Volunteer Opportunities: Horticulture

Cultivate Beauty for Others …

Help maintain one of Holden's cultivated gardens and enjoy the physical and psychological benefits of getting your hands dirty. Each garden offers a different beautiful setting and volunteer experience -- we are happy to help you find a natural fit!

  • Enjoy working in beautiful surroundings
  • Meet people with similar interests
  • Expand your plant knowledge under the guidance of Holden's expert horticulturists
Volunteers weeding

 

Opportunity

Time of Year

Preparation

Commitment

Description

Display Gardener

(outside)

Spring Summer
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Thursday,

9-11am,

2 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Holden Butterfly Gardener

(outside)

Spring Summer
  • Knowledge of and interest in perennials and annuals
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Tuesday,

9-11am,

2 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Holden Wildflower Gardener

(outside)

Spring Summer
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Wednesday,

9-11am,

2 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Lantern Court Gardener

(outside)

Spring Summer
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Wednesday or Thursday,

9:30am-11:30am

2-3 hrs per week

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Layer Rhododendron Gardener

(outside)

Spring

Summer
  • Gardening experience helpful
  • Ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • On-the-job training

Tuesday-Friday,

9am-Noon,

6-12 hrs per month

Perform gardening tasks (weeding, watering and planting) alongside staff horticulturists

Plant Recorder

(inside & outside)

Spring Summer
  • Background in plant identification helpful
  • Ability to engage in moderate outdoor activity
  • On-the-job training

2-4 hrs per week

(Monday-Friday)

Catalog and inventory plant collections

Nursery Assistant

(inside and outside)

Spring Summer

Fall
  • On-the-job training

Thursday, 9am-11:30am

2.5 hrs per week

Assist in the Nursery,  transplant seedlings, propagate by cuttings, water plants, weed and wash pots

Garden Partners

Summer

(June-August)
  • Gardening experience helpful; ability to bend, stoop, kneel and work outside
  • Experience working with adults with developmental disabilities helpful
  • Orientation
  • On-the-job training

Thursday,

2 hrs per week

Partner with volunteers with developmental disabilities to complete gardening tasks