Quivira Coalition announces the New Agrarian interns- one of which has just landed in the SLV to work at San Juan Ranch.  http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c85a7fa89b0b10639dd915a63&id=7aa0e93807&e=23a4aa2b63 

Cooking Matters!

And now we are so happy to announce the hiring of SLV Local Foods enthusiast and former Garden Coordinator Melissa Emminger who will be coming back to the San Luis Valley with her family to take on the position of Nutrition Education Director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition. Welcome Melissa!

New Creative Director

We are so happy to announce first our thanks for Elaine Patarini for her excellent contribution as the Nutrition Education Director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition. She will be transitioning out of this position and into a part time position as Creative Director of the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition.
Congratulations Elaine!!

Cooking Matters/Healthy Habits Director Job Description

Job Title: Cooking Matters/Healthy Habits Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Responsibilities:

The tasks required for this position include but are not limited to those listed below. 

• Coordinate and implement a minimum of 14 signature cooking courses, complying with CMC National gold standards, and maintaining an 85% graduation rate with no less than 25% being programing targeting Kids and Teens.
• Reach 75 low-income participants in Cooking Matters at the Store/Farmers Market with farmers market as the priority for the Local Foods Coalition.
• Recruit, train and maintain a large enough volunteer pool to fill each course with qualified volunteer chef and volunteer nutrition educators
• Recruit, verify, train and maintain enough community partners to offer at least 14 CMC courses to individuals and families living at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Line.
• Participate in nutrition, health or food events to promote Cooking Matters and its message.
• Offer programming in Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande, Saguache, & Mineral counties.
• Participate in required Cooking Matters local and national trainings
• Participate in required Cooking Matters local and national reporting
• Manage the Healthy Habits program, including the MOKI demonstrations at the Valley Farmer’s Market and at other locations, the 1-2 MOKI farmer’s market staff, and other nutrition/cooking education programming developed for use with the MOKI.
• Perform all job-related duties requested by the Local Foods Coalition Director, including assisting with funding applications to secure additional grants for nutrition education programming.

Abilities:

• Ability to organize and relate to groups of people from varied backgrounds.
• Evidence of personal initiative and resourcefulness with the ability to set own direction.
• Ability to effectively communicate with staff and community partners to mobilize resources and develop the necessary relationships to meet program requirements.
• Knowledge of nutrition and cooking, as well as local community agencies.  Knowledge of local languages and culture is a plus.
• Physical stamina.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Qualification Requirements:

• Passion for nutrition and cooking education, as well as the role it plays in the lives of low-income populations.
• B.A./B.S. in public health, nursing, health education, nutrition, dietetics, education OR equivalent education and experience.
• Experience and knowledge working with low-income parents and families.
• Basic knowledge in the preparation of nutritional foods.
• Must be willing to attend program activities even in the evening and/or on weekends
• Must be willing to attend meetings and trainings as required, which can be located within the San Luis Valley, the state of Colorado, and out of state.

Compensation:

• Range $30,000 - $35,000

To Apply:Submit resume and cover letter to nutritioned.slvlocalfoods@gmail.com   by Sunday April 14th at midnight.

 

SLV Local Foods Coalition is an equal employment opportunity employer and strives to comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful and all persons involved in the operations of the SLV LFC are prohibited from engaging in this type of conduct.

Local Foods Coalition meeting April 5th

featuring Jeffrey WishMer

Discussing the

benefits and possibilities for industrial

hemp production in the SLV

a crop that uses little water

pulls heavy metals from the soil

and has over 25,000 uses

and was grown by the founding fathers of

the United States

10am Hospice Meeting Room

Alamosa Colorado

Free Organic Gardening Course!!

Alamosa Community Gardens, The SLV Local Foods Coalition,

& Dripworks  Present:

Exciting FREE 3-Part beginning ORGANIC GARDENING COURSE!

The Basics of Home Garden Production

When:  3 Saturdays from 10 AM – 12 PM     

Who:  Paul Niebel has several decades of experience gardening in the valley and understands the issues and potential of growing food in a high altitude desert climate. This is a great opportunity to understand the in’s and out’s of starting a healthy garden – whether you are a beginner or experienced, Paul Niebel will answer your questions and provide an informative, engaging garden course! 

Where:   Trinidad Junior State College in the Auditorium

Cost:  FREE!

Please bring a POTLUCK dish to share, and CHILD CARE will be provided.

February 23 – Soils: Fertility, composting, cover cropping, and crop rotation.

March 9 – Garden Design:  Site selection, seed bed preparation, plants for the garden, seed selecting and sourcing, planting tables, and planting.

March 16 – Irrigation, pest control, weeds and weeding, maintaining garden growth, harvesting, tricks, gadgets, & shortcuts.

Please call 719-589-4567 ext.102 or email:  alamosacommunitygardens@gmail.com for more information.

Local Food Train

Elaine Patarini, our Nutrition Education Director, made this fun video of our recent event with the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad- the Local Foods Train! (See the link below.) Special thanks to Rhonda Mouser for her great garden song and to all of the guest speakers that joined us- Karen Lemke, George Whitten, Julie Sullivan, and Dan Hobbs!  And big love to Meghan Ibach and Jenna Kallestad, who have been incredible partners with the Alamosa Community Gardens.  They are both in the video but they are leaving us for a South American adventure!

http://vimeo.com/58914322