Spring Lake Park Reserve - 4.16 - 10.31: Spring Lake Gardens Volunteers - Gardening for the Common Good
General Description
We are searching for dedicated, garden-loving volunteers to help county staff care and maintain the Community Learning Gardens at Spring Lake Park Reserve in Hastings. This program uses dedicated garden plots that program staff use to teach special classes to community members on how to grow their own food back home. Any seasonal harvests collected from the teaching gardens is donated to the Open Door Food Pantry to further serve our community. Community Learning Garden Volunteers are integral to the success of this new program and to reaching our goal of a space to gather in nature to give back to the community in a very meaningful and impactful way.
Location
Spring Lake Park Reserve Garden Plots - Plot 10
8395 127th Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
Date/Time
The volunteer season will run June - October, daily to weekly help needed as your schedule allows. We understand summers are busy for everyone so we will work to be flexible with your schedules.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Be a resource for people interested in learning about the Community Learning Garden.
- Attend community events at the garden plots.
- Watering and weeding - frequent weeding and watering is needed to maintain a healthy garden. During dry spells twice a day watering might be needed. Other days depending on weather we might need less. Flexibility is key with gardening.
- Harvesting - Determining when produce is ready for harvest, picking the produce, washing, and dropping harvested produce off at Open Door Pantry. This is season dependent but likely will happen July – October.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A love (or at least liking) of gardening.
- Transportation is needed to access the site.
- Must be 16 years old or older to volunteer without an adult present. Families are welcome to join though. Bring your kids - more hands equals less work =)
Minimum Time Commitment:
- Come to the gardens at least once a week during the program season - (we understand summer can be busy, it is ok if you miss 1-2 weeks.)
- Schedules will be determined based on how many volunteers are participating, seasonal weather and temperatures, growing rates, etc. This program allows for a very flexible volunteer schedule.
- During harvest times, we ask that volunteers commit to at least two shifts to help out.
Activity Level
Active - Involves physical exertion for an extended period of time; project may involve rough, uneven or steep terrain. Activities will require longer periods of standing and walking with limited access to sitting. Activities will mostly occur in an outdoor setting with uncontrollable elements present.
Activity Accommodations
Accessibility questions? Please contact Cecilia Moulton-Pirkl
Training Provided
- Training as provided by county staff
- Optional and highly encouraged: Garden Gathering Events
- Supplemental Garden training from Master Gardeners
- Required readings from Open Door
Contact Information
Cecilia Moulton-Pirkl
Parks Operations Coordinator
Phone: (952) 891-7809
Qualifications Required
- Accepted Data Privacy Notice - Tennessen Notice Must be Yes
- Signed Volunteer Waiver Must be at least Yes
