Monroe County Master Gardeners Volunteer Opportunities

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1 Monroe County Master Gardeners Volunteer Opportunities The Program provides a learning framework for participants to increase their knowledge on a wide variety of horticultural subjects. In turn, participants volunteer and help others grow by sharing knowledge while providing leadership and service in educational gardening activities within their communities. Monroe County Master Gardener Association Purdue Extension-Monroe County Office 3400 South Walnut Street Bloomington IN Purdue University, Indiana Counties and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution

2 T.C. Steele State Historic Site Description: We represent the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, under the umbrella of Indiana State Museums and Historic Sites, Inc. Volunteers are desired in order to help restore this garden of historic importance to its former glory! T.C. Steele was (and still is) one of Indiana's most important painters. No other opportunity exists like this for volunteers who love gardening-- the restoration of these once famous gardens, that draws visitors from all over the area, especially for the Spring bloom. Volunteer opportunities: preparing beds, transplanting existing plants of value, planting new annuals and perennials, weeding, pruning, and mulching, as well as other areas of general upkeep with regards to our historic formal garden, which is nearly a century old! In-house we will be installing an irrigation system for the gardens, tilling and mulching the beds, planting annuals, and hopefully throughout the season beginning our phase 1 of new, more permanent plantings. Volunteer Times: check website for updated volunteer times: Location: 4220 T.C. Steele Road, Nashville, Indiana (near Belmont- approx. 9 miles from Bloomington) Contact: Anthony Joslin ajoslin@indianamuseum.org or by calling

3 City of Bloomington Community Garden Program Description: The Community Garden Program offers a variety of gardening opportunities for individuals, families, groups, and organizations through rental plots, gardening classes and community outreach programming. Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers assist the staff in maintaining paths, turning compost, weeding, and harvesting as well as creating and maintaining ornamental, wildlife, and demonstration plantings. Garden Leader Hours opens tool shed for gardener access to communal tools and provides support and advice to rental plot gardeners. Compose informational articles for Garden Beet newsletter Assist with volunteer group work days as they are scheduled Some independent initiatives may be arranged let us know your skills. Volunteer Times: contact Robin to schedule flexible volunteer times Location: Willie Streeter Gardens; South Highland Avenue, near the YMCA Butler Park at the intersection of West Ninth and North Fairview Contact: Robin Hobson hobsonr@bloomington.in.gov

4 Monroe County Community Gardens Description: Monroe County Parks and Recreation is always short-staffed and under-budgeted. Any help we can get to keep the garden plantings looking nice is appreciated! Volunteer opportunities: Karst Farm Park, 2450 S. Endwright Road: Master Gardeners already tend Cheryl s Garden in front of the commons. We also have a day camp garden that is never weeded enough and plantings near the Playscape and Splashpad. Flatwoods Park, 9499 W, Flatwoods Road: Plantings near the restrooms and center of the playground need tending. The butterfly garden needs a major overhaul and redesign. Detmer Park, 4140 W. Vernal Pike: The bioswale needs occasional weeding and trash removed, planting on other side of the drive needs tending. Garden plots need monitors. Compost needs turning. Volunteer Times: Contact Cathy to schedule flexible volunteer times Contact: Cathy Meyer Monroe County Parks and Recreation 501 N. Morton Street Suite 100 Bloomington, IN cmeyer@co.monroe.in.us

5 Hilltop Garden & Nature Indiana Description: Hilltop Garden and Nature Center serves as an educational and recreational resource for youth gardening, IU students and staff, and the surrounding community to learn about gardening and to connect with nature. Volunteer opportunities: Family Gardening Program Mentor: Work side-by-side with young families learning how to garden. As part of the Hilltop Family Gardening Program, volunteers will assist and guide 1-2 families as they tend to their garden plots throughout the season. This is an excellent opportunity for volunteers to learn more gardening skills while passing along valuable knowledge to the next generation. Volunteers may choose from 1-4 times/week to volunteer, but are requested to commit to the entire weekly program that runs April 28th-September 5th. Training will be provided. General Garden Maintenance: Work with Hilltop staff and other volunteers maintaining the 5 acres of various demonstration gardens at Hilltop. Tasks include seed starting, transplanting, harvesting, mulching, weeding, watering, seed saving, composting, etc. Location: 2367 E. 10th Street Bloomington, IN Contact: Lea Woodard, Coordinator hilltop@indiana.edu iub.edu/~hilltop Volunteer Times: Family Gardening Program Mentor: Volunteers may choose one or more times: Tuesdays: 6:00-8:00 pm Wednesdays: 6:00-8:00 pm Saturdays: 8:00-10:00 am and/or 10:30 am-12:00 pm General volunteer hours: Wednesdays 1:00-3:00 pm Fridays 1:00-4:00 pm or by appt.

6 Hoosier Hills Food Bank Garden & Gleaning Program Description: HHFB's Garden & Gleaning programs provide locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables for free distribution to those in need of emergency food assistance. Our Garden Program sprouted from HHFB s ongoing effort to increase the quantity and nutritional quality of food provided to area food pantries and soup kitchens. Growing our own allows us to bring in varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables most needed at the food bank. Volunteer opportunities: In the garden, volunteers learn about organic growing while helping prep, plant, care for, and harvest a variety of produce. On our weekly gleaning trip, volunteers harvest surplus produce from the fields at Harriman Farms. Last year volunteers helped grow over 22,000 lbs and gleaned over 71,000 lbs of fresh produce for free distribution to people in need of food assistance. Volunteer Times: HHFB Garden April though October (drop-in) Monday 9:00-11:00 am Wednesday 5:30-7:30 pm Thursday 9:00-11:00 am Gleaning Meet at HHFB warehouse 2333 W. Industrial Park Drive June through October as needed Tuesdays, time TBD Location: Will Detmer Park 4140 W. Vernal Pike, Bloomington IN Contact: Bobbi at garden@hhfoodbank.org, or call Ryan at More info at hhfoodbank.org

7 Hinkle Garton Farmstead Description: The farmstead is a historic farm now in the city, a sanctuary of greenery and growing things, plants and animals, all with a story to tell about the people who helped build the county & state. It s a place for the entire community to learn from and enjoy. Volunteer Opportunities: Vegetable & Flower Garden Assistants: Arrive onsite at your convenience and tackle basic garden activities outlined in the log book. This generally includes watering, weeding and pest control, and can be perfect for a beginning gardener. Garden Assistants can also be involved in sale of the produce to help provide income to sustain and advance the garden. Grounds Specialists: Are you self-motivated, can regularly devote a block of time to the farmstead grounds, and have a more advanced plant and planting knowledge? Then our adoption program may be for you! Become a Peony Parent, an Invasives Eliminator, a Butterfly Garden Guru, or a Flower Bed Boss! These positions involve bringing various areas of the property into better condition, and then maintaining it that way. Areas of specialization or interest not mentioned above may be considered. Volunteers in these positions have an opportunity to directly influence the future of the site by taking personal responsibility for various areas of the property. Volunteer Times: Contact Michael to set up flexible volunteer hours. Contact: Michael Bell midasglass@me.com Location: 2920 E. 10th Street Bloomington IN

8 The Rooftop Middle Way House Description: The garden is used as a hands-on educational space for the children who attend the Youth Empowerment Services program at The Rise, and also provides fresh produce to the women and children living in the emergency shelter and transitional housing. Volunteer assistance helps us improve our methods and achieve our goals of serving Middle Way House. The Rooftop Garden at Middle Way House is going into its fourth growing season. In order to develop a long-lasting program, the assistance of experienced gardeners is essential to this project. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers help with general garden operations and maintenance. Tasks include: Developing and implementing permaculture techniques, water collection methods, organic pest control and plant disease remediation, mulching, weeding, watering, harvesting, composting in traditional bins and worm bins Volunteer Times: The garden will be holding bi-weekly and as-needed workdays. Garden interns will be on-site watering each day. Location: 318 S. Washington St. Bloomington IN (on the roof of the old Coca-Cola bottling factory ) Contact: garden@middlewayhouse.org to get involved

9 Growing Opportunities with South Central Community Action Program Description: Growing Opportunities is a training program that gives low-income people a chance to learn basic job skills, gain experience, and confidence. Training will take place in a classroom and a hydroponic greenhouse. The South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP) is a nonprofit organization based in Bloomington, Ind. that has served low-income people for 49 years. Our mission is to provide opportunities for low-income citizens to move toward personal and economic independence. Volunteer Opportunities: Assist with individuals of varying ages and abilities in greenhouse activities, such as planting, transplanting, and harvesting using hydroponic growing methods. Volunteer Times: Year-round on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings Location: 2315 E. 10th Street Bloomington (near Stone Belt) Contact: Nicole Wooten, Growing Opportunities Manager nicole@insccap.org (812)

10 Mother Hubbard s Cupboard Description: At MHC, our garden program focuses on gardening education both for our pantry patrons, and for the community at large. We aim to provide a space for skill learning and community building, while also producing nutritious produce to be brought back to the food pantry. The end goal is to introduce organic gardening as a way to increase food security and community ties in Bloomington and the surrounding areas. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer opportunities include regularly scheduled community garden work dates, regular hoop house, greenhouse, or container garden tending shifts, or gardening education and promotion in the food pantry. During workdays, volunteers can assist with: pruning, watering, weeding, and harvesting, based on garden needs. Volunteer Times & Locations: April to October (drop-in) Monday 5:00-7:00 pm at Butler Garden, 9th and Elm St. Tuesday 5:00-7:00 pm at Crestmont Garden, (on the hill behind 13th and Summit Streets) Wednesdays 10:00 am-12 noon at Banneker Garden (behind the Banneker Center, on 8th and Elm Streets) Wednesdays 4:00-6:00 pm at the Pantry MHC Pantry Garden, 1100 W. Allen St. Thursdays, 9:00-11:00 am at Crestmont Contact: Kendra Brewer garden@mhcfoodpantry.org For Greenhouse/Hoop house/container plant tending, or pantry promotion times can be scheduled with Kendra or Hannah Lencheck at gardenmhc@gmail.com

11 Bloomington Community Orchard Description: Bloomington Community Orchard is an organization devoted to growing fruit for the community and growing our orcharding skills through educational opportunities. The publicly owned orchard is maintained by volunteers and the harvest is available to everyone in the community. Volunteer Opportunities: The Bloomington Community Orchard is divided into teams and committees. The Education Team provides educational programming to people of all ages through presentations, workshops and educational tours, consultation, and representation at community events. Our youth programming is managed by the Junior Stewards Team. The Operations Team organizes workdays and connects volunteers with Orchard activities. They determine what projects will happen at workdays, who is going to be involved, and what needs to happen to prepare the Orchard for these activities. If you just want to help in the Orchard with general fruit tree maintenance or assisting with composting efforts, stop by our Work & Learn Sessions. Volunteer Times: Work & Learn Sessions April -May: Sat. 1:00-4:00 p.m. June August: Wed., 5:00-8:00 p.m. September November: Sat. 1:00-4:00 p.m. Location: 2120 S. Highland Ave. in Winslow Woods Park adjacent to the Willie Streeter Community Garden and the YMCA. Contact:

12 Wonder WonderLab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology Description: WonderGarden is an award-winning community garden used for science and nature classes for school groups, summer camps, and community groups. It was designed by a professional and has been maintained and revised by the MCMGA for the past eight years. The garden acts as a shelter from the bustle of our city and a gathering place for families, school groups, lunchtime meetings or just a quiet stroll through the grounds. The garden is alive all months of the year with aquatic plants and frogs in the pond as well as birds, insects, bunnies, and even humans. The work of Master Gardeners is to guarantee that this garden is available to all and is a showplace of wildlife, specimen trees, numerous bulbs, grasses, and abundant perennials. Volunteer Opportunities: Master Gardener volunteers fill a twopart role. We act as educators on best practices for community volunteers such as high school and middle school students, families, community and business volunteers. We also work side by side with the community workers to maintain WonderGarden. Sessions may include weeding, trimming perennials, tree and rose pruning, thinning and moving plant materials, and making additions to the garden as needed. Volunteer Times: March through November, 2x/month. Sessions often are on the weekends but can be during the week depending on other activities and the weather. We work during the hours the Museum is open, 9-5. Volunteers can work the entire session (usually 2-3 hours). Location: 308 W. 4th Street, Downtown Bloomington (on the B-line trail) Contact: Nancy White, Monroe County Master Gardener WonderGarden coordinator, nwhite38@hotmail.com