813 Hood Garden Space – Food Production Intern
Employer
University of South Florida (USF) - Mellon Humanities Internship Program
Mellon Humanities Internship Program
Title: 813 Hood Garden Space – Food Production Intern
Internship Site: Tampa, FL
Field: Health
Total Internship Hours: 50
Location: Onsite – Tampa, FL
MHI Compensation: This position is eligible for the MHI $1000 Scholarship. Students who receive an offer for this position will be required to enroll in the Mellon Humanities Internship course to receive the $1000 scholarship disbursement. As referenced in the Student Interest Form that you filled out to sign up for participation in MHI, this scholarship can impact, or be impacted by, other financial aid you receive.
If an internship requires out of pocket costs, students may apply for reimbursement for expenses including background checks, qualifying travel, or equipment. All applications will be reviewed and processed for eligibility. Please contact your departments internship coordinator for more details.
The $1000 scholarship offered for this position is intended to provide financial assistance for the pursuit of your education; it is not compensation for the performance of any services and does not create an employment relationship between the you and the Site.
This position is an experiential learning opportunity and receipt of the scholarship is tied to an academic course (IDS 3947). If you do not complete your registration for the course in a timely manner, your internship offer may be withdrawn, and your department’s Internship Coordinator may notify the host organization that the position has reopened.
Job Description:
About Us
813 Hood Garden is a grassroots garden education and food justice initiative located in a low-income, low-access (LILA) community in Tampa, FL. We provide youth and families with opportunities to (re)connect with growing food, community healing, and environmental sustainability.
Position Overview
We are seeking someone who is curious, dependable, and excited about growing food for their community. The ideal intern enjoys working with their hands, values sustainability, and wants practical experience supporting a community-centered food production program.
As 813 Hood Garden Space expands its seasonal CSA and food production initiatives, this internship offers an opportunity to gain meaningful experience in urban agriculture while helping cultivate a healthier and more connected local food system.
Key Responsibilities:
- Crop Production
- Assist with seed starting and transplanting
- Prepare and maintain growing beds
- Support succession planting efforts
- Mulch, prune, stake, and trellis crops as needed
- Monitor plants for pests and plant health concerns
- Harvest produce as requested/needed at the proper readiness time frame
Post-Harvest Support:
- Wash and prepare harvested produce
- Assist with packing produce for either pickup or delivery
- Help maintain produce quality and presentation
- Support basic inventory tracking for harvested items
- Organize harvest supplies and packing materials
Garden Operations:
- Assist with compost management
- Help maintain clean, organized, and productive garden spaces
- Clean and organize tools, supplies, and work areas
- Support record keeping including planting dates, harvest quantities/weights, and crop observations
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong writing and digital communication skills.
- Passionate about youth development, community-building, and social justice.
- Interest in gardening, agriculture, food systems, or sustainability
- Enjoys working outdoors in Florida weather
- Able to lift up to 40 pounds
- Reliable and willing to learn new skills
- Dependable, organized, and able to work independently when needed
- Reliable transportation is preferred
- Previous farming or gardening experience is welcome but not required. Training and mentorship will be provided.
What You’ll Gain
- Real-world experience supporting grassroots fundraising and nonprofit communications.
- Mentorship from a community-rooted organization working at the intersection of food, land, and justice.
- A letter of recommendation and recognition at the end of your internship term.