Gardening

🌱 Gardening Program – Growing Skills, Confidence, and Community

Help the residents learn how to grow vegetables and herbs they can later use in cooking! Gardening offers hands-on learning, patience, and teamwork — and gives youth the joy of watching something they’ve nurtured come to life.

This is a seasonal volunteer opportunity that runs through spring and summer, and it’s a perfect way to combine your love of gardening with mentorship and connection.

What You’ll Do

• Guide youth through planting, watering, and harvesting vegetables and herbs.
• Teach the basics of garden care — from soil prep to weeding and composting.
• Work with a cottage of 10–17 residents after 3 PM on weekdays or on weekends.
• Share your knowledge and enthusiasm while encouraging teamwork and curiosity.
• We’ll pair you with a cottage based on your schedule and availability.

We especially need team leads who have some gardening experience to help guide others. No green thumb required — just a willingness to learn and have fun outdoors!

Program Highlights

Thanks to our generous supporters, every one of the 8 cottages now has deer-proof garden beds ready to fill with plants and possibilities.

Volunteers can take this program a step further by sharing lessons from the Edible Schoolyard curriculum, which we’ve adapted for our youth:

Know, Sow, Grow – Hands-on gardening with weekly activities and lessons that teach plant basics, vocabulary, and observation skills.
Cooking with Curiosity – Builds cooking confidence while helping youth reflect on their learning and enjoy what they’ve grown.

Plant & Seed Donations Welcome

If you’d like to support the gardens, consider donating plants or seeds such as:
🥕 Carrots 🍅 Tomatoes 🥒 Cucumbers 🌶️ Jalapeños 🥔 Potatoes 🎃 Sugar or pie pumpkins 🫐 Blueberry bushes 🌼 All types of vegetable seed packets

Volunteer requirements & next steps

• Volunteers must complete our standard clearance process before participating.
• Background check and brief orientation required before your first visit.
• Scheduling is flexible — coordinated between you and cottage staff.

Ready to Plant hope, grow confidence and inspire change?

EMAIL US to learn more or get started.