Courtyard Garden Volunteer

The Courtyard Garden Volunteer supports Maybelle members by engaging in seasonal garden maintenance and facilitating gardening experiences that foster connection, learning, and enjoyment. Volunteers help maintain raised beds and containers, plant, water, weed, prune, and provide light garden care, while engaging with members or leading garden projects they can participate in during the spring and summer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with seasonal garden maintenance, including planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and light garden care.
• Engage members in gardening activities or lead small garden projects for members to participate in.
• Provide a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful presence in the garden.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer Coordinator and Life Enrichment staff to support garden activities safely and effectively.
• Help maintain the garden space in an organized and accessible manner.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic about gardening and community engagement.
• Sensitive to and respectful of diverse populations and abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental presence while supporting members.
• Interest or experience in gardening or willingness to learn.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to bend, kneel, lift light objects, and perform basic gardening tasks.
• Comfort working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to engage with members while performing garden tasks.

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING

• Volunteers will receive an orientation to the organization and role-specific training for engaging in the courtyard garden.
• Orientation and training materials are currently available only in English.
• Ongoing support and supervision will be provided by the Volunteer Coordinator and Life Enrichment staff.
• Orientation and training occur prior to the first volunteer shift.

TIME COMMITMENT

Shifts are flexible and may be scheduled weekly or every other week, with advance planning for garden activities. A minimum of two hours per week during the spring and summer is preferred, with a regular schedule encouraged for consistency and reliability.

ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT

The Maybelle courtyard garden is a welcoming, accessible outdoor space where members connect, learn, and engage in hands-on gardening. Volunteers work alongside members at raised beds and container gardens and may lead small projects; the back corner of the courtyard also serves as a covered smoking area.