Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty? Join us at Possum Creek MetroPark for a fun-filled volunteer opportunity in the Demonstration Garden! The Demonstration Gardens provide produce to those in need throughout Dayton and the Miami Valley. Our education staff needs your help in maintaining the gardens and flower beds at the farm. Don't worry if you don't have any previous experience – we welcome all volunteers to learn by doing and ask questions. Together, we'll make the Possum Creek Demonstration Garden a beautiful and inspiring place for programming, school tours, and park patrons of all ages!
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:
- Garden bed prep, weeding, compost maintenance (turning, sifting, and application), garden path maintenance (cardboard and woodchip application), garden bed construction, transplanting, planting, and more.
Eligibility
- This opportunity is open to the following volunteers: Long-Term, Short-Term, and Youth. Learn more about our types of service here.
- Youth Volunteers: Youth volunteers ages 14-17 are not required to complete a background check. If you are a new youth volunteer contact volunteer.services@metroparks.org to have your background check waived.
- 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 (i.e. grass, pollen, bees, etc.), and can expect to participate in bending, kneeling, reaching, walking, and lifting objects of 10lbs or more in possibly 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 Gardening Volunteer Position Description for more detailed information.
