Now HIRING!

PSU Campus Learning Garden Research Coordinator - Apply by 4 pm Friday, April 3, 2009

The Environmental Club is working on creating a campus Learning Garden which will provide urban gardening experience to students. The Miller Grant committee will fund a temporary coordinator to help research, set up, and plan the Learning Garden. Members of the Environmental Club will contract with an undergraduate or graduate student to spend 12 hours a week for Spring term helping to research, plan, and set up the Learning Garden.

The Learning Garden will consist of plots to be used as garden-based education by classes, student groups, and campus organizations. The Learning Garden will provide hands-on experiences with urban gardening for students who may have limited access to land. Classes, such as Permaculture or Organic Gardening, may use plots in the Learning Garden to earn the "Community-Based Learning" hours they need to complete their course. The plots will give them a chance to implement what they are learning in the classroom. Additionally, the plots may be used by classes for research or horticultural and environmental science classes. Campus groups such as the Multicultural Center or Child-care centers may also use plots for growing theme-based gardens.

To apply, please provide a resume with particular emphasis on experience with garden-based education, research, and any other relevant experience. On a separate sheet (or on the back of the resume!), please include a brief explanation of why you are interested in this job. Finally, include a brief but specific list of what you would do in the first two weeks in this job if you are hired, i.e. "By Wednesday of 1st week - compile contacts, send out emails, meet with Community Garden coordinator, etc." Feel free to drop off applications in the Environmental Club mailbox next to the SALP office in the Smith Building behind the Info Desk. Emails are also fine - send them to ecpsu@pdx.edu.

• Hours: 12 hr/week

• Wage: $10/hr

• Duration: Spring term, April 6 - June 14

• Required skills or experience:

  • Previous involvement with garden-based education, whether as a volunteer, organizer, or student

  • Research experience

  • Self-directed with the ability to prioritize and work independently

• Preferred but not required:

  • Previous experience updating blogs

  • Previous experience or knowledge of co-op structure

• Duties:

  • Provide weekly reports & log of hours

• Research and prepare portfolio of garden-based education programs, such as:
  

  • PSU's Learning Gardens Laboratory
    

  • PCC's Learning Garden

• Create a customized plan to implement such a progam at PSU

• Research and prepare portfolio of existing co-op structures at other schools and PSU, such as Food for Thought

  • Create a customized plan to set up such a co-op at PSU

  • Identify potential sources of continual funding

• Research and identify key components of stable, long-lasting organizations, and prepare recommendations for a PSU program to ensure stability

  • Identify existing and relevant programs at PSU and other schools exhibiting stability, such as the Community Environmental Sciences group in Urban Studies
    

  • Identify sources of continual funding for Learning Garden and co-op

• Identify and create a list of potential participants in the Learning Garden

• Present findings at end of term and advise on next steps for Learning Garden program (I was thinking that this person should also attend some Environmental Club meetings throughout the term and give updates on progress...?)

• Help the Environmental Club obtain land for the Learning Garden