About VINES & Our Community
We are seeking passionate, committed folks to join our team! VINES is a Binghamton, NY based organization committed to developing a just and sustainable food system through community gardening & urban agriculture. VINES’ programs serve a diverse population and we are committed to building a diverse staff to lead our programming and support our community.
Binghamton is an extremely affordable community to live in, has the benefits of an urban city center in close proximity to a beautiful rural landscape with a lot of outdoor activities, and was recently named “the fifth-best Northeast city to live in after the coronavirus pandemic”. Binghamton is home to Binghamton University and is located in the Southern Tier of New York, along the border of PA and is 3.5 hours to NYC, 1 hour to Syracuse & Ithaca, and 2.5 hours from Albany.
SUMMER 2026 EMPIRE STATE SERVICE CORPS POSITIONS:
The Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) memberships will be a 300 hour position serving from June-August. The position pays $16/hour through Empire State Service Corps + an Education Award. To apply, please fill out and submit this application.
Urban Farm Assistant
Description: This position will work primarily at our 2.25 acre urban farm in Downtown Binghamton and our additional suburban farm plot in Conklin. The Urban Farm Assistant will assist the Urban Farm Manager and Urban Farm Coordinator with all aspects of diversified vegetable production across farm sites including: bed prep, direct seeding and transplanting crops, harvesting, washing, and packing produce, trellising and pruning tunnel crops, weeding, and landscaping perimeter areas. The Urban Farm Assistant will gain skills in agriculture and an understanding of local initiatives to combat food insecurity and promote food sovereignty. As our farm engages many volunteers, interns, and high school aged youth employees, the assistant should be comfortable working with diverse groups of people across age ranges and backgrounds. This position requires daytime availability on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, as this is when the bulk of our harvesting and distribution occurs. To apply, please fill out and submit this application.
Youth Program Assistant
Description: This position will assist the Youth Program Manager and Youth Program Coordinator with all aspects of our summer youth employment program, which runs from June 22 – August 14, and engages 25 high school aged youth who work at our urban farm, visit other area farms, and participate in educational workshops. The Youth Program Assistant will assist with developing lesson materials, data entry, working alongside youth work crews, developing lunch dishes incorporating produce grown on the farm, and assisting with all program logistics. The assistant ideally has an interest or background in education or youth development and/or experience working with high school aged youth, and should be comfortable working in a dynamic environment with people from diverse backgrounds. This position requires availability during the dates of the summer program from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Mondays through Thursdays. Valid license and ability to drive a passenger van preferred. To apply, please fill out and submit this application.
Farm Share Program Assistant
Description: Farm Share partners with local farms to provide weekly boxes of fresh, seasonal produce to residents across income levels. Members also receive educational materials such as recipes and cooking tips to help them use unfamiliar vegetables. This internship is ideal for students interested in food systems, nutrition, agriculture, and community-based work. The Farm Share Program Assistant supports weekly produce distributions and member education. Responsibilities include packing and distributing shares, staffing pick-up sites, interacting with members, tracking pick-ups and payments (including SNAP/EBT), and answering basic questions about produce storage and preparation. Interns may also assist with outreach, educational materials, food demonstrations, and volunteer coordination. Candidates should have strong communication skills, interest in health and social justice, and be organized and able to work independently. Must be available Wednesday and Thursday afternoons/evenings, have reliable transportation, and lift 40 lbs. To apply, please fill out and submit this application.
Community Garden Assistant
Description: The Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) Community Garden Assistant will assist with the development, maintenance, and expansion of community garden and compost operations and help implement Green Thumb Educational Workshops. The member’s service will be key to advancing VINES’ goals of combating food insecurity by educating program participants on how to plant, care for, and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables in VINES’ network of over 20 community gardens. The Community Garden Assistant will help build relationships with community gardeners and site coordinators to ensure that community members are receiving the information and materials they need to grow their own food and make changes in their health. As our programs engage many volunteers and community members, the assistant should be comfortable working with diverse groups of people across age ranges and backgrounds. The assistant must have the ability to lift 40 lbs, and a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are preferred. The schedule can be flexible, but will likely include some evenings and weekends. To apply, please fill out and submit this application.
SUMMER 2026 INTERNSHIP POSITIONS:
Binghamton Urban Farm Summer 2026 Internship (UNPAID)
Description: The intern will assist the Urban Farm Manager during the height of the growing season and the first half of our weekly farm share program. Work will largely be at the urban farm in downtown Binghamton, but may include some work at the CHOW farm in Conklin. Responsibilities include: assisting with direct seeding, transplanting, harvesting, and washing and packing vegetable crops; weeding and preparing beds; general landscaping of farm grounds and orchard; assisting in managing irrigation of crops and on-site compost creation. Interns will gain experience in day-to-day operations of urban vegetable production as well as an understanding of key sustainable agricultural practices. Applicants should be comfortable working outside in different kinds of weather and working with youth and volunteer groups, have reliable transportation, and be able to lift 50 lbs.
To apply, please email your cover letter and resume as one PDF to internship@vinesgardens.org by March 31, 2026. Please include the position for which you are applying in the title of the email.
Farm Share Food Systems Summer 2026 Internship (UNPAID)
Description: Farm Share partners with local farms to provide weekly boxes of fresh, seasonal produce to residents across income levels. Members also receive educational materials such as recipes and cooking tips to help them use unfamiliar vegetables. This internship is ideal for students interested in food systems, nutrition, agriculture, and community-based work. The Farm Share Intern supports weekly produce distributions and member education. Responsibilities include packing and distributing shares, staffing pick-up sites, interacting with members, tracking pick-ups and payments (including SNAP/EBT), and answering basic questions about produce storage and preparation. Interns may also assist with outreach, educational materials, food demonstrations, and volunteer coordination. Candidates should have strong communication skills, interest in health and social justice, and be organized and able to work independently. Must be available Wednesday and Thursday afternoons/evenings, have reliable transportation, and lift 40 lbs. Preference given to those available for both summer and fall.
To apply, please email your cover letter and resume as one PDF to internship@vinesgardens.org by March 31, 2026. Please include the position for which you are applying in the title of the email.
VINES Community Garden Summer 2026 Internship (UNPAID)
Description: The VINES Community Garden Summer Intern will assist with the community organizing and management of VINES’ 23 different community gardens across the triple cities area. This outwardly-focused individual will help nearly 500 diverse households grow food and community in shared urban spaces. Responsibilities include: Outreach to community members of diverse backgrounds regarding community garden membership, new community garden proposals, and educational programs (via social media, phone calls, and post flyers as-needed); Transporting plants, tools, and materials to and from community garden sites; Assisting with trainings and garden work-day projects, including garden builds, planting days, garden design and installation. The VINES Community Garden Intern will also have the opportunity to help other programs at VINES, including tabling and outreach at events to promote VINES programs, assisting with workdays at the Binghamton Urban Farm, etc. Bilingual and multilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must have a strong interest in understanding community gardening and food justice, a passion for working with and listening to people of diverse backgrounds, and a willingness to learn both hands-on gardening, office, and people skills. Intern must be available on occasional evenings and weekends. Reliable transportation and the ability to lift 50 lbs preferred.
To apply, please email your cover letter and resume as one PDF to internship@vinesgardens.org by March 31, 2026. Please include the position for which you are applying in the title of the email.