The Farm to Fork Coordinator is responsible for the lunch program at the Northwest Youth Corp’s Outdoor High School, which serves at-risk youth from the Eugene area. The Farm to Fork Coordinator plans and prepares lunch for up to 75 people, using ingredients from the Northwest Youth Corp’s Laurel Valley Educational Farm. The successful candidate will work with garden coordinators to maximize use of seasonal produce and other local ingredients to prepare tasty and nutritious meals for Outdoor School students and staff. Additionally, the Farm to Fork Coordinator mentors Outdoor High School students in the kitchen, and teaches them cooking skills as part of a Culinary Arts elective course.
The Laurel Valley Educational Farm was established in 1999 to augment Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) youth programs and has grown to become an important resource for serving youth and the community. Each year, the farm supplies hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to NYC youth crews and the OutDoor High School Culinary Arts program, and provides excellent experiential education and work experience for hundreds of youth enrolled in NYC programs. In addition, the farm serves the community by operating a weekly produce stand during the growing season.
Supervisor: Eric Boggs, Outdoor High School Curriculum Director
Essential Functions
- Preparing and delivering lesson plans for the Culinary Arts elective
- Planning daily and weekly menus based on seasonality
- Verifying that prepared food meets requirements for quality and quantity
- Harvesting vegetables
- Building a cache of recipes that can be used in future years
- Washing, cutting, and preparing foods for cooking
- Cleaning food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils
- Maintaining sanitation, health, and safety standards in work areas
- Cleaning, stocking, and restocking workstations
- Ordering and receiving supplies
- Taking food and drink orders and receiving payment from customers
Secondary Functions
- Development of infrastructure and curriculum to promote program identity
- Support Outdoor School staff in preparation for field education activities
- Participate in the Laurel Valley farm work
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- One year of college. Degree/specialization in culinary arts preferred.
- Experience cooking with organic vegetables
- Desire to educate youth about healthy cooking and living a healthy lifestyle
- Knowledge and experience in teaching and leading young adults
- Experience in organic farm operations
- Ability to establish a positive rapport with diverse groups of young people
- Good physical condition and ability to participate in intense physical labor
Schedule Requirements
- Part-time (12-15 hours a week) with a minimum of 675 hours and 9 month term with occasional night and weekend hours from September to Mid-June. Exact dates are subject to slight change.
Program Benefits
- Up to a total of $2,114 education award upon completion of the 675 hours of service
- The education award is taxable. Members are responsible for providing housing, food, work clothes, and a pair of 8 inch tall leather boots for working in the garden. Service eligibility is contingent upon the results of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, criminal and driver’s background check.
To Apply
Please see our website requirements under the AmeriCorps heading at www.nwyouthcorps.org or contact Kendra Henry at kendrah@nwyouthcorps.org or 541-349-7513.
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