Hopi Youth Permaculture Leaders Program

The Hopi Tutskwa Youth Permaculture Leaders Program is an 8-week hands-on, leadership-focused program for youth ages 14-18. This program trains High School Students in leading and mentoring groups of youth to become leaders in food systems work. As a Hopi Tutskwa Youth Permaculture Leader, you will assist in gardens, fields, greenhouses, and nurseries. You will work with the HTP team to help plant, harvest, and care for local gardens and farms. Youth Leaders will work on garden tasks, do team building and leadership activities and assist in running the monthly Hopi Farmers Market Stand, selling garden grown goods to the community. Youth Leaders will work in a team to prepare, plant, harvest vegetables and also cook and eat from the gardens on a regular basis. Youth Leaders will be trained in all aspects of strengthening our local food system and will learn how to become mentors for other youth! This program aims to deepen young people’s understanding of and reconnection with our local food system.

We're now accepting applicants for our 2022 Hopi Youth Permaculture Leaders Program! We are looking for interested youth to participate in our program starting July 8th to August 7th 2022 on the Hopi Reservation.

Priority is given to prior Hopi Summer Youth Permaculture Participants.

Hopi Tutskwa Youth Leader Terms: Part-time ~ 8-10 hours per week (Monday-Thursday)

Dates: July 8-August 7, 2022

Wage: Monthly stipend + weekly share of garden vegetables

Number of Positions: 3

To be filled by: Open until filled

Additional Info: This position is perfect for high school students! Preference will be given to applicants who have participated in the HTPI Youth Summer Permaculture program in the past.

We are accepting youth who:

• Are 14-18 yrs. old;

• Have experience and interest in gardening, farming, building & orchard care;

• Have great work ethic and are willing to work outdoors;

• Have their own transportation to and from work/learning sites;

• Can commit to a minimum of 8-10-hour workweek;

Roles and Responsibilities

Assist with providing a safe and enriching environment for other Youth participants;
Assist HTPI Staff and Instructors in caretaking gardens, fields, greenhouses, and nurseries;
Help facilitate leadership and team-building activities for other Youth participants;
Follow all policies, especially regarding safety;
Assist with garden maintenance activities as directed.

Qualifications

Energetic, positive and excited to work with other youth;
Gardening or farming experience;
Experience working with youth (preferred, but not required);
Reliable;
Excellent communication skills;
Respect for all people regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.;
Belief in Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture's mission;
Flexible and friendly;
Transportation - must be able to get to and from the worksite each workday.

Youth Leaders will:

• Learn about Food Sovereignty, Facilitation, Community Organizing, and Youth Leadership.

• Gain a basic understanding of Permaculture Design Principles and Hopi Traditional Farming.

• Learn about healthy soil, how to improve soil, mulching and composting, worms/vermiculture, and traditional Hopi dry farming methods of caring for soil.

• Learn how to start a home garden, learn basic design and ideas for home gardens.

• Gain a basic understanding of plant propagation, transplanting seedlings; and plant/tree nurseries.

• Reconnect to the importance of water while learning ways to manage and store rainwater for residential and agriculture use.

• Learn how to identify Native plants and their uses; learn how to make medicinal salves/lip balms; learn the basics of sustainable harvesting of Native plants for food, medicine, crafts.

• Learn about orchard-keeping by working in Hopi community/school orchards; learn basic care for fruit trees including planting, pruning, irrigating, and bee-keeping.

Application Guidelines:

Please email a copy of your resume, 1 work or school-related reference (no family) and answers to the following questions to info@hopitutskwa.org. We will then contact you about interviews!

1. Describe why you are interested in being a Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Youth Leader:

2. Describe how this experience will benefit you:

3. Give two reasons why you’d like to work with HTPI and other youth in a garden/farm setting:

4. Describe how you will use the knowledge that you will learn:

5. Describe any farming or garden experience that you have:

6. If you were a vegetable, what would you be and why?

7. How did you hear about the position?