2023 Season:

Volunteer Orientations Run March thru October!

Volunteer Orientations are held the second Saturday and fourth Tuesday of the month at the Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville. 

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Sign up through the form at the bottom of this page, email Morgan at volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org, or just show up!

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Orientations give new volunteers a general history of the space and detailed instructions on stewardship and volunteer "jobs." Newly oriented volunteers come away with loads of information, with follow-up packets emailed after the fact, at which points you can choose which teams to join. (And that can always change around!) They last about 80 minutes.

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2023 Volunteer Orientation Schedule:
Saturday, April 8 ~ 9:30-11:00 am
Tuesday, April 25 ~ 5:30-7:00 pm
Saturday, May 13 ~ 9:30-11:00 am
Tuesday, May 23 ~ 5:30-7:00 pm
Saturday, June 10 ~ 9:30-11:00 am
Tuesday, June 27 ~ 5:30-7:00 pm
Saturday, July 8 ~ 9:30-11:00 am

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Upcoming Committee Meetings:

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Fundraising Committee

Thursday, May 11, 7:30-8:30 pm

Contact: Sasha, sasha@thegrowingcenter.org

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Children in Nature Initiative Committee 

Sunday, May 21, 7:30-8:30 pm 

Spring update and visit from Strategic Planning team.

RSVP to Paula, paula@thegrowingcenter.org, for Zoom link. 

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Current Opportunities:

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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 

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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, and are needed for the following events:

• Sunday, May 7, Yoga with Jenn, 9:30-10:30 am

• Saturday, May 13, Intro to Plant and Wildlife Monitoring for Conservation with Earthwise Aware, 2-3:30, AND Natural History Tour, 4:00-5:00 pm

• Saturday, May 20, Craft Ensemble, 3:00 pm

• Saturday, May 27, Yoga with Jenn, 9:30-10:30 am

• Saturday, May 27, Community Read-Aloud, 4:00-5:00 pm

• Tuesday, May 23, Microgreens workshop with Ceilidh Peden-Spear, 7:00-8:00 pm

• Sunday, May 28, Herb of the Month with Mo, 4:00-5:30 pm

• Saturday, June 3, Mr. Twister and the Tale of Tornado Alley (note rain location at 149 Broadway, E Somerville) , Set up 12:00-2:00 pm, event 2:00-4:00 pm

• Sunday, June 4, Herb of the Month with Mo, 4:00-5:30 pm

• Saturday, June 10, Intro to Plant and Wildlife Monitoring for Conservation with Earthwise Aware, 2:00-3:30pm

• Sunday, June 11, Pollinator Safari with Tufts Pollinator Initiative, 1:00-2:30 pm

• Thursday, June 15, Fermented Dairy with Ceilidh Peden-Spear, 7:00-8:00 pm

• Saturday, June 24, Festa Junina/Brazilian Harvest Festival, 1:30-5:30 pm

 

Volunteers Needed for Activities at Special Events:

Contact: Morgan, volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org

• Sunday May 14, Spring Garden Day, 11:00 -2:30 pm

  • Assist with set up, seed swap, native garden tours, clean up

• Saturday, June 3, Mr. Twister and the Tale of Tornado Alley, set up 12-2 pm, event 2-3:30 pm, clean up till 4:00 +
   (rain location at 149 Broadway, E Somerville) 

  • Assist performers with load in and set up for event, assist with puppet making workshop and participation in play, assist with break down and load out

• Saturday, June 24, Festa Junina/Brazilian Harvest Festival, 12:30-6:00 pm

  • Assist with set up, help with multiple activity stations, general support, clean up

 

Tabling

• Saturday, May 20, 8:00 am - 1:30 pm, Union Square Farmers Market 

• Sunday, June 4,1:00-6:00 pm, Carnaval in East Somerville

• TBD, Culture House pop-up space in East Somerville has invited us to host an event during May/early June. 

 

Tech Support Person: 

We need someone with technical skills to set up and manage equipment as needed (projectors, laptops, speakers, mics, etc) for events with tech needs including at the moment: June 8 (for showing video at workshop), July 27 and August 3, with raindates and/or third showing on August 10, 24 or 31 (for film nights). Contact Maddie@thegrowingcenter.org 

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Flyering Team Volunteers Desperately Needed!

Want to get involved with the Growing Center but don't have a ton of time? Join our Flyering Team! We need help putting up promotional flyers all over town! We'll give you a neighborhood and a list and around 20-25 fliers, and you can post at your leisure!

Contact: Betsy, betsy@thegrowingcenter.org

 

Join the Raised Bed Growing Team!

Help us make a crop plan for early April-November, all knowledge levels welcome. This team would work at times independently as well as together. 

Contact: paula@thegrowingcenter.org

 

Watering Angels

We are in need of folks to join the Watering Angels Team. The WA are a dedicated group of folks who regularly water areas in the entire garden all season long, the task is usually one day a week and takes 1-2 hours each visit. Training is included. 

Contact: Morgan, volunteer@thegrowingcenter.org.

 

Community Read-aloud & Children in Nature Initiative Volunteers Needed!  

Help plan kids/youth, family, and even adult seasonal reads in the garden. Looking for diverse community members and those who are interested in reading aloud from our library. This can include reading in other languages besides English.

Contact: paula@thegrowingcenter.org  

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