CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS IN ORGANIC FARMING

Microcosmo is currently looking for two volunteers from EU countries or Ukraine that will support the staff members in organic agriculture and social farming.

This is an excellent non-formal learning experience for those interested in all things regarding vegetable-based food, cooking and organic and sustainable agriculture!

If in the future you want to have your own organic farm or family garden, better understand the use, tastes and characteristics of different vegetables or learn how to network with educational institutions, this project is for you!

Microcosmo is a 1 hectare certified organic farm that produces about 60 species of vegetables in the open field and in a greenhouse. The company implements organic farming practices to create an environmentally harmonious setting, where external inputs are less and less necessary. Microcosmo also uses agriculture as a tool for social equality, running social agriculture activities with students with disabilities, and employability enhancement paths for youngsters with a disadvantaged background. Social farming activities are growing and increasing in the farm.

Where: Magione, Italy

When: from beginning of June until end of December 2024 (6 months)

Who: 18-30 years old volunteers resident in EU member countries or Ukraine. Applications from other countries will not be considered.

Hosting Organisation: Società agricola biologica “Microcosmo”

Hosting Organisation Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/biomicrocosmo/

Applications deadline:  April 14th, 2024

Activities:

The volunteer will support the staff members in the following tasks:

• Agricultural tasks, following seasonal natural cycles: sowing in containers and in soil, transplanting, watering / irrigation and fertilization, treatments (with products allowed in organic agriculture and/or self-prepared), green pruning and topping, composting, preparation of flower beds with mulching and – where necessary with – supports, collection/washing/packaging, sales (mainly in the company, to joint purchasing groups, in two monthly markets, to school canteens and restaurants), maintenance of equipment and materials, re-organisation of company spaces.
• Social farming: hosting/working with vulnerable people, with disabilities and disadvantaged background
• Communication and social media (website and Facebook)

Support:

The volunteers will live on La Buona Terra farm, sharing their room with another volunteer of the same gender, together with other volunteers and living in an intercultural context. To get to Microcosmo, they will walk downhill for 20 minutes, catch a train, get down 10 minutes later, then Microcosmo staff will take them to their farm; same likewise for the return; this will be counted as working hours.

Food and accommodation, Italian language course, health insurance and mentoring are covered by the European Solidarity Corps programme. Meals can be taken in La Buona Terra, with other volunteers and project participants, and are mostly vegan and vegetarian, for environmental reasons, with some exceptions. Travel expenses will be refunded up until a fixed amount  (180 € from 100 to 499 km distance, 275 € from 500 km to 1999 km, 360 € if more).

The volunteers will receive monthly pocket money of 5 € a day, a food allowance and a travel card to go from their accommodation to Microcosmo.

The volunteer will work 35 hours a week with two consecutive free days per week (not necessarily Saturday and Sunday). Working hours will vary according to the months, in order to work in good conditions and avoid very high temperatures.

The working hours also include 1 hour for a meeting with the coordinator of the activities, that coaches the volunteers on their tasks; 1 hour for a meeting with the mentor, that evaluates the volunteers’ project, satisfaction and learning process; Italian language course, that will take 4 hours a week for the first 2 months, and other tasks that can include graphic design and work in Fattoria La Buona Terra farm, together with the volunteers of Associazione Kora.

Volunteers will usually work in Microcosmo farm for approximately 4 hours daily and in La Buona Terra farm the remaining 5 hours of the weekly working hours, either in the vegetable garden/outdoor works or helping in the kitchen and in the farm.

The hours on the field are usually as follows:

March-May 8.00-12.15

June-September 7.00-11.15

October-December 8.00-12.15

In some weeks, especially in the transplanting period of March-April and August, working hours in Microcosmo will be 6 a day for 2-3 days a week.

Criteria:

• Available for the whole duration of the project
• 18-30 years old
• Resident in EU member countries or Ukraine
• Basic level in English
• Basic or good level in Italian is appreciated, and strong motivation to learn and improve Italian during the volunteering period is required
• Ready to live in an intercultural context in a rural, isolated area
• Ready to wake up very early in order to catch public transport and start the activities early
• Hard-working attitude, adaptability, patience, open-mindedness, team-work
• Previous education and working experiences in the described activities are welcome but not necessary
• Driving license is highly appreciated.

How to apply:

1. Fill the online form below
2. Send your CV with picture to [email protected], writing “Application for Microcosmo” in the object of the mail.

Deadline to apply is April 14th. The pre-selected candidates will be contacted for an online interview.

Infos and questions: [email protected]