St. Lawrence University is excited to announce a unique opportunity for a new position designed to give the next generation of thinkers and leaders the tools to tackle the globally important challenges of sustainability. The Homesteader in Residence (HIR) is a live-in position with responsibility for all aspects of food production, preservation and storage, as well as the management and maintenance of the physical location for the Sustainability Semester site. The HIR will oversee our site’s sustainable energy, waste and other systems. This position has formal and informal teaching responsibilities during the spring and the fall semesters when the site is a community based learning residence. Position is full-time, 12 months, and the incumbent will live on site and be a fully participating member of the resident community of students and staff. For more and specific information on the Sustainability Semester, please go to: http://www.stlawu.edu/academics/experience/sustainability-semester.

Under the supervision of the Director and Associate Director, and in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension staff and the St. Lawrence students participating in the semester, the HIR will have the following key responsibilities:

•Manage and collaboratively plan, direct and oversee work in the gardens, season-extension structures, and small-scale animal husbandry, instituting, maintaining and teaching sustainable agriculture practices to students and interns.
•Manage, direct, teach and participate in food preservation and storage
•Plan and facilitate community sustainable agriculture- related workshops that integrate the expertise of local farmers and homesteaders
•Participate in program site development including various sustainable energy, water, waste and other systems
•Recommend, approve and oversee annual purchases of equipment and supplies relating to the program site and food production and storage
•Maintain records and document future plans relating to food production and other homestead-related sustainability systems
•Coordinate, oversee and teach homesteading-relevant skills and principles of sustainability to students and interns including energy, waste, etc.

Qualifications/Attributes:

•Experience, interest and desire to practice homesteading
•Creativity and excellent problem solving skills
•Interest in living a simple, sustainable lifestyle in community
•Excellent communication skills, ability to effectively teach sustainable agriculture and living skills
•Experience in sustainable farming and direct farm operation, preferably in climate zones 3-4 and including season extension techniques and structures and good agricultural practices
•Ability to lift at least 50 pounds and carry out the physical activity required to run a successful, small-scale sustainable farm/homestead
•Experience and demonstrated success with food preservation and storage; commitment to excellent sanitation and food safety
•Knowledge of sustainable energy, water, and waste systems and commitment to their development and implementation preferred
•Bachelor’s degree required; experience in a liberal arts environment ideal

St. Lawrence University is an AA/EOE. We offer a competitive salary and desirable benefits package. Planned start date is August 2012 through December 2013. Review of applications begins immediately. Interested candidates submit resume and at least three professional references to: Dr. Catherine Shrady, Outdoor Studies, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY 13617.

Located in Canton, N.Y., St. Lawrence University is a coeducational, private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,300 students. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. For additional information about St. Lawrence, please visit SLU’s homepage at http://www.stlawu.edu.