Ready to turn your love of plants into something ...magical? Join us in the Possum Creek MetroPark Demonstration Garden for our Herbal Harvest! You’ll help gather fresh herbs that will be used in upcoming herbal wellness programs and even in creative cyanotype (a sun-printing art process) projects. Each harvest is a little different — depending on the season and the plants that are ready, you might find yourself clipping fragrant mint, bundling lavender, or labeling dried thyme for future use. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just curious about herbs, our team will guide you through plant identification and harvesting techniques. Together, we’ll create something beautiful, useful, and inspiring for our community.
Impact
Horticulture at Five Rivers MetroParks creates, maintains, and preserves green space and habitats for pollinators and native plants, as well as educates visitors on sustainable gardening practices and local food production. Gardening volunteers support the Horticulture and Outdoor Connections staff in a variety of gardening tasks.
Tasks
Under the supervision of the Staff Lead, volunteers will support and assist with the following:
- harvesting, drying, storing, and labeling herbs (these tasks may vary depending on the immediate needs of the day).
Eligibility
- This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth. Learn more about our types of service here.
- This opportunity is available for OSUE Master Gardener service hours.
Additional Notes:
- Parking & Meeting Instructions: Arrive 5- 10 minutes before your shift start time for a brief introduction and orientation to the site and the volunteer project. Click here for a map of Possum Creek MetroPark. Volunteers should park in the parking lot near the Farm Shelter. Enter the park at 4790 Frytown Rd., Dayton, OH 45417, and follow the main park drive until it dead-ends into the farm parking lot. Look for the 'Volunteer Event' signage.
- Cancelation: If you need to cancel a shift last minute or are running late, please contact Kaitlyn Lowry, Education Coordinator, at 937-276-7053.
- Environmental & Physical Demands: This project takes place outdoors - Please be aware of outdoor exposure risks (i.e., sun, poison ivy, ticks, etc.). Volunteers should be aware of seasonal allergies (e.g., grass, pollen, bees) and can expect to participate in activities that involve bending, kneeling, reaching, walking, and lifting objects weighing 5 pounds or more, which may be done in direct sunlight.
- Dress: Volunteers should dress for the weather, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and have their favorite work gloves, water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Look for Additional Details about this opportunity at the bottom of this listing! See the Gardening Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.
