The Watts Growing Project is a joint project of several organizations
which aims to increase the income of urban gardeners as well as improve
the availability of fresh produce in the Watts community. The project
will develop an intensive production and marketing infrastructure for
gardeners at a community garden adjacent to the Jordan Downs housing
development. The organizer will spend much of their time in the garden
establishing a relationship with the gardeners and conducting a needs
assessment to determine how gardeners are currently marketing their
produce and whether they would like to establish more formal marketing
arrangements. Together, the gardeners and community organizer will
explore marketing strategies and the organizer will assist gardeners to
sell their produce locally. In 1997, there will be a separate position
for an intensive production trainer to work with gardeners to increase
production on their plots and on growing for market.
Responsibilities:
1) Interact with the gardeners through discussions, informal
interviews, and working with them in the garden to understand their
monetary and nutritional needs.
2) Assess gardeners' desire and needs for increasing production and/or
marketing garden produce.
3) With the support of the Jordan Downs Resident Management Corporation,
interact with residents of Jordan Downs who are not presently involved
with the garden. Informally survey them to determine if additional
people are interested in obtaining garden plots.
4) Identify potential leaders within the Watts community who can lend
support and legitimacy to the project.
5) Research possible marketing options available locally, such as selling
to restaurants, certified farmers' markets, schools or other
organizations. Make initial contacts with potential buyers.
6) Organize workshops with gardeners and marketing experts (for example,
a farmer who sells to restaurants) to educate gardeners about marketing
options.
7) Coordinate marketing components such as purchasing arrangements,
transportation, and promotion of "Watts Growing" label and/or the concept
of buying locally to Watts residents.
8) Work closely with the intensive production trainer to connect crop
mix and growing methods with the marketing strategy chosen by the
gardeners.
9) In year two, developing a "Master Marketer" training program to train
market gardeners to share their knowledge of growing and selling locally
with other community gardeners or urban farmers.
Requirements:
1) Bilingual in Spanish and English.
2) Strong communication and organizing skills.
3) Enthusiasm for working in a low-income community with urban gardeners.
4) Ability to think creatively and solve problems with limited resources.
5) Highly motivated and able to work independently (with support from
other team members).
Preferred:
1) Knowledge of the Watts area and population.
2) Experience in marketing, especially agricultural, is preferred.
3) Gardening or farming background helpful.
Send resume and cover letter to: Marion Kalb at Southland Farmers'
Market Association, 1308 Factory Place Box 68, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
If you have questions, call (213)244-9190.