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 and Area Community Training Farm is a partnership between the City of Kingston, Loving Spoonful, St. Lawrence College, and Corrections Canada. The Community Training Farm is located on the Collins Bay Institution farmland, near Bath Rd & Days Rd in Kingston, and will be operated by Loving Spoonful.

The Farm Worker Training Program will provide hands-on and theoretical training to prepare participants for work in the local agricultural industry. The program will run part-time from July through November 2022. Participants who successfully complete the training program will be matched with a paid farm job placement starting in Winter/Spring 2023. Part-time and full-time jobs will be available.

This FREE training program includes the following:

On-Farm Training – From July through November, participants will receive hands-on training at the Kingston & Area Community Training Farm, located at Days & Bath Road in Kingston. Training sessions will be 3 hours in length (9am-12pm) one day per week, Tuesday through Friday. (Applicants can choose which day they will be scheduled).

The Community Training Farm is a diversified organic market garden operation, producing a wide variety of vegetable crops. Participants will receive training and experience in soil preparation, planting, crop/pest/weed management, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and farm infrastructure systems.

Farm Tours/Workshops – Participants will have the opportunity to tour various local farms and learn about diverse farm operations (including vegetables, livestock, field crops, and greenhouse operations). There will be 6 tours in total and transportation will be provided.

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

Online New Farmer Training Curriculum – Participants will receive access to Ignatius Farm’s New Farmer Training Program online curriculum. Weekly webinars and virtual farm workshops can be completed on the participant’s own schedule.

Total time commitment: 5-6 hours per week

(3 hours per week in-person at the farm; 2 hours per week of self-directed learning through the online curriculum; one or two 2-hour farm tours per month)

How to apply

Interested individuals must submit the attached application form and a resume to Ayla Fenton ([email protected]) no later than June 15, 2022. *UPDATE: The application period has been extended. We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Currently, there are only a few spots still available so please submit your application as soon as possible!**

The training program will begin the week of July 4, 2022.

Any questions can be directed to [email protected]

Qualifications:

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