The following are the currently active TLC Farm working groups.
Coordination of communication with the public, volunteers, donors, etc.: website, newsletters, mailings, outreach tabling, media, event publicity, etc.
Roles:
Publicity Pipeline Coordinator (>3 hrs/wk; 6 months commitment; >25% on site)
· Receive publicity requests from working groups
· Ensure that copy is produced and edited to standards
· Coordinate with graphic designers, if necessary
· Determine appropriate outlets for publicity (ie. community calendars, advertisements, radio, journalists, flyers, etc.)
· Coordinate flyerers
· Consoldate publicity into packages
· Coordinate with working group
Monthly Updater
(5 hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; >0% on site)
· Solicit information for monthly updates from working groups, etc.
· Compile both text and HTML versions of update based on models
· Send updates using web interface
Media Point
Web Designer
(> 10 hrs/mo; 3 mo commitment; >10% on site)
· Develop improved communication/collaboration infrastructure
· Build systems for parallel online / offline information accessibility
· Improve navigation and ease of use.
· Develop and implement new look and feel
Web Updater
(1-3 hrs/wk; 3 mo commitment; >0% on site)
· Adapt to changing web infrastructure to update content of web site
· Currently, basic experience with HTML and Linux is strongly preferred.
· Receive text and pictures from working groups, then create/update HTML pages based on templates
Database Administration
(10+ hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; >25% on site)
· Coordinate with working groups to develop data management goals
· Communicate with CiviCRM development community and/or infotech coordinator (depending on background) to develop adequate tools
· Develop and communicate data entry, management, and export protocols
· Explore and improve data integrity
· Provide appropriate, secure public access to and website integration with data
· Maximize decentralization of data entry and management
Tech maintenance
(5 hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; 100% on site)
· Maintain wired and wireless data networks
· Maintain and improve older Linux computer systems (Debian and SuSE)
· Maintain phone systems (VOIP?)
System administration
(5-10 hrs/mo; 1 year minimum; >0% on site)
· Remote Debian vserver
· Medium traffic mission-critical Apache webserver
· Medium-traffic Postfix mailserver (spam issues!)
· Security improvements
Newsletter Editor
(10 hrs/mo; 1 issue/quarter commitment; >25% on site)
· Solicit articles from community members
· Compile and edit text
· Coordinate with graphic designer
· Coordinate with printer
· Distribute newsletter
Tabling Coordinator
(5 hrs/mo; 6 mo commitment; >25% on site)
· Identify and register for appropriate tabling opportunities
· Train tablers
· Schedule tablers
Publicity Materials Coordinator
(5-20 hrs/mo; 3 mo commitment; >50% on site)
· Ensure that we have adequate, organized stocks/full sets of pamphlets, canvassing supplies, flipbooks, DVD’s, CD’s, etc.
· Coordinate (re)design of new materials
Planning Coordinator
Working group point person
(3 hrs/wk; 6 mo commitment; >75% on site)
· Convene meetings
· Ensure that a spoke reports to spokescouncil
· Keep track of various publicity-related activities and address any breakdowns in process
Tasks:
Flyers
(.5 – 3 hrs; put on list OR responsibility for area; >0% on site)
· Download and print (or pickup) flyers, post in identified locations in selected area
· Posting to Lists (0.5 – 1 hrs; suggest commit for 2 months; 0% on site)
· Post already created email messages to a set of lists you’ve chosen
Graphic Designer
(1-10 hrs; on list; >15% on site)
· Meet with publicity pipeline and/or other relevant folk to set design goals
· Design posters, flyers, handbills, web pages, HTML messages, etc.
· Both computer-based and hand-drawn
· Knowledge of GIMP and/or Photoshop preferred.
Writing Stories for Newsletter
(1-20 hrs; per story basis; >0% on site)
· Discuss story ideas with editor for particular issue
· Write and submit story on agreed timeline to allow for revisions
· Story lengths range from 250 word vignettes to 1500 word features
Writing Articles for media
Tabling
Photography/Video
Writing/participate in website usefulness
Coordinates relatively autonomous functions of accounting, Friends of the Farm, major donors, canvassing, and grantwriting.
Curriculum
Community Education
Mother Earth Kindergarten
Scheduling Visits
(3 hrs/wk; 3 mo commitment; >75% on site)
· Maintain calendar of class visits
· Coordinate with edu teachers and schools/agencies to schedule visits
· Return any appropriate phone/email messages promptly
· Be responsible to edu working group
· (If wished, coordinate with infotech coordinator to make scheduling more automated and online)
Leading Youth Field Trips
(2-3 hrs per session; 5 session commitment; 100% on site)
· FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE SEE: http://www.tryonfarm.org/share/educators
Tasks:
Curriculum Development
(10 – 50 hrs; >15% on site) Experience preferred.
· Coordinate with edu working group to develop curriculum goals and audience
· Research existing curricula, and make as much use of existing material as copyrights allow
· Create curriculum resources, including teaching guides and aids.
· Present curriculum to working group/teachers.
Making signs to Spec
(10 – 25 hrs; commit to complete project; probably 100% on site)
· Acquire materials
· Construct signs with support from building coordinator
· Create online tour (10 – 50 hrs; >15% on site)
· Develop specific parameters for online tour in coordination with edu working group and infotech coordinator
Create clickable map of land
· Combine photos of land with information and links regarding physical and program features of organization
· First phase: implement on line version of physical land tour
· Later phases: add much more in-depth information, links, etc.
· Document all work so that anyone else can pick up where you leave off
· Web skills preferred but not required!
Design to facilitate an ecology of thriving, complex connections between groups that use land
Coordinates events that happen on the land, including scheduling, infrastructure needs, music, etc.
** Physical Ecology meets every Tuesday night, 6:30pm. Contacts: land@tryonfarm.org ; garden@tryonfarm.org **
The work of Physical Ecology is very broad in scope. We are in the business of educating ourselves and the broader community through experimentation with different ways in which humans can integrate themselves into regenerative physical ecologies that are capable of perpetuating themselves over geological timescales. We are responsible for the multitude of ways this vision of sustainability will be physically manifested at TLC Farm. The scope of the work is so broad as to invite subdivision and some definition of structure to allow for easy participation by the large number of people that will be involved in carrying out the work. The various projects we work on fall into several natural divisions. These natural divisions still cover fairly large topics and while members of the physical ecology working group tend to be generally knowledgeable of all the different divisions, they usually specialize in one or two. While we recognize that the many aspects of our work are all interwoven and always encourage cross pollination and learning of new subjects by all, it is often more efficient for a smaller group of knowledgeable people to make decisions and recommendations in their area of expertise. Thus, we recognize these natural divisions as subcommittees of Physical Ecology, and that it is in these subcommittees that the major work of the group should be done. We coordinate our work through a spokescouncil model with the subcommittees meeting as needed, coming together for bi-weekly joint Physical Ecology meetings to check in and make larger decisions or recommendations to Farm Council.
Physical Ecology sub-working groups are as follows:
· Wooden educational land signs
· Land cleanup
· Construct play structure (and prepare area)
· Goat barn water management construction
· Build chicken house and prepare site
· Wood chip paths
· Irrigation system in garden
· Remodel barn
· Rebuild Outdoor Kitchen (rocket stove, current kitchen deconstruction, build new roof, cabinets, level site
· Survey and regrade driveway
· Construct new hoop house
· Remove blackberries
· Deconstruct platform
· Water catchment system
· Fix up sauna area
· Wastewater treatment management installation
The garden working group is focused on coordinating the care and expansion of the permaculture gardens, the food forests, and the orchards. It meets fairly regularly on Thursday mornings. Matt Gordon and Bonsai Matt are currently coordinating the gardens, and point people for this group.
Goats and Chickens! Honey bees and Mason bees!
The built environment.
Materials Coordinator
(3 hrs/wk; 3 month commitment; >50% onsite)
· Keep track of existing materials: location, stock, etc.
· Identify new sources of reused materials.
· Ensure that Craigslist, Freecycle, and other online redistribution mechanisms are regularly reviewed and used
· Receive requests for materials
· Coordinate “schlepping” volunteers to acquire and transport materials efficiently
On Land Research Coordinator
(>5 hr/wk; 6 mo commitment; >25% onsite)
· Solicit and coordinate development of proposals for research programs on the land
· Establish and maintain partnerships with academic institutions and independent researchers
· Ensure that research protocols are followed
· Liaise with other working groups (education, social ecology) as needed.
Annuals Coordinator
Food Forest/Edible Landscape Coordinator
Building Coordinator
Animal Coordinator
· Goats
· Chickens
· Bees
OSALT/easements liaison.
(>5 hrs/mo; >1 yr commitment; >10% on site)
· Attend OSALT meetings
· Establish relationships with appropriate administrators in State Parks, Metro Parks, and City BES
· Ensure that commitments and responsibilities under terms of ground lease and easements are met
Planning Coordinator
Native Habitat Coordinator
(>3 hrs/wk; 6 mo commitment; >75% on site)
· Coordinate with Park, Metro, and other habitat professionals
· Improve and expand native habitat restoration plan
· Train and oversee volunteers in implementing restoration plan.
Work Party Host
(3-8 hours per event; 4 events in 12 month period; 100% on site)
· Welcome and orient participants during Thursday or Saturday work party
· Address questions and concerns, ensure that everyone feels as comfortable and engaged as possible
· If possible, conduct land tours (training available)
Restoration Research
(>5 hrs/mo; 1 year commitment; >25% on site)
· Research and/or develop innovative ways to assess native habitat functionality, including partial functionality in hybrid plantings with nonnative human-functional plants
· Establish protocols to assess changes in habitat function
· Coordinate with other groups and research coordinator to ensure data is gathered, analyzed, and results integrated into planning
Freecycle/Craigslist monitor
(>1 hr/wk; 1 mo commitment; >0% onsite)
· Review online exchange forums for potentially or actually useful materials, services, etc.
· Coordinate with materials coordinator and/or volunteer coordinator
· Can be entirely online and offsite.
Write research reports
Energy Coordinator
Water System Coordinator
(>5 hrs/wk; >6 mo commitment; >25% onsite)
· Develop plan for water management on land, including:
o stormwater bioremediation and use;
o rainwater collection;
o greywater;
o dams and swales for infiltration and irrigation;
o cisterns;
o nanohydropower and/or pump-batteries;
o wetland/headwaters restoration;
· Link plan to Park, Watershed Council, neighborhood, City, etc. efforts to monitor and improve watershed health;
· Coordinate with other groups in our social ecology to implement plan.
Tasks:
Stuff Schlepper
(0.5 to 3 hrs per occasion; added to list w/ availability)
· Be willing to move stuff from somewhere to TLC Farm
· Access to vehicle preferable, including bike trailer! (Not required.)
Observations
(0.25 to 1 hr; 10 occasion commitment; 100% on site)
· Read data gathering protocol
· Receive short training
· Gather various kinds of data, both general and specific, qualitative and quantitative
Garden Tasks
· planting
· mulching
· harvesting
· weeding
· sorting
· watering
Animal Tasks
· feeding
· egging
· milking
· vet stuff
· moving fence
Building Projects
· finish suana - phase I: flatten floor, create foundation wall, & finish plaster (feb/march/april08), phase II: changing area, shower, cold plunge
· toilet handwash station
· barn remodel - finished by july 15 2008
· outdoor kitchen remodel (phase I: redesign (in progress); Phase II: VBC8, including adding a 2-burner rocket stove, finishing the plaster on the rocket bench, and more; phase III: ?)
· maintaining cob projects: benches by sauna, benches by outdoor kitchen, altar in grove, etc etc.
·
Paths
(>0.5 hrs; no commitment)
· Lay down woodchips on existing paths where muddy using wheelbarrows and pitchforks;
· Lay down cardboard for new paths (under guidance of coordinator).
Literature research
(> 1 hr; variable commitment; >0% on site)
· In coordination with research coordinator, research both on-line and library sources for data, protocols, analyses, practices, etc.
· Report results of research, in a form depending on situation.
Flow flow flow!
Spread it and sink it!
Point people from various working groups come together to share information and make decisions that affect everyone.
Social Ecology focuses on the relationships between people and groups that come together at the farm. This includes interpersonal dynamics in the Cedar Moon community, the working groups of TLC Farm and the relationships between the farm and outside volunteers and organizations. We tune in to challenges and conflicts that arise and try to provide the support that is needed. We often create systems and structures to help organize our work and find that some of our ideas work wonderfully and others don't (in which case we learn lessons and come back to the drawing board). We pay attention to the relationship between economics and ethics and strive to make our economic systems meet our values. We try to create an environment where everyone involved with TLC Farm feels respected, effective and connected.
MEETINGS: Social Ecology meetings are open to any farm residents or volunteers from the larger community. We meet once a week for about an hour and a half. We often have kids running around our meetings because 3 of the 4 current core members are parents! Each meeting there is a facilitator and a note-taker- we try to keep these roles rotating. Throughout the meeting individuals take on tasks and projects that come up in the discussions. (for example writing a grievance policy or checking in with a community member) Our meeting notes help us follow through on work we've started and allow people who weren't present to see what we've discussed.
Agenda items you may find us talking about at a meeting:
Adressing power dynamics in the community
Working group check-ins (how are each of the working groups functioning, what support do they need?)
Integrating new residents
Issues about children in the community
Supporting community member's goals
Conflict Resolution Procedure
Coordinates with interfaith communities, facilitates sacred space creation, plans rituals.