Community Roots- Food Access and Farm-to-School VISTA Member

Community Roots uses an abandoned greenhouse nursery and accompanying six acres as the site of community programs that target horticultural and land stewardship programs. We are seeking to directly support and supplement:

• Local school science standards (e.g. STEM education goals, etc.) through hands‑on horticulture, gardening, food waste reduction and food production studies.
• Existing horticultural education (e.g. 4H, FFA, OSU Extension‑Knox) by offering community growing spaces at little to no cost.
• Community health programs by partnering with the Knox Public Health (KPH, also the Knox County Health Department) and Creating Healthy Communities (Get Healthy Knox) to increase access to fresh foods.
• Wilderness skills and programs through wild seed saving, plant identification, etc.

The Food Access & Farm-to-School Capacity VISTA member will focus on building systems to expand access to fresh, local foods & strengthen long‑term food security in Knox County. The member will develop tools and processes that connect local farmers with special education programs for nutrition education, food literacy, and horticulture‑based learning. The member will form and document farm partnerships and local procurement systems by developing educator and partner resource guides.

Serving as a volunteer coordinator, they will build volunteer engagement infrastructure for participation by traditional and non‑traditional classrooms. Additionally, the member will organize digital documentation and track outreach content, internal reports, and grant research to support program sustainability. This position is ideal for someone interested in food systems, agriculture, education access, nonprofit capacity building, and long‑term solutions to food insecurity.

• Childcare assistance if eligible
• Health coverage*
• Training
• Relocation allowance
• Living allowance
• Choice of education award or end‑of‑service stipend

For details about Ameri Corps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit

Permits working at another job during off hours. Permits attendance at school during off hours.

• Health
• Education
• Hunger
• Children/Youth
• Community Outreach
• Community and Economic Development

• Fund raising/Grant Writing
• Community Organization
• Computers/Technology
• General Skills
• Public Speaking
• Teaching/Tutoring
• Public Health
• Education
• Youth Development
• Writing/Editing
• Communications

Program Type:
Ameri Corps VISTA

Program:
Community Roots‑Food Access and Farm-to‑School VISTA Member

Program Start/End Date: 06/01/2026 - 05/31/2027

Work Schedule:

Full Time

Education Level: College graduate

Age Requirement:
Minimum 18, Maximum none

Program Locations:
Ohio

Accepting Applications:
From 03/02/2026 To 07/10/2026

Lizzie Carmichael
1104 W Gambier St
Mount Vernon, OH 43050
614‑221‑4336
lcarmichael