Company description

At The Food Project, we believe that everyone has the right to fresh, healthy, affordable food. Our goal is to transform the food system into a more just, community-engaged model that supports food security for all while connecting diverse communities to each other and to the land. 

Since our founding in 1991, The Food Project has grown into a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that works at the intersection of youth, food, and community. Young people are the driving force of The Food Project and work on our farms and with community members to realize the right to food that nourishes our communities and the planet we share.

Each year, we employ 140 teenagers in this vital work on 70 acres of urban and suburban farmland across eastern Massachusetts where they grow 200,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and use this food to enact innovative food system initiatives that increase access to fresh, healthy food for all. 

We focus this work in the two communities we are most deeply connected to: Boston’s Dudley neighborhood and the City of Lynn. 

 

Our Mission
The Food Project’s mission is to create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system. Our community produces healthy food for residents of the city and suburbs, provides youth leadership opportunities, and inspires and supports others to create change in their own communities.

Our Vision

We envision a world where youth are active leaders, diverse communities feel connected to the land and each other, and everyone has access to fresh, local, healthy, affordable food.

Job description

What We Seek

The Food Project is seeking a full-time Assistant Grower to work on our Lynn farm for the 2025 season. The Assistant Grower will partner with the Lynn Farm Manager, youth, and community members in all aspects of production at our Lynn sites, which includes a 1-acre urban farm at the Ingalls school, a 1,200 square foot greenhouse, and supporting community garden plots. At the Ingalls school we practice no-till market gardening, which includes farming mostly by hand and with human power. The farm is intensively managed to produce 20,000 pounds of produce each year, and the Assistant Grower will support distribution through our SNAP-accessible farmers’ market, mobile markets, wholesale accounts, and donations to hunger relief organizations. This position is a mix of production, distribution, community and youth engagement. 

 

 

Responsibilities  

Farm and Greenhouse Operations 

Support Lynn Farm Manager to accomplish and or delegate farm tasks, with quality and efficiency, including composting, bed preparation, mulching, planting, cultivation, and harvest. 
Collaborate with the Lynn Farm Manager to implement and troubleshoot new farm systems that include  no-till, lean farming, and permaculture.
Assist in all aspects of greenhouse production and distribution related to our spring seedling sale.  Cover weekend greenhouse watering, on a schedule TBD with the Lynn Farm Manager (one weekend per month.)
Access crops in the field to forecast labor needs and harvest yields. 

Volunteer & Youth Engagement

Lead small groups of dedicated Work-for-Share volunteers in farm tasks for one to two mornings per week throughout the spring and fall.
Partner with youth development staff to lead farm work with youth in The Food Project’s Seed Crew- an intensive six-week summer job for teenagers.
Root Crew (Summer): During July and August, partner with youth development staff and with Root Crew, our more experienced youth, to run market harvest, washup, and complete more advanced farm tasks.
Dirt Crew (Academic):  During the spring and fall, support the Dirt Crew in managing farms on Saturdays with volunteers.  
Root Crew (Academic):  During the spring and fall, support the Dirt Crew in managing farms on Saturdays with volunteers.

Market & Distribution

Work with the Lynn Food Access and Education Manager and Lynn Farm Manager to run our market stand.
The Lynn Assistant Grower should feel comfortable going to market, and may be called to serve as lead farmer at the market stand.
Support and/or implement weekly harvest and deliveries to our wholesale accounts. 

Organizational Health 

Participate in our  justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
Prepare and participate in structured, regular feedback sessions.
Participate in all-staff meetings, team meetings, and provide cross-department support.
Participate in annual planning, budgeting, and performance review processes.
Perform other duties as needed, within capacity. 

Qualifications

This position is ideal for an individual who is interested in both sustainable agriculture and community engagement. It is well-suited for someone with at least one full season working on a vegetable farm, who is ready to take on a leadership role as part of an urban agriculture team. Candidates who have a passion for market gardening, no-till farming, food justice, and youth development will be an asset to the team. Our farms are run in partnership with youth and community members, therefore a candidate must have a passion for teaching and leading others, particularly young people.

Our youth and neighbors reflect the tremendous cultural, racial, and socio-economic diversity of the city of Lynn and surrounding neighborhoods. Candidates with experience working in diverse settings are strongly preferred. 

At least one full-time season of experience on a production farm or educational farm
Excellent interpersonal communication skills and energy for engaging with other people 
Dependable, responsible, flexible and open to learning 
Ability to work a flexible 40-hour schedule: Tuesday-Saturday in the spring and fall, Monday-Friday in the Summer. 
21+ years of age with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record (required for use of TFP vehicles) 
Ability to work both independently as well as in a team environment
Consistent work ethic and pace throughout the farming season
Enthusiasm for working with teenagers; prior experience teaching or leading youth in outdoor settings is a plus. 
Experience leading groups safely and productively 
Experience working in multicultural community settings
Team-oriented with a good sense of humor; able to work independently.
Knowledge of the Lynn community is a plus. Bilingual in Spanish, Russian, or another language is also a plus. 
CPR and First Aid certified or willingness to be trained
Able to pass a CORI/SORI background check

 

Location & Schedule   

This is a full-time 40/hr a week, seasonal position from April 1st– November 21st, 2025, with a seasonally fluctuating Tuesday through Saturday/ Monday through Friday work week. 

Daily schedule will be 7:00-3:30 with a half hour unpaid lunch/rest break and a paid break time.
There is the possibility of starting at 6:30am and ending earlier during peak summer heat waves. 

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $20.00 - $23.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

March 28, 2025