Community Plot and Volunteer Coordinator

If you have any questions related to the Community Plot, volunteering in the Community Plot, or requesting a donation from the Community Plot, please email Charlie Horstmann or call him at 207-846-3985

POSITION AVAILABLE — Community Plot Coordinator:

The Yarmouth Community Garden is seeking a new Community Plot Coordinator for the 2012 season. This non-profit two-acre organic community garden consists of three areas:

A children's garden
Rental plots
A community plot used for growing food to donate to food pantries and community members. In the last few years, we have donated between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds annually through Harvest for the Hungry (formerly Plant-a-Row for the Hungry).

The Community Plot Coordinator works with the steering committee and volunteers at the garden, but is primarily responsible for producing the food in the established raised beds in the community plot.

We are looking for someone with knowledge of growing vegetables organically who is enthusiastic, organized, able to work on their own as well as with others and the steering committee, and can work with volunteers of all abilities in the garden. Scheduling flexibility and proximity to Yarmouth are a plus, for the ability to stop in and water or move hoses and such at unpredictable times.

The Community Plot Coordinator will do the following:

Create a plan for the garden (according to the garden design), taking into account crop rotation and crop needs for the season, and principles of organic gardening.
Order and obtain seeds and seedlings, working with the steering committee to determine budget and garden needs.
Plan, oversee and carry out all aspects of garden prep, planting, maintenance, watering, harvest and clean up, working with and coordinating volunteers.
Keep volunteers and steering committee members informed of tasks that need to be done in the garden largely via email, and make sure that they are accomplished by him/herself or by volunteers.
Work with other coordinators and volunteers to carry out harvest and distribution of produce and to work towards meeting the community needs with the Community Plot.
Keep records of amounts of produce harvested for Harvest for the Hungry.
Coordinate weekly work sessions/harvesting two days per week at the same time every week so that volunteers can attend regularly and everyone can work together to accomplish tasks.
Attend necessary Steering Committee meetings, and assist with the Harvest Dinner in October.

The estimated time commitment for the job is 8-10 hours weekly from April to October with some times of the season requiring more hours, and some less.

A stipend is provided.

Interested parties may email Charlie Horstmann or call him at 207-846-3985 for more information.

The Community Plot

Produce in the Community Plot section of the YCG is grown from seeds and seedlings that are donated by local garden supply stores.

The garden is planted, tended, and harvested by volunteers. If you'd like to dig in and join us, we'd love to have you; just call, and we'll put you to work!

Donations

We donate all produce harvested from the Community Plot to local food pantries and other community service organizations. We deliver donations weekly from early July through mid-October.

In 2009, YCG distributed 2,600 pounds of fresh organic vegetables to more than 200 local residents, making YCG the largest garden contributor to Cumberland County's Plant-a-Row for the Hungry program.

Examples of produce grown for donation are lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, green peppers, and basil. Flowers included zinnias (the town flower), cosmos, and snapdragons.

Good Links

Food Resources
for Individuals
and Families