Current Opportunities:
Wreath Project Volunteers Needed!
Our biggest annual fundraiser is the long standing “Wreath Project”. Evergreen balsam wreaths are decorated by volunteers, using bows made by a volunteer team and dried flowers/berries and cones prepped by volunteers. The work starts now! (Well, actually the garden team, Gaining Ground Farm and other growers have been producing & drying flowers for us all season.) Check out dates below, but other options may be available. To sign up or clarifying questions, please contact Lisa@thegrowingcenter.org.
Sunday, November 5, 12-2 pm: Volunteer Training ~ Flower and Cone prep (5-8 volunteers)
Come and learn basic tips for preparing dried flowers and cones for the wreaths. No experience required, but fine motor skills will be put to use.
Tuesday, November 7, 4-7 pm: Bow Making Training @ 50 Oxford Street
Get a refresher on bow making and pick up materials from Liza. Contact lpkitchell@gmail.com to sign up!
Thursday, November 30, 12-8 pm: Wreath Assembly and Pickup (12-20 volunteers)
All hands welcome. Be part of this creative marathon of assembling the completed wreaths. Suitable for families. Assist with the pick up session from 4-8 pm.
Thursday, November 30-Saturday, December 2: Wreath Delivery team
When ordering, patrons can request local delivery for an additional fee. Helpful to have someone available Thursday evening for the 1st delivery batch, Friday afternoon for second.
Friday, December 1, 12-5 pm: Wreath Assembly and Pickup (10-15 volunteers)
All hands welcome. Be part of this creative marathon of assembling the completed wreaths. Assist with the pick up session from 1-5 pm.
Saturday, December 2, 10 am - 12 pm: Host Wreath Pickup @ Growing Center
Set up and assist patrons with wreath pickup at the Growing Center during Open Hours. (At least one volunteer needs to have completed volunteer orientation.)
Tabling at the Somerville Winter Farmers Market
Saturday, January 13, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Volunteers needed for set up, greeting shoppers, helping to promote our Seed Sale and Annual Meeting, and clean-up! We will have a community information table for the duration of the market, which is held at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Email Lisa: lisa@thegrowingcenter.org
Ongoing Opportunities:
The Growing Center offers many flexible and relaxing opportunities to volunteer time and skills, both outdoors and indoors, even if your schedule is unpredictable! Some are ongoing and open to everyone, and others are best suited for volunteers who have attended one of our volunteer orientations. To read more about our Teams approach to volunteering, we encourage you to visit and read the Volunteer Teams page of our website.
We use our newsletter to announce general, all-inclusive volunteer opportunities, as well as upcoming free programming events, and volunteer orientations. To sign up, go here.
Snow Team
Snow is coming! Want to help keep the center open, safe and accessible through the snowy months? We need folks to be on our snow team! A WhatsApp group is in the works. Contact volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org for more information.
Strategic Planning Team
Have any background in organizational or non-profit planning? Just interested in participating as a stakeholder in how we (re)envision the next 3-5 years? Participation commitments can vary; outreach, weekly to monthly meetings. We’d love your help, knowledge and experience! This important team’s background work towards development of a strategic plan will produce significant outcomes, leading the Center into the next decade, with shared commitment to the organization’s renewed mission, vision, values, capacities and potential. Contact Lisa at lisa@thegrowingcenter.org.
Team Leads for 30th Anniversary Planning
Work with the board and volunteers to celebrate the 30 years of the Growing Center, hopefully starting off in Fall 2023 and continuing over the next 6-12 months of festivities. Contact volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org!
Storytelling and Media documentation
Seeking volunteers to assist with planning and helping to implement text, visual, audio and/or video components for 30th anniversary storytelling exhibit in development phase.
Contact: Amanda at amandaiglesius@gmail.com or Lisa lisa@thegrowingcenter.org.
CINI projects at the Garden / Community Herb Project
*Support adding weekly nature based play provocations to the play area
*Want to make some herbal products for community? Or help harvest/dry herbs?
>>> For all the above opportunities, contact paula@thegrowingcenter.org!
Access and Inclusion Signage Team
Want to help create more welcoming and informative signage in the garden in English, Spanish and other languages? Contact, paula@thegrowingcenter.org.
Volunteer Orientation in Spanish
Are you already a volunteer who has taken the volunteer orientation and speak Spanish and English, or are interested? Work with a board member/staff member to provide a monthly volunteer orientation in Spanish and English. Contact paula@thegrowingcenter.org.
Open Hours Hosts Needed!
Tasks: Hosts open up the garden for open hours, check the space for debris/critters, set up welcome table, greet visitors, track and report attendance. Ideally hosts will spend some time on garden tasks (listed on white board on barn). Requires showing up generally 30 min prior and staying to wrap up after. Open Hours run April 1 through the end of October and will be Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Sundays 12:00-2:00 pm and Thursdays 4:30-6:30 pm.
Contact: Morgan, volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org
Event Hosts Needed!
Contact: Morgan, volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org
Tasks: Event hosts open up the garden, set up welcome table, welcome performers and guests, assist event organizers with necessary tasks, and track and report attendance and donations. Requires showing up generally 30 min prior and staying to wrap up after. Event Hosts are VITAL to the Growing Center running effectively to meet the needs of the community!
