We're Hiring!  

Rural Resources 
Garden Manager Position

Farm Description:

Rural Resources is a 501-c3, 15-acre farm in East Tennessee. The farm includes a new 3,900-square-foot learning center, barn,  creek, greenhouse, and walk-in cooler. Our mission is to connect farms, food, and families through experiential learning based on sustainable agriculture practices. The 2,500-square-foot garden is managed using hand tools, a walk behind tractor, and a small John Deere tractor with a tiller attachment. We also have small livestock that have mainly served for education and small-scale meat production.

Position Description:

This is a one year AmeriCorps position through Appalachia CARES. The Garden Manager position teaches at-risk teens organic agriculture and entrepreneurial skills. Responsibilities include but not limited to managing a garden, being an educational resource on organic food production for the community, safe food handling practices and farm business development. The Garden Manager also coordinates educational activities for younger children. During field trips.

Abilities and Skills:

The Garden Manager must possess a commitment to working with youth and a strong appreciation for farming, the land and the unique agricultural and cultural history of the Appalachian region. The Garden Manager must enjoy working with people and must be able to work independently with a minimum of supervision. This person must be able and willing to learn new skills through professional development opportunities in order to meet the broad range of tasks that are assigned to the position.

Duties:

· Oversee planning & growing a garden and teach at-risk teens organic sustainable agriculture methods

· Help design, build and maintain home gardens with teens

· Meet and include field trip participants and Farm Day Camp children in learning about the garden.

· Direct special projects including fencing, carpentry and other farm improvement projects and manage volunteers and teens from the Farm & Food Teen Training Program as a part of accomplishing those projects.

· Work as a part of a team.

· Help train seasonal staff in farm and food safety

· Maintain irrigation infrastructure

· Work with other farmers to help support the local agricultural economy.

· Participate in fundraising initiatives.

· Complete special projects as assigned

Requirements:

· Ability to teach and work with youth of all ages

· Minimum of 3 years organic vegetable crop production preferred

· Experience in farm labor, infrastructure, equipment, business management  and marketing

· Ability to communicate effectively with the public

· Understanding of agricultural principles, whole-farm planning, crop rotation, soil enhancement methods, soil science, and general ecology

· A good attitude, flexibility, and a commitment to achieving the goals and mission of Rural Resources.

· Strong interpersonal, oral & written skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a diverse team

· Detail oriented

· Creative and high energy

· Able to work in all weather conditions

· Able to lift 50 pounds

· Computer literate

How to Apply:

Please submit a cover letter explaining why you’re interest, a resume, and three references to: Debbie Strickland, Farm & Food Training Coordinator (email: debbie@ruralresources.net).  Deadline is Nov. 15. Please, no phone calls or walk-ins.

Rural Resources Receives Donation

Rural Resources would like to say a big "Thank You!" to Rhiannon Williams!

Rhiannon decided to start a fundraiser for us by "donating" her birthday. She tells about it in her own words at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/donate/2165155080377763/2165155083711096/

Thank you, Rhiannon!

Growing Dreams!

Our Farm and Food Teen Training Program Coordinator Debbie Strickland published a blog on the Grow Appalachia website about the program and one of this year's new participants. Check it out here at this link.

In the Farm and Food Teen Training Program, Food-insecure teens raise produce and livestock, train with local chefs, learn business and leadership skills, and start a food related business. They then have an option for an internship.

The Program follows a 4-year rotation. In year one, teens learn all about growing food, from planting and harvesting to composting and livestock management, and much more! Year two get the teens into the kitchen to learn kitchen safety, cooking and catering. The third and fourth years focus on business planning and organization, implementation of a farm- or food-related enterprise, creating a resume and public speaking. After completing four years of training, teens move on to an internship with a local farmer or chef.

For more information about the program, call Debbie Strickland at Debbie@ruralresources.net or call the office at 423-636-8171.

Local, Naturally-raised, Pastured Pork for Sale!

The Rural Resources Farm and Food Teen Training (FFTT) program has naturally-raised, pastured pork for sale! This is a great opportunity to not only get healthy, local food but to also support the teen program.

The teens bred and cared for the pigs as part of their livestock rotation in the FFTT program. All the proceeds from the pork they sell will go back into the program.

Don't miss out! Order soon!

The FFTT program teaches the teens about livestock, business practices Teens use the knowledge and skills gained in the first two years of the program to earn money for the program during years three and four.

Over a two year period, they explore the basics of business planning and organization. Teens team up to create a business plan for their own farm or food-related enterprise! In the process, they create resumes and develop critical job skills such as teamwork, public speaking, creating business plans, marketing principles and more.

For more information about the program contact Debbie Strickland at Debbie@ruralresources.net or call the office at 423-636-8171.

Looking Back at Growing the Future

I found this short film by Anthony Frazier about the Farm and Food Teen Training program here at Rural Resources. Growing the Future was made in 2014, and features our own Miss Debbie with some of our teens. Enjoy!

Capital Campaign Deadline Extended!

Illustration of the Farm & Food Learning Center

 You may have heard our exciting news. If you didn't, here it is:

Our deadline for the $200,000 matching grant has been extended to May 1^st!

This is great news for us! The last update from our bookkeeper shows that the total of the donations that have come in from the website, generosity.com and checks mailed in to our office amounts to less than one-quarter of our goal and we urgently need to raise the rest.

This link will take you to a video on our generosity.com page that tells our story and shows pictures of the fire that destroyed our previous building, but here's a synopsis:

Fire devoured our building in 2009.

In 2009, a lightening strike sparked a fire that devoured our previous building. It was devastating but also showed us the love and generosity of our community. From the volunteer firefighters who responded to battle the blaze, preserve other structures on the property and protect our animals, to volunteers who helped with clean-up, from C&C Millwright's donation of a small construction office trailer to give us a roof over our heads to the local churches who lend us their facilities for cooking classes and events, we have felt the kindness, concern and support from our community for our youth and our mission.

The office trailer donated by C & C Millwright

Since the fire, staff has worked out of the trailer and programs have been conducted in the farm's tobacco barn, outbuildings and a Pavilion donated earlier this year by the Rotary Club. There is no indoor plumbing on the property.

The staff persevered, continuing to conduct and develop programs, and then we received a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to build the Farm & Food Learning Center. The center will house classrooms, a commercial kitchen and office space. The kitchen space will also be available to residents of Greene County and surrounding areas to help them establish food-based businesses. Construction on the building began last July.

“The teens in our Farm & Food Teen Training program will be able to prepare and preserve the food they grow on-site and be able to build sustainable farm- and food-related businesses,” says Sally Causey, Rural Resources' executive director. “Farm Day Campers won't have to use the outhouse anymore and students coming for field trips will have expanded offerings. There is no doubt that this facility will be a game-changer for hands-on learning opportunities for years to come.”

Progress on the
 Farm & Food Learning Center.
VWCA  Construction

 Funding for the current phase of construction was raised in 2014 but final costs were greater than originally estimated and additional funding is needed to finish construction and purchase the equipment for the commercial kitchen.

Fast forward to a second generous opportunity from the ARC.

In 2016 we received an offer of a second grant in the amount of $200,000. In order to qualify for the grant, Rural Resources must raise $200,000 to show that the building can be fully completed. We launched a capital campaign in December to raise the $200,000 we need by January 31^st. That deadline has been extended and we now have just under three months to raise the remainder of the $200,000.

“Cash and pledges will count towards the match for the ARC funding for which we were recommended by the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development,” says Causey. “We have a list of needed items and a variety of naming opportunities that can be found on our website for anyone who would like to make a specific element of building or a piece of equipment possible. We have learned from our previous fundraising efforts that every penny counts and we welcome all sizes of donations and the ability to speak to any individual or group. All who give will receive permanent recognition inside the building.”

Why are we asking people to give toward completing this project? Because we believe the children, the youth and our community are worth it and will benefit from the Farm & Food Learning Center for years to come.

Food Demo at the Greene County Fair

 “Since we began this program in 2008, at-risk and food-insecure teens have been learning how to fish, not just so they can feed themselves, but so they can share their 'fish' with others,” says Causey. “ It's built into the program that the kids give back to the community in a number of ways. They donate fresh produce from their garden to the local soup kitchen and do cooking and gardening demonstrations at the local farmer's markets and county fair.”

Teens in the Farm & Food Teen Training Program

The teens also cater a thanksgiving meal for the elderly, share their knowledge of growing food in their neighborhoods and some become the cooks and shoppers for their own families.

“Teens have gone on to do some impressive things and most importantly the vast majority have gone on to further their education or go directly into the workplace – in some cases immediately qualifying for management positions” says Sally. “The Farm & Food Learning Center will be key to beginning their own business ventures right on the farm. It will also provide much needed facilities for Farm Day Camp, our long running summer program for children along with a whole host of new learning opportunities for the entire community.”

Would you like to help us reach our goal to qualify for the ARC grant and touch lives for generations to come? There are several ways you can contribute.

Visit our generosity.com page and donate there.

Visit our website, ruralresources.net, and click on the support tab. From there, click on the Capital Campaign tab. Then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the donate button on the left.

Mail your donation to Rural Resources, 2870 Holly Creek Rd., Greeneville, TN 37745. If you bring it in person you can see the progress on the building.

Call our office at 423-636-8171.

We are grateful for any and all donations!

Orientation for Farm and Food Teen Training Program!

It's time to sign up for the 2017 session of the Farm and Food Teen Training program!

Orientation is Monday, January 16th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville. Any interested teens in middle school or high school can apply for a limited number of slots. The program has a heavy emphasis on hands-on learning. Topics include gardening, livestock, cooking and entrepreneurship. Participation in the program can lead to paid internships and exploring higher education options.

For more information, call Debbie at 423-636-8171.

If you would like to support this program for youth in our community, please visit generosity.com .