Founded in 2011, The Berry Center (TBC) is a farmer and rural advocacy nonprofit. TBC puts the writings of renowned Kentucky author, farmer, and activist Wendell Berry into action. We use conservation to advance prosperous small- and mid-sized farms, vibrant rural communities, and healthy regional economies. The Center has four programs: Agrarian Culture Center and Bookstore, Agrarian Archive and Library, Our Home Place Meat, and Farm and Forest Institute (FFI). 

The Institute is TBC’s community education program. We offer experiential classes to farmers, foresters, and people of all walks of life from Kentucky and beyond who support good land use. Most classes take place on our 200-acre working livestock farm, the heart of which is a 50-acre woodland. Our classes cover farm and woodland management, draft horse training, and the culture of agriculture. Our curriculum combines ecological, economic, and cultural literacy.

The primary service and supervision for this part-time, 900 hour position will be with the Farm and Forest Institute’s Woodland and Draft Animal Skills Instructor.  The person selected for this position will have the opportunity to work across The Berry Center’s programs, as well. The position entails: 

1. Forest, livestock, and farm maintenance and production work, which contributes to the curriculum

2. Use and maintenance of typical woodland management tools to perform forestry operations

3. Instruction assistance and demonstrations 

4. Contribute to curriculum development, especially for youth programs

5. Participate with and help maintain robust risk management system at the farm

6. Record-keeping and communications tasks

7. Community relations through The Berry Center events and programs

Per AmeriCorps eligibility requirements, AmeriCorps Volunteers must: 

1. Be 17 years or older (no upper age limit)

2. Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or hold Lawful Permanent Resident Alien status

3. Be able and willing to undergo and pass a National Service Criminal History Check

The ideal EELCorps Environmental Educator for this position will:

1. Possess basic skills for projects on a working farm and forest

2. Be willing to learn and implement environmental education that combines hands-on learning and the humanities

3. Be able to lead in-person lessons, activities, or programs

4. Be self-motivated, cooperative, flexible, and a good communicator

5. Be physically able to work in the field in all weather conditions and to repeatedly lift at least 50 lbs.

6. Have personal transportation and valid driver’s license and live in the vicinity of Henry County, Kentucky