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)
6-8 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
3 volunteers
- 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
Garden Mentor
8 volunteers
- 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
8-10 volunteers for various tasks
- This may involve light construction and moving soil
Grass Cutting
35-40 volunteers – Garden season is typically 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
16 volunteers
- Every other week, 2 volunteers are assigned weed whacking – the North half or the South half.
- 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 hours per visit
- Whenever possible, weed whack Sunday or Monday to align with grass cutting schedule
- 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
Gas / Mower / Tool Maintenance
2-3 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
Garden Perennial Bed & Patio
7 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
- Beginning of season: tidy beds, remove leaves, sticks, garbage that have accumulated during winter
- Water to jump start for the season
- Water the perennial beds during periods of little rain
- End of season: cut back perennials and water for winter
Green Bins
1 volunteer – full season task / 2 spares for vacation dates
- Each week, put city green bins out for pick up
Donation Bed(s) if applicable
6 volunteers
- Mid-May: 2 volunteers prepare the soil and sow donation plot(s)
- Divide tasks among group (water, thin seedlings, weed)
- Abandoned plots may also become donation plots. This includes plots not sown by Jun 15 or left neglected in mid-season
- September: Determine who will harvest and deliver produce to food banks
Closing Team (early October – group chooses work dates)
8 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
2-3 volunteers
- Overall community garden organization
- Work as a team; answer questions year round
- Communicate with WRCA Community Services Manager
- Allocate plots to gardeners in an equitable way, keeping with mandate of WRCA
- Check email inbox regularly (wrveggie address)
- Send emails to gardeners; many emails are sent during May; 2 or 3 times per month June through September
Grass Cutter Scheduler
1 volunteer
- Develop schedules for grass cutting & weed whacking teams
- Manage emails for grass cutting & weed whacking teams
