EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Atlantic Canada Regional Program Coordinator 
Organization: USC CANADA in collaboration with ACORN http://www.usc-canada.org 
Location: Sackville, New Brunswick 

THE BAUTA FAMILY INITIATIVE ON CANADIAN SEED SECURITY 

Following a pilot year of consultation and program development, USC Canada is launching a 4-year national seed security program. The goal: to increase the conservation and spread of ecologically grown, biodiverse, regionally adapted, Canadian seed. 

The program intends to build regional leadership and national collaboration to achieve its goal. Seeds of Diversity Canada is the main national partner. USC Canada and regional partners are now hiring 5 Program Coordinators to help deliver this ambitious initiative. 

ATLANTIC CANADA REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR 

The Atlantic Canada Program Coordinator will be hired by USC Canada, in close collaboration with the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network (ACORN). Since 2000, ACORN has been the key organization for information on organic agriculture, eating organics, and connecting all the parts together in Atlantic Canada. From seed to farmer to consumer, ACORN works to bring the whole picture together--making food choices healthier and more environmentally responsible. 

Part of a pan-Canadian program team overseen by the Program Director of The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security, the Coordinator will work from the ACORN office in Sackville, NB and have the mandate to coordinate the rollout of the program throughout Atlantic Canada. Specific responsibilities include: 

Coordination: 
• Oversee regional activities, ensuring they are both locally relevant and contribute to the development and implementation of a cohesive national seed security effort; 
• Outreach to and on-going liaison work with regional advisors; 
• Organization of seed-related training events; 
• Support for producers in submitting grant and/or loan requests to The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security; 
• Liaison with participatory research initiatives related to breeding and seed production; 
• Development of other programs to forward the goals of the project, in particular increasing access by producers to a wide variety of seeds that adapt well to their region and production conditions. 

Partnership Development: 
• Engage and collaborate with agriculture, food and seed-related civil society organizations, research institutions and relevant corporate actors to ensure cohesion in a regional approach to seed security; 
• Provide information and support to regional seed networks; 
• Help develop a long-term strategy for regional seed work; 
• Fundraise to support regional seed work. 

Communication: 
• Receive and respond to inquiries from farmers, gardeners, researchers, industry partners and community members about program activities; 
• Provide information on regional activities to be included in the program website; 
• Communicate with regional media outlets to raise awareness about the program and its activities; 
• Stay abreast of relevant seed- and food-related developments in the region and nationally. 

Support for ACORN 
• Participate in the daily life and structure of ACORN to help integrate seed as an organizational priority; 
• Participate in and assist with events, activities, workshops, etc. 

Finance and Administration: 
• Develop and administer the regional program budget; 
• Manage contractual arrangements with local assistants and partner organizations; 
• Prepare quarterly financial and activity reports; 
• Participate in regular program team meetings by phone, and two in-person program team meetings per year. 

Qualifications: 
Minimum 5 years experience in project coordination; education and/or equivalent experience in a field related to seed and food production systems; background in organic agriculture or agronomy; strong networking, coordination and organizational skills; a track record of strategic and creative thinking; strong oral and written communication skills in English. Event organization, training experience and bilingualism are assets. The chosen candidate will be expected to travel within the region on a regular basis. 

This is a one-year position with a possibility of extension up to four years. 

Start date: February 1, 2013. 

All coordinators will be expected to attend a multiple day orientation session in Ottawa on February 5-8, 2013. 

Submit your application to ACORN in confidence by December 3, 2012, attention Theresa Richards. 

Please include detailed curriculum vitae with recent references as well as a succinct (one-page max) account of your views on the opportunities and challenges of building seed security in Canada. 

By email: admin@acornorganic.org 
By mail: P.O. Box 6343, Sackville, NB E4L 1G6 

Only those applicants short-listed for an interview will be contacted. 
Your understanding is greatly appreciated. 

For more information on the partners: 
http://www.usc-canada.org 
http://www.acornorganic.org

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position: Farm Manager or Couple Wanted
Organization: Watershed Farm http://www.watershedfarm.org
Location: near Bridgewater, South Shore of Nova Scotia

Watershed Farm has been a mixed vegetable and herb farm for over 12 years and is located 13 km. from Bridgewater on the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia. This past year we have run a 62 member summer vegetable and flower CSA with a social justice mandate (subsidized shares, work shares and weekly food donations) and an educational component (we regularly host school field trips and workshops). Our plan is to increase our membership for this upcoming 2013 season and offer a longer CSA share that would include storage crops and possibly chicken and lamb. In addition to the CSA, we sell at local farmer's markets and have a few regular restaurant clients.

The successful applicant will assume all farming responsibilities for this upcoming growing season including managing the CSA and the sales at farmer's markets and restaurants. The position would begin in February 2012 with seed ordering and garden planning. While we would see the first year as a discrete contract, ideally we are looking for a candidate who is open to establishing a long-term relationship with Watershed Farm and Pollination Project. The position is ideal for a couple keen on farming together and could possibly accommodate a family.

The structure of the relationship and the salary, to be determined in part by the experience of the applicant, could include a mechanism for a sweat-equity participation in a portion of the property and a long-term lease for the use of the arable land. A written agreement will be entered into. 

Applicants should already have solid hands-on experience in organic farming, managing a CSA and be able to work with and instruct WWOOFers and/or apprentices. Interest and experience in Biodynamic and Permaculture methods would be a welcome addition. Practical knowledge of the use of farm tools including hand tools, rear tine tillers, irrigation systems, tractors and mowers would be required. As well, applicants will have a willingness to work with and appreciate the benefits of the educational aspects of Pollination Project.

Pollination Project, a social enterprise, has just completed its fourth season presenting workshops, seminars and events in Arts, Ecology, Health and Society.http://www.pollinationproject.org

The farm includes 250 acres of woods (Forest Stewardship Council certified) as well as a river and lake. Of the eighteen cleared acres on the hilltop, approximately 2 acres have been cultivated for market gardening. There is a chicken house, two large root cellars and two large greenhouses as well as two small movable greenhouses. There is a small flock of mixed breed sheep, Indian Runner ducks and a laying flock of approximately 30 hens and some heritage breed turkeys. There are over fifteen acres in pasture, with two irrigation ponds and a lower meadow. Accommodation is available in a modest wooden cabin and a complete kitchen, dining room and bathroom are available in the strawbale cabin that is shared with apprentices and WWOOFers when they are present.

For more information: Camelia Frieberg (902) 685-3901 or info@watershedfarm.org
http://www.watershedfarm.org

Organic food and farming in the U.S. and Canada is under immediate threat from GM alfalfa

Please check out this important information post on CBAN and take action!

Summary: Alfalfa growers do not need or want GM alfalfa and have been trying to stop it for at least five years. Organic food and farming in the U.S. and Canada is under immediate threat from GM alfalfa. Conventional farmers will also lose their markets. The introduction of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready) alfalfa would have serious negative impacts on many different types of farmers and farming systems, both conventional and organic. Because alfalfa is a perennial crop pollinated by bees, GM contamination is inevitable. GM alfalfa was actually approved in Canada in 2005 but still needs to go through one more step before it can be legally sold as seed in Canada.

Why is Alfalfa Important? Alfalfa (harvested as hay) is used as high-protein feed for animals like dairy cows, beef cattle, lambs, poultry and pigs and is also used to build up nutrients in the soil, making it particularly important for organic farming. If introduced, GM alfalfa would ruin export markets for alfalfa products and threaten the future organic food and farming in the North America.

http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/GE-Crops-and-Foods-Not-on-the-Market/Alfalfa