Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in...
- Volunteering to help build a local food system?
- Performing volunteer work with others who share a love of food and the land?
- Contributing your time and skills to an organization that you believe in?
- Broadening your resume and/or life experiences?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please check out the volunteer opportunities below. If you don’t see something that matches your skills or interests, please contact us at 815.389.8455 or learn@learngrowconnect.org.
Urgent Spring 2013 Volunteer Need
Do you love to dig in the dirt? We are in need of spring volunteer help at both our urban youth farm at Tinker Swiss Cottage & Gardens in Rockford and our on-farm demonstration garden in Caledonia.
In Rockford, we are are especially in need of groups of volunteers to help with spring planting of our vegetable fields. To volunteer in Rockford, please contact Spencer at spencer.e@learngrowconnect.org. To volunteer in Caledonia, please contact Liz at liz.w@learngrowconnect.org
Animal Crew Volunteer
Come out to the farm and help with regular morning or evening chores, barn constructing, fence repair, compost pile building, mucking the barns, putting up hay, milking goats, and more.
Contact: learn@learngrowconnect.org or 815.389.8455
Bread Baker
Learn how to bake bread and pizzas in our outdoor earthen oven, then return to help visiting groups with their baking projects. Projects typically take 4-5 hours total, and include starting and maintaining a fire, then monitoring and managing the baking.
Contact: Liz Whitehurst, Program Director, liz.w@learngrowconnect.org.
Dishwasher
Roll up your sleeves and support our workshop instructors with some dishwashing! Our cheesemaking classes, children's programs, and other cooking workshops go much more smoothly with an extra set of hands to help with clean-up. It's a great way to attend some of our cooking classes!
Contact: Liz Whitehurst, Program Director, liz.w@learngrowconnect.org
Chicago Urban Agriculture Volunteer
Move mountains of compost! Beautify vacant city land! Get your hands dirty with youth and adult gardeners, cook with refugee and immigrant farmers, help kids paint signs, build or tend homes for livestock (worms, bees), or lend a hand behind the scenes with research or technical assistance.
Contact: Martha Boyd, Program Director, chicago@learngrowconnect.org or 773.288.5462.
Good Food Gathering Host
Looking for a fun way to support the Learning Center? Make your next dinner party, cocktail party, or picnic a Good Food Gathering that connects your friends with local food and farms. As the host, you commit to raise $500 by asking guests to donate what they would pay for a similar night out. You invite your friends, family, and colleagues and provide the food and the venue so that 100% of proceeds benefit the Learning Center’s work to build local food systems. We provide a sample email invitation and informational materials, and can send a representative to your event to share more about our educational programs.
Contact: Corinne Henry, Director of Development and Communications, at 773.288.5462 or donate@learngrowconnect.org.
Farm Office Volunteer
Enjoy "indoor" work surrounded by the great outdoors? We need help quarterly with file management, tabulating program data, and occasional mailing preparations. Be a regular part of the team or call us when you have time!
Contact: 815.389.8455 or learn@learngrowconnect.org
Farm Garden Volunteer
Come regularly to the farm to help tend the Learning Center's garden that we use with visiting groups. Finish up weeding, help plant, and help maintain paths.
Contact: Deb Crockett, Program Director, 815.389.8455 or deb@learngrowconnect.org.
Handyperson
Do you have handyperson skills? We need a regular volunteer to work on small projects around the farm. There are trim boards to put on the cabinets, a leaky sink to fix, and an electrical outlet to replace. There is a path to lay, a gate to hang, and some fencing to repair. The list goes on.
Contact: Tom Spaulding, Executive Director, 815.389.8455
On-Farm Education Volunteer
Would you enjoy volunteering with groups that come to the farm to learn about sustainable agriculture? Activities include leading work projects, experimenting with soils, cooking with ingredients from the farm, teaching animal care, or leading food systems activities. We provide training, and welcome the skills that you bring.
Contact: Liz Whitehurst, Program Director, liz.w@learngrowconnect.org
Resource Development Volunteer
Do you have experience planning special events? Have you helped raise funds for a cause you believe in? We’re looking for experienced volunteers to join our Resource Development Committee. Help plan special events, advise on development strategy, and reach out to potential supporters while making an important contribution to our mission.
Contact: Corinne Henry, Director of Development and Communications, 773.288.5462 or donate@learngrowconnect.org.
Roots & Wings Program Volunteer (Rockford)
Volunteer in one of our Roots & Wings youth gardens in Northwest Rockford. Work weekly with youth in gardens. Help with art projects, cooking and nutrition education, and small business development (value-added products and farmer’s market sales).
Contact: Danica Hoehn, Program Director, 815.243.1552 or danica@learngrowconnect.org
Technology Volunteer
Help our staff keep the office side of things running! We are looking for geeks who can help our staff set up new hardware, troubleshoot minor emergencies, and work on networking projects.
Contact: Tara Lamb, IS Manager, computer@learngrowconnect.org or 815.389.8455
Vegetable Crew Volunteer
From June to October
Get down and get dirty! Angelic Organics CSA shareholders are encouraged to come to the farm to walk a day in your farmer’s shoes (or muddy boots!) and to work alongside the field crew. At least one week’s notice is needed. Field volunteering guidelines will be provided.
Contact Angelic Organics Farm: csa@angelicorganics.com, 815-389-2746
Check out our Wish List for additional volunteer opportunities.
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