Volunteer With We Grow Food
The Edible Garden Project is the heart of We Grow Food. Through partnerships with schools, community groups, and neighbourhood organizations, we design, build, and support gardens that provide hands-on learning, fresh produce, and shared spaces for connection. These gardens inspire people of all ages to grow their own food, learn new skills, and experience the joy and confidence that comes from tending and harvesting together.
VOLUNTEERING
Ways To Volunteer
Edible Garden Education Volunteer
Help bring outdoor learning to life for students.
Edible Garden Education Volunteers support hands-on school garden programs by assisting with planting days, educational activities, and program setup. This role is perfect for individuals who enjoy working outdoors and supporting meaningful students learning experiences.
About The Program
The Edible Garden Education program brings students into the garden to learn about growing food through interactive activities. Volunteers work alongside We Grow Food staff to help create a welcoming and engaging learning environment.
Volunteers support programming — they are not responsible for leading lessons independently. Staff provide guidance and direction during each visit.
What You’ll Do
- Assist with program setup and takedown
- Support educational activities alongside staff
- Help students during planting days
- Share simple information about plants and growing food
- Occasionally assist with garden bed preparation
Time Commitment & Scheduling
Opportunities vary depending on school needs and season:
- Typically half-day or full-day at one school
- Activities occur during school hours
- Peak season: May – June
- Average commitment: 3–4 hours per week during peak season
- Some fall opportunities available
- Occasional weekend community events may be offered
Training & Experience
No gardening or teaching experience is required.
Volunteers receive guidance and support on-site from We Grow Food staff.
Who This Role Is Best For
- Individuals who enjoy working outdoors
- Volunteers comfortable interacting with children
- Community members interested in education and food literacy
- People looking for occasional or seasonal volunteer opportunities
Impact
Your support helps students experience growing food firsthand — planting, learning, and building confidence in an outdoor classroom environment.
Adopt-A-Garden Volunteer
Support a local school garden throughout the growing season.
Adopt-a-Garden volunteers are matched with a nearby school garden and provide light weekly maintenance from May to October. This flexible opportunity is ideal for individuals who enjoy gardening and want to make a meaningful impact in their community, no prior experience required.
About The Program
The Adopt-a-Garden program connects community volunteers with school gardens that need summer care. Volunteers help keep gardens healthy and thriving while schools are closed.
Volunteers are not solely responsible for the garden — they work alongside the school’s summer care team, and We Grow Food helps coordinate communication to support collaboration throughout the season.
What You’ll Do
- Watering and weeding
- Light garden maintenance and general upkeep
- Helping keep plants healthy during the summer months
Time Commitment:
Approximately 1 hour per week on a flexible schedule
Season: May – October
(If you need to miss a week, flexibility is built in)
Training & Experience
No gardening experience is required.
We Grow Food provides optional training sessions covering expectations and basic garden care:
Training Dates
- April 9
- April 11
Who This Role Is Best For
- Adults and community members who enjoy gardening
- Volunteers looking for a flexible, independent opportunity
- Individuals interested in supporting local schools and food education
Student Volunteers
Students seeking volunteer hours are encouraged to volunteer at their own school through their garden lead.
In special cases, students may contact the Volunteer Coordinator at
wgfcoordinator@gmail.com to inquire about additional opportunities.
Impact
By adopting a garden, you help ensure students return in the fall to a thriving learning space — ready for planting, harvesting, and hands-on food education.
VOLUNTEERING
How To Become A Volunteer
We want your volunteer experience to feel welcoming, supported, and meaningful. To get started, you can either fill out our volunteer application form or email our Volunteer Coordinator, Miranda, at wgfcoordinator@gmail.com. Once we receive your interest, we will guide you through a simple onboarding process. All volunteers who work with students are required to provide a Vulnerable Sector Check (don’t worry, we can help you with the steps to obtain one if needed). After that, we’ll arrange a short screening call to learn about your interests and match you with the right volunteer role. We’re here to support you every step of the way, and no gardening experience is required, just a willingness to grow with us.
Our Volunteer Gallery
In our volunteer gallery, you’ll find photos celebrating some of the wonderful volunteers who have supported We Grow Food over the years, along with the activities they’ve been part of and the meaningful contributions they make in our gardens and community.
VOLUNTEERING
Thank You To Our Volunteers
We are incredibly grateful for every volunteer who gives their time, energy, and heart to We Grow Food. Whether you are planting with students, caring for garden beds, or helping behind the scenes, your contribution makes a real and lasting impact in our community. Our gardens grow because you do, thank you for being an essential part of this work.