Company description

The Evergreen State College is a public liberal arts college located in Olympia, Washington, between Seattle and Portland, in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.

Evergreen attracts students inspired by the complexity of the world. Our model of learning prepares students for the way the world happens now, layering academic disciplines so students can focus on how they want to uniquely impact our ever-changing world. On a forested campus on the shores of Puget Sound, Evergreen offers two undergraduate and three master’s degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Environmental Studies, Master of Public Administration, and Master in Teaching.

Our teaching is student-centered, which means we are interested in helping students develop strong skills in critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaborative work. Because over 80% of our students come from underserved and marginalized groups, we are particularly invested in approaches to teaching that emphasize diversity and equity, that provide opportunities for challenge and growth, and that foster a learning environment where all are welcome and all can learn from each other.
 

Job description

We seek a broadly trained agroecologist with demonstrated expertise in sustainable organic agriculture with working knowledge of organic agriculture in the Pacific Northwest. The advertised position is a visiting position involving the planning and team-teaching of a 9-month, 48-credit, interdisciplinary Practice of Organic Farming course that spans spring, summer, and fall quarters (March-November, 2021). Although this is a 9-month temporary position, the successful candidate may have the opportunity to apply for future positions within our evolving agriculture curriculum.

The successful candidate will be expected to assist the farm manager in the planning and operations of a small-scale production/teaching farm, while carefully coordinating academic planning with the farm manager, including 16 hours/week of student farm practicum. The academic component (8 hours/week of classroom and lab time plus field trips) is expected to support the practicum activities and deepen students’ understanding of agricultural sciences, ecological, economic, and social sustainability of agriculture and food systems, small farm planning, and business development and management. Farm and classroom scheduling and activities will also be coordinated with allied faculty teaching in the Food and Agriculture Path to optimize use of facilities and provide for collegial interaction and student networking opportunities.

Over the past 40-years, the college has operated a five-acre organic farm, with 2.5 acres in row crop production, with pasture and facilities for animal husbandry, with food-grade laboratory and classroom facilities, as well as a certified commercial kitchen. The farm and surrounding forest serve multiple academic programs, and the successful candidate is expected to participate in the Food and Ag Path planning meetings to help update the campus farm master plan and coordinate farm use across academic programs. The successful candidate will have a genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for teaching and learning in an interdisciplinary environment and possess demonstrated excellence in teaching undergraduates. The successful candidate must have experience with the practical, economic, cultural, and social contexts in which agriculture is embedded, with a thorough understanding of small-farms food production and how farms create value through marketing and business planning. The successful candidate will also do outreach to statewide institutions/organizations and local farmers create in-person or online field trips for students, depending on current COVID regulations. We seek candidates who will support and encourage a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive learning environment, promote food justice, and who have had experience teaching and working with students from underserved populations.

Compensation

this position is: contract

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline