Volunteer
Urban Harvest's programs thrive due to the hard work of many talented volunteers who work with our staff and one another. Volunteering is an excellent way to support community gardening, the farmers market and all our programs. Opportunities include individual projects, team work on volunteer committees, short term and long term positions with varying levels of responsibility and training. Find out more about how you can join our volunteers.
Volunteer opportunities
1. Class Administration Assistant
Objective: Responsible for editing and working with our Education Director in the creation of all class materials going out to the public. this includes listing classes for the newsletter, website, advertising for the Chronicle and Leisure Learning, creating fliers, and editing materials.
Duties and Responsibilities: Routinely checks the website, newsletter and other media for accuracy on our class listing. Checks the Urban Harvest calendar to assure that time and date are listed properly.
Qualifications and Requirements: Some experience in writing and editing is helpful.
Volunteers needed: 2 volunteers needed to fill this position.
Orientation and Training: Brief training and overview of classes.
Times Needed and Place of Work: Hours are varied.
Contact: gary@urbanharvest.org
2. Gardening Advice
Objective: Field calls from public pertaining to garden topics.
Duties and Responsibilities: Answer questions by phone and e-mail, research solutions to questions, connect individuals with classes and hands on projects.
Qualifications and Requirements: Horticulture Knowledge.
Volunteers needed: 5 - 6 volunteers needed to fill this position.
Orientation and Training: Brief training on phones and reference library.
Times Needed and Place of Work: Wednesday from noon - 3 pm.
Contact: mark@urbanharvest.org
3. Outreach
Objective: Attend community outreach events to promote Urban Harvest and gardening and farming activities that benefit community.
Duties and Responsibilities: Set up booth and collect brochures and fliers from office. Distribute material and act as representative for Urban Harvest.
Qualifications and Requirements: Knowledge of Urban Harvest.
Volunteers needed: 4 - 5 volunteers needed to fill this position.
Orientation and Training: Brief training and overview of Urban Harvest.
Times Needed and Place of Work: Varies.
Contact: indica@urbanharvest.org
4. Class Support
Objective: Post all of our classes on the Chronicle website.
Duties and Responsibilities: Routinely check the Chronicle website and post our classes on the website.
Qualifications and Requirements: Editing skills and web posting knowledge.
Volunteers needed: 1 volunteer needed to fill this position.
Orientation and Training: Works with Ray Sher to learn the process for posting on the website.
Times Needed and Place of Work: A few hours per month as needed.
Contact: gary@urbanharvest.org
5. Photo Archivist
Objective: To create a photo archive of native plants, vegetables and fruit trees.
Duties and Responsibilities: Take, gather, and/or collect photos and categorize them into folders on our server for use in presentations.
Qualifications and Requirements: Hunting and gathering skills for internet photos.
Volunteers needed: 2 -3 volunteers needed to fill this position.
Orientation and Training: Brief training and overview of job description.
Times Needed and Place of Work: flexible.
Contact: gary@urbanharvest.org
6. After School Garden Assistant
Objective: To assist any of the 19 after school garden instructors that service HISD's 21st Century Grant After School Programs.
Duties and Responsibilities: This volunteer could be a regular assistant that attends all of an instructor(s) hands-on gardening after school classes with activities in science, math, and other core subjects as well as planting, growing, and harvesting of seasonal vegetables and fruit, or it could be a volunteer that specifically help with cooking activities, garden maintenance, or curriculum assistance on an as needed basis.
Qualifications and Requirements: Sign up with HISD's VIPS program located on their homepage.
Volunteers needed: 19 or more volunteers needed to fill this position.
Orientation and Training: Ongoing training and support from the Urban Harvest School & Youth Department.
Times Needed and Place of Work: At elementary sites from 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Contact: lilly@urbanharvest.org
7. Build a School Garden
Objective: Help build school gardens that are used as outdoor classrooms for the HISD schools that Urban Harvest services.
Duties and Responsibilities: Ability to work as a team with a group of people in an outdoor setting.
Qualifications and Requirements: Basic gardening skills.
Volunteers needed: Unlimited.
Orientation and Training: Brief training and overview of garden build objectives .
Times Needed and Place of Work: Usually on Saturdays from 9 am to noon.
Contact: lilly@urbanharvest.org
8. Classes Committee
Objective: These volunteers help to set up the classroom, shut it down after the class, check in students and hand out class materials as well as provide information about Urban Harvest..
Duties and Responsibilities: This position is designed for someone looking for a long-term volunteer opportunity. If you would like to give it a try and see if it's for you, you're welcome to come to an upcoming meeting. This committee meets once a month, and currently their meetings are the first Wednesday of every month from 6pm to 8pm, here at the Urban Harvest classroom (directions are on our website).
Orientation and Training: Brief training and overview of job description.
Times Needed and Place of Work: Volunteers with classes typically help with an average of one class per month. Classes for the next few months are being held on Thursday evenings, and there are a few Saturday morning classes as well. If you have either time available, volunteer with us!
Contact: gary@urbanharvest.org
9. Farmer's Market Assistant
Objective: Assist in set up and breakdown of the Urban Harvest Bayou City Farmer's Market. Assist customers at the greeters both.
Duties and Responsibilities: Works with Urban Harvest staff to update brochures and edit as needed. Checks to see that we have all the brochures and materials that are needed for classes.
Qualifications and Requirements: Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs., stoop, squat, and stand on feet for duration of time.
Volunteers needed: 4 volunteers needed to fill this position.
Orientation and Training: Brief training and overview of market.
Times Needed and Place of Work: Hours are Saturdays from 6:30 am to about 12:30 pm.
Commitment Required: 1 or 2 weekends per month.
Contact: julia@urbanharvest.org
10. Community Garden Volunteer
Objective: To garden in one or more of the Urban Harvest Affiliate community garden.
Duties and Responsibilities: This volunteer will work in a community garden with other gardeners to grow produce for varying purposes (donation, personal use, school use, etc) and possibly help maintain habitat areas.
Qualifications and Requirements: An interest in gardening
Volunteers needed: Unlimited
Orientation and Training: Provided by the coordinator at each garden.
Times Needed and Place of Work: Varies depending on the garden.
To find a garden please browse our Affiliate Community Garden map
Contact: becky@urbanharvest.org or debbie@urbanharvest.org
| Join www.urbanharvest.ning.com if you are a community or school garden volunteer or an Urban Harvest member with a gardening question or, you would like to learn more about Urban Harvest and the Urban Harvest community. |
