Volunteering, Field Trips & Work Days

Learn how to grow food sustainably

Open Volunteer Hours Open for 2024! 

Thursdays 1-4 p.m. until the end of July! Regular Open Volunteer hours will resume on August 1st.

Come and get your hands dirty during our weekly open volunteer hours! We will have a variety of tasks suitable for people of all ages and abilities. Please review the general information for Open Volunteer Hours below before you show up. No need to reserve in advance!

Volunteering with The Talking Farm will immerse you in nature and teach you how to grow food sustainably. As a volunteer, you will directly contribute to the development, cultivation, and harvest of the Howard Street Farm. 

Open Volunteer Hours for Individuals & Groups of up to 4 People 

Volunteering is easy! For individuals and groups of up to 4 people, we will host you during Open Volunteer Hours. If you’re interested in volunteering, just show up, or even better, give us the heads up by emailing volunteering@thetalkingfarm.org to let him know you would like to sign up and join.

When you come to the Howard Street Farm to volunteer, we will integrate you into a variety of age- and ability-appropriate farm tasks. We will provide you with tools, gloves, and instructions. Just dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, and get ready for a rewarding day of working outdoors. There is a one-time $10 fee per person for first-time volunteers and all volunteers must sign a waiver (any volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can sign a waiver on their behalf).

If your schedule is more flexible, be sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram social media accounts and watch out for last-minute calls for volunteers. 

New volunteers should click here to sign up for volunteer emails and to be contacted about upcoming volunteer opportunities!  

Group Volunteering (5-100 people)

If you are part of a group looking for a unique service opportunity, you have come to the right place. We have hosted many team-building and corporate service volunteer days and look forward to creating a customized event for your group.

If you would like to arrange a group volunteer event, start by emailing volunteering@thetalkingfarm.org.

Please note there are fees for group volunteer days. Scholarships & assistance are available based on need for school or community groups. Please email volunteering@thetalkingfarm.org to enquire.

Field Trips (all ages)

We offer four (4) standard field trip experiences for a fixed fee available to people of all ages. All four standard field trips are for 1.5 hours and up to 30 people. If you want to set up a field trip or inquire about a customized field trip, email volunteering@thetalkingfarm.org.

Experience #1 – Get to Know The Talking Farm (all ages) $125

Take a tour of the Howard Street Farm and learn about how an urban farm works! This field trip will start with a farm tour where visitors will learn all about urban farming and how we care for our produce and fields. After the tour and a quick water break, participants will move into the volunteering portion of the trip where they will get a chance to participate in the daily activities of farm life. These activities may include bed prep, cultivation, planting, and harvesting (season-dependent).

Experience #2 – Insect Inquiry (ages 4-18) $145

Interested in all things creepy crawly? Learn all about the insects and invertebrates found at the Howard Street Farm with this hands-on exploration! Take a tour of the farm and then get down in the dirt with a bug hunt. Using bug boxes, magnifying glasses and clipboards participants will find, examine, and record the different organisms they find. To finish off the visit, participants will get the chance to engage in seasonal farm activities like bed prep, cultivation, planting, and harvesting.

Experience #3 – Five Senses (ages 2-10) $160

Explore the Howard Street Farm with all your senses! Participants will look, touch, listen, smell, and taste their way around the farm. After taking a tour of the farm, we’ll play a scent guessing game, make a sound map, reach our hands into the mystery box, and taste different produce and flavors from the farm. To finish off the trip, everyone will get the chance to engage in seasonal farm activities like bed prep, cultivation, planting, and harvesting.

Experience #4 – From Seed to Leaf (ages 5-18) $175

Learn all about the mystery that is how plants grow! As a group, we will dissect seeds, break apart leaves, and examine roots while learning about the anatomy and functions of different parts of the plant. Participants will also get the chance to decorate a pot, plant a seed, and take it home to watch grow! To finish off the trip, everyone will get the chance to engage in seasonal farm activities like bed prep, cultivation, planting, and harvesting.

Custom Experiences (all ages) Price varies 

Have a specific idea for a trip to the farm that is not listed here? Learning about a topic that you want to expand upon at the farm? TTF is happy to create custom field trips that are tailored to your interests. Reach out to our education and programming coordinator for more information: volunteering@thetalkingfarm.org