Jobs and Opportunities

November 2024 Jobs & Opportunities
To signup for TOPP Jobs & Opportunities emails:
  • Email listserv@list.msu.edu with SUBSCRIBE MISUSTAINABLEFARMJOBS in the body of the message (NOT just the Subject line)
Headlines!
 
Grants/Funding 
USDA/EQIP Funding- Due by Nov. 22
GROW Lansing Grants $5000 for community gardens and sustainable land use in Lansing
Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) 
Grants and Funding Opportunities from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) 
  • Youth Educator Grants – Up to $6,000 for projects that teach youth about sustainable agriculture and careers (Due November 7, 2024)
  • Farmer Rancher Grants – Up to $15,000 for 1 farm or $30,000 for two+ farms for farmers to design and lead sustainable farm projects (Due December 5, 2024)
Grants, conference scholarships and mentorships for pasture-based livestock and poultry farming on the Food Animal Concerns Trust website (App opens October 10)
Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program – apply by Jan. 31, 2025 for 2024 expenses
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES DATABASE (FIND) TOOL to compare farm conservation programs and funding options
Farmland  
https://earthenheart.com/ affordable sustainable rental housing and ag land
The Great Lakes Incubator Farm (GLIF) (Traverse City, MI) apply now for 2025
Jobs @ Farms  
Ingham County Land Bank Garden Program Contractor email Cody Mohr at CMohr@ingham.org
Slow Farm (Ann Arbor, MI) Farm Manager and Farm Hand positions
Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (Several locations in Michigan) 
Titus Farms (Mason, MI)
Employment Opportunities list from MIFFS (Michigan Food and Farming Systems)
American Farmland Trust Jobs https://farmland.org/careers/
Jobs @ Michigan State University  
Extension Program Worker this position provides assistance and management of local 4-H programs and youth participants.
Research Associate-Fixed Term a postdoctoral research associate to work on the projects related to avian agroecology, biodiversity ecosystem service provisioning, sustainable agriculture, and inequity in science.
Jobs @ Michigan Non-profits/Other  
Eastern Market (Detroit) jobs page
Allen Neighborhood Center – Associate GardenHouse Manager
Uproot Market & Eatery (Battle Creek) General Manager
Food Corps (Petoskey) NOTE: the application deadline passed, but there are several unfilled positions
Outreach & Giving Coordinator- Grand Traverse Conservation District
National Jobs 
UCSC Center for Agroecology - Agricultural Operations and Programs Manager (Santa Cruz, CA) 1st review date is 10-7
COMFOOD-Jobs listserv  
Ag Solidarity Network Job Listings – 5 jobs posted in the last month
American Farmland Trust – 17 jobs listed including Midwest Farmland Associate (Remote – Indiana/Michigan) and Illinois Farmland Protection Specialist (Remote - Chicago Region)
Seed Savers Exchange – Farm Director (Decorah, Iowa)
Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA) job board: Multiple open positions
Volunteer Opportunities  
Growing Hope's  Home Vegetable Garden Program (Ypsilanti) seeks Garden mentors who speak English, Spanish and/or Arabic are needed, garden experience required, but you do not need to be an expert 
We3Queens Botanical Garden – contact Anne Lynn at w3qoutreach@gmail.com
Healthy Soils, Healthy Waters-Michigan growers in Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Monroe counties to participate in a new research project to further understand the connection between conservation practices, changes in soil health, and water quality improvements.
Events!
Nov. 11 Produce Safety Alliance Training, $100, Traverse City
 
Nov. 13 Uprooting Racism Workshop November 13 1:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Nov. 15 Enduring Kinship Roundtable on Indigenous seeds, art & climate change (Ann Arbor)
Nov. 18 & 19 Renewable Roots Convention (Lake City, MI)
Nov. 21 Uprooting Racism Workshop November 21 2:30pm - 5:30pm EST (online)
Nov 2024 to June 2025 Carbon Farming and Forestry Planning Cohort  NW Michigan
Dec. 6 Farmer and Community Input Session from noon to 1 p.m., Webinar to plan  2025 events for farmers transitioning to organic.
Dec 7 & 8 New Farmer U Minnesota
Great Lakes EXPO- Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market (Grand Rapids, MI) Registration
  • Dec 10- Soil Health and Cover Cropping
  • Dec 11- Organic Transition
  • Dec. 11- Organic Vegetable Management
  • Dec. 11- Farm Planning for Organic and Sustainable Farmers-Considering Multiple Goals
Feb 4-5, 2025 - Underground Innovations, Frankenmuth, MI
Feb 20-22 – Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference (LaCrosse, WI)
Ongoing - Organic Farmer Circles for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous, Asian, Queer and all farmers
Ongoing - 3rd Wednesdays Organic Farmers Association Crop Insurance workgroup
Ongoing – TEAMs program is a training for farm apprentices or employees by the Fairshare CSA Coalition
Ongoing - Becoming the Employer of Choice training for farm employers by the Fairshare CSA Coalition
  • Transition To Certified Organic Agriculture
  • Getting Your Organic Certification
  • Transition To Organic Livestock Production
  • Hobby Beekeeping
  • Rodale Institute Annual Virtual Field Day
Events list from MIFFS (Michigan Food and Farming Systems)
 
 
 
Organic Resources
ALL producers welcome for a casual Q + A session on all things organic farming.
The MI Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) technicians are available to provide technical assistance regarding organic production, input sourcing, cost-share opportunities, record-keeping, marketing, and more!
Visit our website for info and resources for organic and transitioning farmers:
ZOOM Link:
passcode:
TOPP
 
Michigan CSA Network paid opportunities 
  • Farmer Advisory Committee FAQ: https://bit.ly/3QaMuca $900 for 30 hours 
  • Regional Farm Network FAQ: https://bit.ly/RegionalFarmNetworkFAQ
    • Field Days - $500
    • Skill-based Workshops - $1000
    • Grower Gatherings - $500
    • Marketing events/support - CSA Fair/Open House Event - $2000
    • The Network has funding to support the following activities in each region:
Farm Sign-up Form for both Farmer Advisory Committee and Regional Network Leads : https://forms.gle/3d5WfDfaKAA8UnEC9 
Farmer Mental Health
  • Michigan Climate Smart Agriculture Survey – fill out 1 part or all 5 😊
    Part 1: Defining Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)
  • Part 2: Scope, Criteria, and Measurable Impacts
  • Part 3: Farmers Perspectives & Incentives; Verification Process & Standards
  • Part 4: Integration with Existing Programs and Initiative; Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
  • Part 5: Scaling Up and Long-Term Sustainability; Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement
Detroit People’s Food Co-op – sign up as a local supplier Detroit-based, Black-owned & other farms encouraged to apply
MIFFS Wholesale Producers List – add your farm to the list!
Interview + Survey about climate smart growing ($90 visa gift card)
Good Videos
Advocate
Advocate for Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, Food Assistance and ways for new farmers to access land in the next Farm Bill:

 

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