Application deadline:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of 11 April. 

Number of positions available:
3

Location:
Work will take place at home and on the farm in the Cully neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. May include some travel to and from select locations in the Portland Metro Area (for workshops and events only).

About us:
Rhythm Seed Farm (RSF) is a new nonprofit startup located in Northeast Portland. We are an urban seed farm dedicated to improving our communities and our environment by growing food and saving seeds. We specialize in raising rare edible and medicinal plants in the Portland Metro Area, and teaching people our techniques. For each packet of seeds we sell, we donate another to marginalized communities.

Our mission: To enhance social and environmental resilience by growing locally adapted seeds, distributing them to low-income and BIPOC communities, and empowering our members and partners to grow and save seeds of their own.

Our vision: To foster ecological resilience and a culture of abundance in our local food system, where everyone’s access to healthy, organically-produced foods is no longer defined by their income or zip code.

Our values:
— Mutual aid between people, plants and pollinators.
— Climate shock mitigation through smart landscape design.
— Creating and sharing a replicable nonprofit model that can be spread to urban areas across the United States.

Learn more about us at www.rhythmseedfarm.org/our-aims

Intern duties and responsibilities:
Assist in the development of smart, cost- and time-efficient digital policies and procedures, which may include but is not limited to:
— Assess available donor, member, and volunteer management systems & services (possibly in collaboration with community outreach and fundraising interns).
— Work closely with the team to develop & execute data collection and retention plans across our areas of work.
— Help us find ways to automate and simplify our digital processes.
— Developing a plant & seed info database (possibly in collaboration with media and communications interns) which will be used for community education.
— Improving our website and online shop for SEO

 Have an idea outside of the tasks described above? Interested in some but not all of the projects listed? Submit an applicatn! We have multiple positions available. When possible, we will divide the projects (listed above or proposed) based on interests and experience.

Benefits of the internship:
Interns will have the opportunity to make a major impact in a young volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, while learning edible landscaping/sustainable urban farming techniques that improve food security in our area while improving our urban ecosystems.

Rather than tinkering around the edges of old systems of large companies, our IT interns will have the opportunity to take charge of their own projects. This would be a great experience for those interested in building an IT consulting career with small businesses and nonprofits. Further, unlike internships at large companies or corporations, we encourage our interns to work across their areas of interest to gain as many hands-on experiences as will help them with their career plans and curiosities.

We also believe that the more people know how to grow food and medicines for themselves and their communities, the better place the world will become. So all interns — even those whose roles are mostly outside the garden — are invited and encouraged to come get their hands dirty with us! This can be done as part of your weekly hours, or in addition to them.

For students seeking internships for academic credit, we will work with your school or university to ensure your work will meet those requirements. A written recommendation from the intern’s direct supervisor will be provided upon successful completion of the internship. Finally, interns will receive a one-year membership to RSF at no cost.

Requirements and qualifications:
Current or former student in a relevant area of study preferred.
Interest in/passion for community mutual aid and community autonomy.
Interest in/passion for plants & gardening.
Demonstrable past experience, whether work, volunteer, or relevant course of study desired but not required.

Applicants with interest in data modeling, computer systems analysis and/or database design would be a good fit for this internship.

Schedule and duration:
10 hours per week from 15 April to 15 October (though we can be flexible on either duration or weekly hours for the right candidate). Weekly schedule will be set based on the availability of the successful candidates and Rhythm Seed’s directors.

Application procedure:
Submit your application by clicking the button below or at the top of the page and filling the application form. Short-listed candidates will be contacted for supplementary application materials and interviews as needed.