Try Volunteering with Tatum: Cox Arboretum Gardening

Jul 17, 2025

by Tatum Buhiru - Volunteer Services

Try Volunteering with Tatum

Cox Arboretum Gardening

This week, I went on my fourth volunteering opportunity this summer with Five Rivers MetroParks, which was Cox Arboretum Gardening. The park is really pretty, and a lot of it looks like it could have come out of a painting.

We spent the time mulching around the park. It was definitely a workout, but we made a lot of progress in the time we that we had. For this opportunity, we split up into teams: people who raked and people who transported the mulch from the trucks with wheelbarrows. I used a wheelbarrow for the first time on this opportunity, but I mainly stuck to mulching because the wheelbarrow team was moving too much in the sun for me, and the mulching was primarily done in the shade.

We got a lot done in the time provided and it was nice to admire our work when finished. People who passed by visiting the park complimented our work as well. You can support gardening opportunities like this one too with no experience required to lend a helping hand. Learn more about gardening opportunities with MetroParks here.

Next up, I will be trying out a Program Support shift with the Textile & Fiber Arts group at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Follow me on my next volunteering adventure right here in the volunteer blog.

Tatum Buhiru is a student volunteer with Five Rivers MetroParks serving in partnership with Miami University's ULIP, Urban Leadership Institute Program. As part of their service, Tatum is trying out a variety of volunteer opportunities with us this summer and sharing those experiences here in our volunteer blog. Read more of Tatum's posts here.