Question 1

Who can volunteer?

Accepted Answer

REC welcomes support from volunteers of all ages and experience levels. Children of all ages are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.  Please reach out to our Associate Executive Director for information on volunteer opportunities at grace@recworcester.org.

Question 2

When and how can I volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Join us for open volunteer hours or one day volunteer events through our Community and School Gardens Network (UGROW). Sign up for Volunteer Updates to hear about opportunities as they arise by filling out the form below!

Question 3

What should I expect?

Accepted Answer

Expect to get your hands dirty! Depending on the day and program you may be planting, weeding, harvesting, and cleaning up the farm. We always recommend volunteers wear comfortable clothing and closed toes shoes.

Question 4

How should I prepare?

Accepted Answer

You should bring water, dress according to the weather, and must wear closed-toe shoes.

Question 5

What if it rains?

Accepted Answer

If it rains while still warm we do work inside and in the high tunnel. When temperatures reach below 45 degrees we will likely cancel farm and garden volunteer hours for the day.

Question 6

Can I volunteer during the winter?

Accepted Answer

We close the YouthGROW farm for the winter in late November and reopen in March/April. We do not host drop in hours at the farm between these months.

From February to April you can join us in preparing for the reopening of the farm as we grow seedlings in greenhouses. These locations are not fixed so look out for updates on our website and Facebook page or contact tom@recworcester.org.

Question 7

Does the REC host volunteer groups?

Accepted Answer

Our staff has experience working with volunteer groups ranging from small groups to large all-day events over a variety of ages and experience levels.

Group Volunteering at the YouthGROW Farm
REC is able to host groups of up to 20 people at the YouthGROW farm between the months of April-June and mid August-October. We are unable to host groups at the YouthGROW farms in July and early August.

Group Volunteering in the Community Garden Network
Most years we can accommodate groups as large as 20 volunteers from April-October at our school and community garden sites.

We generally require 2 weeks advance notice to schedule a group volunteer opportunity.

We recommend scheduling a minimum of two hours and a maximum of four hours for an optimal experience. For shorter times and smaller groups, our team will do a brief introduction and volunteers should expect to jump right into farm tasks. For larger groups volunteering for longer periods, we are happy to incorporate farm or community garden tours, group discussion, and extended Q&A in addition to farm work. We have sheltered space on our YouthGROW farm where we can accommodate groups for meals on site.

Please fill out this google form to inform us of your group and an REC staff member will reach out to you shortly.

Question 8

How can I get more involved with the REC?

Accepted Answer

Intern! If you are interested in regular volunteering with a deeper focus on a particular program and increased responsibilities, we recommend reviewing our internship opportunities. Each of our programs, YouthGROW, UGROW, and the Farmers Market, host internships which enable individuals to become more involved with the REC. 
 
Donate! Looking to support the REC in another form? We greatly appreciate all donations. You can also set up a recurring donation and become a Grow Club member!
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Attend REC Events! Each year we host Earth Day Cleanups, a Plant Sale, a Farm Party and more. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date.
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Visit our Farmers Markets! Contact our Farmers Market Coordinator, Ashley, (farmersmarket@recworcester.org) for more information.

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