with grant ideas and submissions.
C. Edible Education Development at Bowie
Assist with the development of a school garden listserv and volunteer base at Bowie High School; 2) participate in public outreach events to promote the Bowie initiative and La Semilla; and 3) act as a resource center for potential new school based gardens in the Central El Paso area.
Responsibilities also include: Integrating Edible Education program goals and education objectives into classroom activities and the school community. Fostering relationships with teachers, parents, and community volunteers to ensure garden program sustainability. Administering program evaluation. Track and document all program data. Contributing to La Semillas and Bowie High School social media venues, including Facebook, Twitter, the websites school garden blog, and school newsletters. Understanding and communicating the complexity of the globalized food system and the challenges and benefits of developing a local food system to enhance healthy communities. Understanding applicable laws and regulations for food to table initiatives in Texas.
Required Qualifications At least two years of program development or teaching experience. Demonstrated experience in gardening, market development, resource development and educational programming strongly preferred. Bachelors Degree in a related field is strongly preferred. Self-motivated with strong interpersonal skills. Commitment to working collaboratively with a wide range of partners and under limited supervision. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Detail-oriented and well organized. Hard working and dependable with the ability to manage multiple projects, set priorities and meet deadlines. Interest or past experience working in the areas of local food systems, health, nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
Salary & Benefits Compensation for this position is based on qualifications and experience. La Semilla offers excellent health benefits, paid time off, and a lively, creative work environment.
To Apply Please email cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as one PDF file to rebecca@lasemillafoodcenter.org by September 30, 2014. The position is open until filled; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
La Semilla Food Center is an equal opportunity employer.