Hydroponics Apprentice

Connecticut Foodshare is the food bank serving all of our neighbors across the state. Working with a strong network of community-based hunger relief programs, we help provide nutritious food as well as long-term, sustainable solutions to food insecurity. By joining Connecticut Foodshare, you will be part of a team that helps drive community awareness, garners support, leverages research, and engages volunteers, to realize our vision of a thriving community free of hunger.

The Apprentice will work in the Freight Farm S modular container farming system located at Connecticut Foodshare's Wallingford location. Follow Standard Operating Procedures & best practices for crop health, food safety and indoor agriculture and through mentorship and hands-on training, the Apprentice will learn to farm with cutting-edge hydroponic growing system technology. This position will report to the Manager of Logistics & Agriculture.

This is a 20 hour per week part-time position. At this time, this position is in a test phase.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Operate and grow inside a hydroponic container farm including seeding, transplanting, harvesting, and maintenance.
• Perform routine maintenance of farms, including water and nutrient tank turnover, HVAC maintenance, sanitation, and sensor calibration.
• Coordinate packaging & distribution
• Collaborate with onsite managers for budgets and financial reports.
• Order and manage supplies and consumables.
• Track cost and output of the farm pilot program.

• High School diploma or GED.
• Hands-on experience in farming.
• Associates degree in Agriculture.

Skills:

• Passion for hands-on learning & education.
• Passion for plants, food, farming or STEM.
• Inherent interest in how things work; enjoys technology and troubleshooting.
• Organized, clean and detail oriented.
• Communicative, collaborative & proactive.
• Self-directed, takes initiative, but knows when to ask for help.
• Flexible, adaptive, creative problem solver.
• Physical ability to be on your feet for hours at a time, bending and reaching, lifting heavy objects, reaching in tight spaces.
• Experience with irrigation, electrical systems and/or mechanics.
• Ability to present our farm test to our donors, employees, board, and government officials.
• Other duties as needed.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to Human Resources.Connecticut Foodshare is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.Connecticut Foodshare maintains a drug-free workplace.

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