Seeking Participants for the 2023 Community Training Farm program

 

Do you love good food, working outdoors, and getting your hands dirty? Have you dreamt about becoming a farmer? Are you looking for meaningful, rewarding work building the local food system?

 

The Kingston Community Training Farm is a partnership between Loving Spoonful, the City of Kingston, St. Lawrence College, and Corrections Canada. The project is funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. The Community Training Farm is located on the Collins Bay Institution farmland, near Bath Road & Days Road in Kingston, and is operated by Loving Spoonful. The training program provides hands-on and theoretical training to prepare participants for work in the local agricultural industry.

 

Participants who successfully complete the training program will be matched with a paid farm job placement starting in Winter/Spring 2024. Part-time and full-time jobs will be available. 

 

This FREE training program includes the following:

 

On-Farm Training

On-site at the Kingston Community Training Farm, participants will receive training and hands-on experience in the operation of a diversified market garden, including soil preparation, planting, crop/pest/weed management, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and farm infrastructure systems.

 

Farm Tours/Workshops

Participants will tour various local farms and learn about diverse farm operations (including vegetables, livestock, field crops, and greenhouse operations). 

 

Skills Training 

Through St Lawrence College’s mobile training unit, participants will be trained in basic skills related to carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding and more. Participants will also take part in St Lawrence College’s new micro-credential program in Mental Health and Wellness for Farmers.

 

 

Schedule

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This part-time program runs one day per week (either Mondays or Wednesdays) from 9:00am to 4:00pm. All training will take place during these hours. 

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Who should apply?

 

We are seeking applicants with the following attributes:

• Interest in local food systems and food production

• Ability to perform physical labour outdoors in variable weather conditions (experience with physical labour is an asset)

• Ability to lift up to 40lbs

• Ability to work as part of a team

• Responsible, detail-oriented, and able to follow specific instructions

 

This training program is intended to provide opportunities for job seekers experiencing barriers to employment who have historically been excluded from the agricultural sector. As such, we strongly encourage applications from individuals who self-identify with the following demographics:

• Youth (under 30 years of age) and women

• Newcomers to Canada

• People living with mental health and/or addictions challenges

• Formerly incarcerated people

• Indigenous people

• Racialized people

• Members of the LGBTQ+ community

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This program is for job seekers only. Applicants must be available for part-time or full-time work in the local agricultural industry starting no later than Spring 2024.

*Please note that most job placements will begin Spring 2024, but there is a possibility of obtaining a job placement in 2023 for interested and qualified applicants.

 

How to apply

 

To apply, please complete this form: 

https://forms.office.com/r/4iKW6scMkk

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If you require assistance or accommodations to complete the application form, please contact us directly.

 

Contact

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If you have questions about the program, application process, or anything else related to the Community Training Farm, please contact the Community Training Farm Coordinator, Kathleen Moritz, at kathleen@lovingspoonful.org

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