Connect with your Inner Volunteer
By Kendall Kroesen Ph.D, Outreach Coordinator
After visiting Mission Garden many people hear a quiet voice inside saying, “Wouldn’t it be nice to volunteer there.” It is that same voice that says that you feel centered at the garden, peaceful. Or that you might learn something valuable there.
But maybe there were barriers. Many people have told me “I would like to volunteer at Mission Garden when I have more time.” When I finish my degree. When I retire. When I’m feeling a little better. When my kid goes to college. After I get more settled in Tucson. When it’s a little cooler.
Has that time come for you? This fall it will be cooler, your kid will be out of the house, you’ll be feeling better, and you’ll have your degree! We are ready for you.
The timing is great. There have never been more ways to volunteer at the garden! The tasks volunteers can do are listed below. If you are not yet signed up as a Mission Garden volunteer, and haven’t gone through our brief orientation, go to www.missiongarden.org/volunteer to learn more and sign up. Call me if you have any questions: (520) 955-5200 x2.
Gardening
Gardening will always be what most volunteers do. Volunteers come on Wednesday and Saturdays to learn how to improve soils, conserve water, prepare for planting, plant seeds, weed, harvest, and all the other tasks associated with growing things. They usually join together in teams and accomplish tasks in pleasant collegiality. Direction is always available from Garden Supervisor Emily Rockey.
We always appreciate volunteers who specialize in particular tasks or gardens. Kim takes care of the chickens, Tom helps in the Spanish Colonial Garden, Elena works on the Mexican Garden, Jerome curates the Early Ag Garden, and so on. There are many, many more possibilities. When you get interested in, and comfortable with, a particular garden area, you may want to become the expert there!
Seed Saving
We’re currently improving our seed saving and seed storage procedures. This allows us to harvest and securely keep seeds for planting the next year. When the time is right to harvest and save seed, you can help!
Education
Our Education Committee members are currently developing curriculum and activities to use when school field trips come to the garden. There are already field trips scheduled for this fall. Do you have an educational background? You may be interested in helping plan and facilitate the activities we do with school children when they come to the garden.
Kitchen
Due to the efforts of staff and volunteers our kitchen recently has passed a health department inspection and is on the road to increased productivity. We will need help this fall processing fruits and vegetables, freezing some products for later use, and making a range of preserves and other products. Volunteers, especially those with some culinary experience, can help in the kitchen!
Docents
Docents answer questions, give tours, and help visitors in any way they can. Our docent program provides them with classes, key readings, and hands on experience. They join our great docent team and learn all kinds of new things about the garden!
Retail
Our retail shop now sells a wide variety of merchandise (some from products grown in the garden and others from local, organic producers). We sell our own seasonal produce and heritage fruit trees along with books and other merchandise. People with retail experience are needed to make sales and help track inventory.
Events
Some volunteers specialize in helping during festivals, fairs, and educational events. We need people at the gates to direct visitors, give them information about the event schedule and locations, and to watch for and report any problems.
Offsite Tabling
Mission Garden is invited to appear at other organizations’ events. This is a great opportunity to extend the garden’s outreach efforts to new populations. This usually involves taking two roller bags with brochures, a tablecloth, and examples of things from the garden to the partner organization’s event. Sometimes we will also take produce and merchandise from our shop to sell.
Art / graphics
From time to time, we need help making signs, painting on rocks, and making plan drawings of things we want to do in the garden. Those with artistic or graphic arts experience can help!
Building / maintenance / tools
A variety of great volunteers currently build things, organize storage, and repair tools. This team can always use more members!
Administrative, clerical
Sometimes staff need help staying organized in our offices, entering data, and doing other random office tasks.
We need boots on the ground. If you don’t mind some ground on your boots, come volunteer!
