Small Farm & Food Fest 2026: Program Assistant - Ask A Gardener

Do you enjoy gardening and love sharing your knowledge with others? If you have a strong gardening background, enjoy talking with people, and want to inspire others through an interactive activity, this is a rewarding way to make a difference while celebrating our agricultural heritage. Program Assistant during Small Farm & Food Fest and help visitors discover the beauty and purpose of the gardens at the Daniel Arnold Historic Farm. Engage guests of all ages in conversations about gardening, answer questions, and help create a welcoming, interactive experience.  

Impact

Program Support volunteers add depth to an event or program, help things run more efficiently, bring a 21st-century skill to share at an event or program, but are not Historic Interpreters.  These volunteers will support the staff to enhance the experience guests have at Carriage Hill Historic Farm. This opportunity will allow people to enjoy an experience at the historic farm, learn more about the various stations, and get a personal introduction to life on the farm!

Tasks

• Greet and welcome participants.
• Engage participants and families in the activities at your station.
• These stations will be together in a historic barn, and volunteers will provide ongoing information for the public as well as help with program support for breaks and coverage in each of the stations as needed.
• Volunteers are asked to bring their favorite garden tool to add to the discussion in the tool area.  Please make sure your tool has your name on it.
• The four stations will be discussing the following topics:
  • Station One: Basic Garden Tools to Have for the Beginning Gardener
  • Station Two: The Benefits of Heirlooms
  • Station Three: Companion Planting
  • Station Four: Vermiculture
• Volunteers will need to review the handouts before beginning their shift. 
  • Handouts for each station:
    • Tools - 10 Tools and Garden Equipment
    • Benefits of Heirlooms - Heirloom Vegetables and Heirloom Gardening
      
    • Companion Planting - Companion Plants for Pest Control and Companion Plantings in the Garden
    • Vermiculture - Basics and 101

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individual long-Term volunteers, ages 18 and up. 

• GET STARTED: This opportunity requires Volunteer Onboarding (Profile, Volunteer Handbook Signature, and, for those 18 and up, an eligible background check).  Simply click the blue RESPOND button to begin completing the required qualifications, or click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer. 
•  This opportunity is approved for OSU Master Gardener service.

Additional Notes

• Parking & Meeting Instructions: Please park, ensure you have checked in at the volunteer booth and online, and meet the staff lead at the historic farm. Click here for a map of Carriage Hill MetroPark.  Volunteers should arrive 15 minutes before the beginning of the opportunity. Staff leads will orient volunteers to the day's agenda and other important information. View Event Map here.
• Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please call Rick Musselman at (937) 594-8271.
• Environment & Physical Demands: This program takes place outdoors, but is in the open barn on the historic farm. Volunteers may participate in some bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting objects to 10 lbs or more. There may be sharp objects and other items that require you to be careful and work safely.
• Dress: Program Support volunteers do not need to wear period apparel. Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear their MetroParks name badge and volunteer apparel. A volunteer event vest will be available. 
•  Visit the Historic Interpreter page in our Training Library to see what training is required to become part of the Historic Interpreter volunteers.

Learn more about Programming opportunities with us on the Volunteer Position page! Have questions or need help getting started? Contact Volunteer Services at volunteer.services@metroparks.org or #937-275-7275 or join us at a Volunteer Open House.

Want to Branch Out? Exploring multiple opportunities is a great way to stay involved, build new skills, and experience different parts of the parks! Consider this opportunity:

Shadow Experience: Historic Interpreter

All Program Support