Urban Gleaners Farm Harvest Lead
Urban Gleaners Harvest Lead
Everyone deserves access to fresh, local produce. Urban Gleaner's Farm Program exists to connect local farm excess to broader community access across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties.
We live in a region known for its abundant agriculture, and yet many members of our communities can't afford healthy produce. Labor is one of the highest business costs for small to mid-sized farms. As such, even if these farms have excess produce, farmers generally cannot afford the labor required to harvest and donate it. That’s where Urban Gleaners' Farm Harvest Program comes in. We lead teams of dedicated volunteers to harvest, pack, and transport any excess, ensuring that all the nutritious, fresh produce goes to individuals and families for free.
We need you to help us feed more people by leading harvests that bring even more fresh produce to Urban Gleaners’ network of free food markets.
Schedule and Location:
- July 19th- October 29th (some flexibility with start date, and there is possibility to extend season beyond October if harvests are available)
- Wednesday and Thursday morning availability from 8:00AM-1:30PM required, option to pick up an extra weekly harvest shift as available on Tuesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays
- The Urban Gleaners warehouse is located at 15 SE 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
Roles and Responsibilities:
Leading harvest:
- Pick up tools, containers, and packing materials at the Urban Gleaners warehouse
- Drive a refrigerated van or personal vehicle out to a farm within 40 minutes of Central Eastside Portland
- Communicate with farmers on-site about harvest availability
- Train volunteers on harvest techniques, respectful ways to engage on another’s farm land, and support volunteers in distinguishing between usable vs compost-quality produce
- Record measurements on yield and quality for USDA research program
- Document harvests for social media and promotional material by taking pictures and videos
- Bring produce back to the UG warehouse, unload, weigh/record quantities and types, and properly store produce in walk-in
- Option to support with volunteer recruitment and/or warehouse operations as time allows
10-15hrs per week
Essential Skills
- Strong communication skills across diverse groups
- Group leadership ability
- Experience with, or interest in, farming, gardening, and/or cooking with local produce
- Ability to lift and carry 40lbs, walk on varied terrain, and perform diverse harvest tasks in variable weather for 2-3 hours
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working on a farm or community garden plot
Wages and Benefits
- $22/hr for 10-15hrs/week
- Free produce from harvests and free groceries from Urban Gleaners’ warehouse
Educational Benefit
As a student or recent graduate, working with Urban Gleaners offers a valuable opportunity to develop outdoor leadership skills while gaining hands-on experience with local food systems. Urban Gleaners also provides opportunities for temporary employees to attend, support, and table at food justice and food systems events. We are also willing to work with you to figure out their areas of interest within the nonprofit and food justice sector and can offer mentorship tailored to your goals.
- Experience supporting nonprofit communications, fundraising, and donor stewardship
- Outdoor leadership and volunteer coordination experience
- Applied knowledge of local food systems, food rescue, and environmental/food justice work
- Mentorship, professional development, and networking within Portland’s nonprofit and food justice community
Please send a resume and cover letter to cait@urbangleaners.org with the email subject Harvest Lead Application