Volunteer Task Descriptions

Volunteer Task Descriptions

Note: We will appoint a ‘lead’ in each task area. That person will coordinate with the others in their group.

Opening Day  (early May – date TBA)

4-6 volunteers

  • Remove wheelbarrows from shed
  • Set out hand tools on patio shelving unit
  • Rake and bag residual poplar leaves, pick up twigs and garbage
  • Cut grass (if not scheduled in grass cutting schedule)

New Gardener Orientation

1 volunteer  + 2 volunteers in training

  • Meet with the new garden members and show them around (Handouts have been developed to guide the orientation)
  • Talk about what grows well in the WR community gardens (based on what you’ve seen)
  • Answer questions

*New Category* Garden Mentor 

As many volunteers as possible to promote success with the new gardeners

  • Mentors are assigned a new garden member for the season
  • Mentors check-in with new gardeners regularly; you determine what works best for yourself and your mentee
  • Topics to address through season: planting (how, what, when), how and when to water, plant support ideas, seedling thinning, harvest timelines and general questions

Upgrade Team

2 volunteers for plot repairs + 8 volunteers for shed painting

  • Minor plot repairs made during spring, prior to planting
  • Sand exterior shed surfaces, repair arch above door
  • Paint shed exterior

Grass Cutting 

35-40 volunteers – Garden season is 22 weeks in duration

  • The gardens have a large lawn area, and each week 2 volunteers are assigned grass cutting – the north half or south half
  • Volunteers will be assigned grass cutting once or twice during our season; scheduler will develop a 22 week rotation, and send first draft
  • Please reply ASAP to confirm your assigned week(s)
  • Once schedule is set, contact other grass cutting volunteers to switch dates
  • Grass cutting takes roughly 2 hours
  • Whenever possible, cut grass Sunday or Monday to align with weed whacking schedule
  • Do not rake or collect cut grass – leave cuttings on the lawn
  • If mower maintenance or gasoline is needed, please contact the gas / mower / tool maintenance volunteer
  • NOTE: Weed whacking is a separate task.
  • If you are physically unable to do this task, please email wrveggiesandherbs@gmail.com after registration is complete

Weed Whacking 

4 volunteers 

  • This task requires patience and thorough work
  • Weed whacking is scheduled EVERY OTHER week
  • Must be tall enough to handle weed whacker and be prepared to fuss with spool/line
  • Weed whacking takes 2-3 hours per visit
  • Whenever possible, weed whack Sunday or Monday to align with grass cutting schedule
  • Volunteers will alternate with one another
  • The Task. Weed whack around all 50 plots, the patio, around interior and exterior perimeter of fence
  • Trim close to the ground (to last two week interval).
  • Please complete job thoroughly each time
  • Volunteers will not be assigned any other task as this is a big volunteer job

Gas / Mower / Tool Maintenance

2 volunteers

  • Check lawn mower and weed whackers regularly; fill with gas or new line, as needed
  • Sharpen lawn mower blades twice per season
  • Purchase weed whacker line as needed
  • Refill gas can as needed
  • Ensure wheelbarrow tires are inflated
  • Present receipts for gas, line, repairs to WRCA office for reimbursement
  • Take lawn mower or weed whacker to repair shop, if repair is needed

Irrigation Maintenance  

2 volunteers

  • Before opening day (TBA) – Set-up hose hangers on fence near taps, hook up hoses, attach nozzles
  • Attach hoses with wrench and tighten well (so that they are not easily removed)
  • Check hoses regularly for leaks; repair or replace as needed
  • If water line requires repair contact the WRCA office
  • At end of season – Remove, drain, coil and store hoses in shed (wrench needed to remove hoses) Look for photo in shed for hose placement
  • Present receipts for purchases or repairs to WRCA office for reimbursement
  • NOTE: Nozzle use is personal preference. Plants sprayed from above (wet leaves) promotes powdery mildew and disease. To reduce mildew, water at ground level and avoid wetting leaves

North Garden Entrance

3 volunteers

  • Divide tasks among group
  • Weekly: Water, weed, pull dandelions, trim / pull grass in entrance area bed
  • End of season: remove any annuals that have been planted

Garden Perennial Bed & Patio

5 volunteers

  • Divide tasks among group
  • Weekly: Water & weed the perennial beds and rhubarb boxes (water weekly during periods of little rain)
  • Weed patio area and pick up debris (twigs, etc.)
  • End of season: cut back perennials, tidy patio area

WRCA Front Stairway Perennial Beds

4 volunteers

  • Divide tasks among group
  • Weekly: Water & weed the perennial beds  (water weekly during periods of little rain)
  • End of season: cut back perennials and water for winter

Green Bins

1 volunteer – full season task

  • Each week, put city green bins out for pick up

Donation Bed(s) 

6 volunteers

  • Mid-May: 2 volunteers prepare the soil and sow donation plot(s)
  • Divide tasks among group (water, thin seedlings, weed)
  • Abandoned plots (not sown by June 1) may also become donation plots
  • September: Determine who will harvest and deliver produce to food banks

Closing Team  (early October – group chooses work dates)

6 volunteers

  • Clean tools, store in shed
  • Hang shovels, rakes, forks on left wall
  • Store hand tools on shelves against back wall in trugs (rubber baskets)
  • Store weed whackers and lawnmowers along inside right wall
  • Discard broken plant supports and tools
  • Last items in shed: wheelbarrow and garbage cans
  • Rake leaves / pick up twigs and bag (use paper bags)
  • If closing day weather forecast is miserable, arrange to close another day
  • NOTE: Irrigation Maintenance team will take down, drain, coil hoses and store in shed prior to closing day

Garden Coordinators: Membership / Communications / Board Liaison

Seeking 2 additional volunteers

  • Overall community garden organization
  • Promote community gardens; answer questions year round
  • Liaise with WRCA Board of Directors and Staff
  • Allocate plots to gardeners in an equitable way, keeping with mandate of WRCA

Communications Liaison 

2 volunteers

Position 1.  Grass cutting scheduler

  • Develop schedule for grass cutting team
  • Manage emails for grass cutting team

Position 2. Email liaison

  • Check email inbox often (wrveggie address)
  • Send emails between coordinators and gardeners; many emails are sent during May; 2 or 3 times per month June through September