The Sustain: the Australian Food Network team at the Oakhill Food Justice Farm are delighted to offer four short-term internships at the Oakhill site in Tyler St, Preston, commencing at on mutually agreed date in June 2022.

 

These will run for four weeks, and involve 16 hours in total, consisting of eight two-hour sessions, two each week (Monday and Wednesday). Interns will receive an hourly stipend of $25 (max 16 hours). They will work under the direct supervision of Jemma Stefanou, Oakhill Urban Farmer and Volunteer Supervisor, and creator of Feed You Farm.

 

These internships (there will be a second intake in July) are funded by the City of Darebin and Jack Brockhoff Foundation. The funding is intended to benefit young people (18-25 years old) experiencing challenges and/or disadvantages in obtaining employment and/or accessing educational opportunities. 

 

Preference will be given to people 18 - 25 years old with a connection to the City of Darebin. If you are interested but don't fit those criteria, please get in touch anyway!
 

What can the interns expect?

 

This is a unique opportunity to work with an experienced urban farmer to learn how to turn a lawn into an edible growing space. The interns will learn how to grow fast-growing veg from seed to harvest. They will collaborate on 16 meters square of lawn, on which they will be able to do a full makeover, using biointensive practices for growing seasonal healthy food. Farm interns will have the opportunity to harvest food from the Farm to take home and the food grown as part of the project will also be donated to food relief parcels at DIVRS.

 

The emphasis will be on doing practical activities and elements, with the internship including:

• food justice, First Nations food sovereignty and decolonisation

• seed propagation and raising seedlings

• propagating herbs,

• soil work and bed preparation

• crop planning

• composting

• sowing, biointensive planting and growing

• crop protection methods and strategies

• harvesting, washing, packing and keeping produce as fresh as possible

 

What is the commitment expected of the interns?

 

At the commencement of the internship, all interns will contribute to a collaborative learning plan and create goals for the internship. Our expectation is that the interns attend every session where possible, participate fully and engage respectfully with their fellow interns and Jemma. Oakhill Food Justice Farm is an inclusive and welcoming space, committed to values of respect for difference and diversity for all people of all backgrounds and identities. We expect our interns similarly to commit to and respect these values.

Payment of the stipend will be made weekly following confirmation of attendance and participation.

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Session by session outline:

Week 1:

Session 1

• Welcome / introductions

• Tour of the farm

• Intention and goal setting

• Method in which the space is planned – explanation of the method – some theory on sun patterns /orientation/ daylight hours / soil /water/winter growing conditions

• Crop planning

• Introduction to food justice – reading suggestions for book club

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Session 2

• Soil work

• Biointensive growing – how can we get the most out of a small space – aiming for high turnover 

• Bed preparation and using tools

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Week 2

Session 3

• Lay compost

• Sow seed

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Session 4

• Learning about spacing

• Planting seedlings

• Crop protection methods and strategies

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Week 3

Session 5

• Seed raising and propagating

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Session 6

• Food justice / First Nations food sovereignty / decolonisation

• Book club / reading – suggestion in week 1

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Week 4

Session 7

• Harvesting, washing, packing, delivering to DIVRS

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Session 8

• Farm work, shared meal, reflection and feedback

• Where to from here – volunteer opportunities, work opportunities

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To express interest for the internship, please fill out the form below
or email info@sustainaustralia.org