Volunteering with Reiman Gardens

Activity Description

Thursday event volunteers will work with horticulture staff to set up the tents, tables, stanchions, and plants in preparation of the sale. These volunteers are not working with online plant sale unless specifically directed to.

Event volunteers will be primarily stationed at the Holding Table. Holding Table tasks include:

• Hold plants for safekeeping. Make sure to ask for shopper's last name and add a tag with their name to the plants.
• Group plants in crates as needed.
• Organize plants by last name alphabetically, keeping all plants safe from other shoppers.
• When shoppers are ready to pay, they must give you their last name. Hand over their plants (and offer to help them carry plants to cashier assistant tables if you can!)

When time allows, one or more volunteers can go out and help with the following tasks:

• Restock inventory as needed (you can ask hort staff where the inventory is being held).
• Help shoppers locate the plants they are looking for.
• Offer to take plants over to the holding table for safekeeping while shoppers continue to shop. (Don’t forget to ask their last name so holding table staff know how to organize!)
• Help shoppers take items to their cars after purchase.

Other tasks, depending on shift:

• The first shift of the day will help staff set up and prepare for opening the sale.
• The last shift of the day may include closing down and cleaning the tents.
• The final shift of the Plant Sale Extravaganza will also include tear down of tents and movement equipment.

The Plant Sale Extravaganza supports the Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology Graduate Student Organization, the Graduate Student Horticulture Society, the ISU Horticulture Club, Reiman Gardens, and the Story County Master Gardener Association. All plant purchases directly benefit each group’s programming.

Plants for sale include perennials for sun and shade, herbs and vegetables, Iowa natives, woody plants including trees, shrubs and Buck roses, container annuals, hanging baskets, strawberries, All-American Selection (AAS) winning vegetables and herbs, and prefinished mixed containers.

What to do upon arrival:

• Sign in at the volunteer break room in the Maintenance Building (look for signs on the Maintenance Building door). 
• Head to the holding table. Staff members or volunteers from previous shifts will give you the rundown on what's been going on and what you should do.

Please note:

• These activities take place outdoors. Volunteers will be on their feet for a majority of the time.
• Volunteers do not need to have any plant knowledge or experience to help with the plant sale!
• Volunteers may need to push carts loaded with plants or pick up flats of plants

Location

The Plant Sale is set up in Lot S1 by the Maintenance Building at Reiman Gardens. 

Staff Leaders

Renee Rule, Director of Guest Services

Emory Telios, Public Events Coordinator