Business Intern

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

We Grow Microgreens, LLC is a new small commercial urban farm growing with the power of the sun in a beautiful energy efficient, and water-conserving glass greenhouse. The Farm specializes in growing highly nutritious microgreens, edible flowers, and unique plants using sustainable growing practices. The Farm includes a 4600-square-foot glass greenhouse, a Community Preservation Act-funded community walking path, two high tunnels, and raised garden beds. The Farm was awarded the Microenterprise of the Year by the Small Business Administration in 2019. Grants from the United States Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, and the City of Boston have helped make the farm possible. Lisa and Tim, the founders, are committed to the local food movement and are dedicated to being a vibrant part of Boston's growing urban farming movement.

The couple selected a high-quality glass greenhouse for the farm that optimizes plant growth and allows neighbors to see the lovely greenery during all months of the year. The glass greenhouse has translucent solar panels on part of the roof and three rainwater tanks collecting 10,500 gallons of rainwater so that the business can have a greater capacity for sustainable growing practices of microgreens, edible flower production, and unique tropical plants resulting in increased yield and conservation of resources.  The Farm includes a Community Preservation Act-funded landscaped community walking path with wildlife-attracting plantings designed by Landscape Architect Wes Wirth. 

The Farm increased its growing capacity by over six times when it moved out of its backyard operation to approximately an acre of land in Hyde Park, a section of the City of Boston. Construction of the farm is almost complete, but much still needs to be done to get this small start-up commercial urban farm up and running. We are looking for innovative, entrepreneurial, and flexible applicants who have a myriad of skill sets. 

Projects that need completion at the Farm

A few projects that need to be completed on the farm are the construction of a farmstand, raised garden beds, a composting system, creation of an educational program for youth and adults, organization of events like cooking classes with our microgreens and vegetables, acquiring new restaurants and individual customers and running our farmstand and farmer’s market booth. The website, social media, and online store all need attention. Additionally, we will be writing grants to help fund various projects at the farm. 

This is a start-up urban farm and the business model is adapting to the needs of the Farm. You should be open to changes in the goals of the business and thus, your day-to-day tasks may change. Three houses bordering the Farm were purchased. Two of the three houses will be renovated. The acquisition of the houses was an effort to protect the farm from the possibility of development next to the farm that could potentially block the farm’s need for sunlight for growing plants and for powering the solar panels. Plants do not grow in the shade and solar panels need sunlight to function optimally. The goal is to prepare these three houses for rent and utilize their backyards for urban farming. A component of the job will be to assist with the renovation of two of the three houses. The intern could potentially help with budgets, analyzing estimates, researching materials and equipment, checking the quality of work completed by workmen, and picking out materials and colors. Lastly, tenants will be selected to live in the houses. The intern will also learn about tenant-landlord law. The goal is to make these houses energy-efficient and water-conserving. 

 

The business intern will focus on business development including restaurant outreach, bookkeeping, and Social Media. We are looking to expand our product distribution with restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and stores, and need help acquiring these partnerships. We need a strong person who is willing to take on this task. You will be asked to generate customer leads through onsite visits to restaurants and distributors. It is easy for the farm to get disorganized regarding bookkeeping due to the fast-paced and ever-evolving nature of our business. You must be organized, and diligent, and ensure that everything stays up to date. 

We also need help developing our social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, marketing materials, and maintaining the online store. We are looking for self-motivated innovators who want to help a start-up urban farm that is giving back to the community. You will learn the inner workings of a small start-up agriculture operation and become familiar with the local food system. 

You need to be willing and able to wear many hats and participate in the day-to-day decision-making that keeps this farm running. This is a start-up farm so in addition to social media and office work, you will assist with the agricultural side of the business. This includes but is not limited to building raised garden beds, working at farmer’s markets, learning about growing microgreens, and seeding, harvesting, and packaging. Additionally, the Farm has been very successful with grant writing to fund projects for the farm, so you will learn about and assist with the writing of grants.

The farm is conveniently located on the Commuter Rail and is a ten-minute walk from the Readville Commuter Rail stop. It is also accessible via the Forest Hills T Station and then the 32 bus. There is also parking onsite.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Generate, edit, publish, and share engaging content daily and communicate with followers
• Design and implement social media strategy to align with our business goals
  Maintain website using Wix
• Write and publish a weekly newsletter
• Take photos and/or create digital designs for use in marketing/social media
• Attend farmers markets, interact with customers, and help with set-up and breakdown of farmstand
• Market research, pricing research
• Basic accounting such as the creation of invoices, receipts, tracking customer orders
• Scanning and filing
• Assistance with and proofreading of grant proposals
• Construction of raised garden beds, harvesting of microgreens, various farm tasks
• Direct sales to restaurants and grocery stores
• Delivery of produce to customers
• Assist with the renovation of two houses focusing on the goal to make these houses energy efficient and water conserving. Help with budgets, analyzing estimates, researching materials and appliances, checking the quality of work completed by workmen, and picking out materials and colors. 
• Assist with the selection of tenants to live in the houses. The intern will also learn about tenant-landlord law. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Facebook, Instagram, Wix, and newsletter creation software (we use Mad Mimi), experience in managing social media preferred
• Ability to use graphic design software to create marketing materials
• Willingness to work in hot and cold weather
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple tasks, some alone and some collaborative
• Customer service skills
• Knowledge or willingness to learn Quickbooks, Clover point-of-sale system, and other software we use to run the business daily
• A love of plants is a plus
• A love or tolerance of our two dogs and cats
• Willingness to work on the Farm through the summer. This coop will go on until the end of August. You will receive four paid personal days and ten unpaid days off between January and the end of August for a total of fourteen days off.

COMPENSATION

• If this person proves to be valuable to our growing business, we are open to helping to sponsor them for a work visa.
• Salary and hours to be discussed in the interview
• The start date is to be determined. The position is from January until August.
• The position is work-study eligible

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of 2 references.