Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program
The Rudy Lozito fellowship program is an Urban Farming training program created in honor and memory of former Urban TIlth Staff Member and Farm Manager, Rudy Lozito. Rudy began his career at Urban Tilth as a summer apprentice just out of high school. An unlikely farmer, Rudy took the summer opportunity to cultivate organic food to feed his community to heart and quickly gained the passion, skills, and knowledge to become a site coordinator and later a farm manager. This program is designed to give opportunities to young people, like Rudy, who have a passion and desire for cultivating change in themselves and their community through the land and just need that first opportunity to get started.
In 2024, the Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program will host 4 West Contra County adults at our North Richmond Farm for 6 months of training in sustainable and regenerative farming practices. These practices include but are not limited to:seasonal organic crop production, minimal till farming, soil based carbon sequestration techniques, animal husbandry / poultry farming, and nourishing the soil, while working alongside our staff to steward the land and cultivate resources for our community.
*The fellowship program is open to West Contra Costa Adults – 18 years old + The fellowship includes workshops, trainings, earning certifications, field trips, guest speakers from people working various farming and land management fields accompanied with hands-on learning by working and completing daily tasks alongside the North Richmond Farm Collective. This fellowship is for individuals who are seriously and interested in learning the fundamental principles on how to responsibly run an urban farming operation.
Farm work is gratifying work but nonetheless, it is VERY physically demanding and requires consistency, discipline, and ability to work in all kinds of weather conditions. After some work days you may be achy, hot, wet, cold or just plain exhausted.
The 7 month fellowship requires a 20 hour a week Monday-Friday from 9am-1pm time commitment, and from April- October and will be compensated at $20/hr. And includes some basic benefits such as sick leave, holidays, and wellness fund allocation.