Volunteer Needs From: WVU Center for Community Engagement

Let's Grow Mountaineers!

These volunteer positions are responsible for weekly maintenance of WVU Campus Garden areas (on the WVU Campus on the Evansdale campus or at the Westover Greenhouse location) and at the First Presbyterian Church Food Donation Garden on Spruce Street/Forest Avenue. The WVU Campus and FPC Garden network grows food for local food pantries and food insecure individuals in Monongalia County.

Needs will fluctuate with growing season. All skill levels are invited to apply!  No experience is necessary, and students are especially encouraged to apply. WVU Extension Master Gardener program participants will be able to earn course credit at these locations. 

Positions are available largely during Spring, Summer, and early Fall months (eg: Late February to late November).

Volunteers will provide a variety of garden-related tasks, including but not limited to:

-Plant Care, including watering and pest/disease management

-Preparing and maintaining soils, including mixing compost, shoveling, and lifting heavy bags

-Assisting with building or modifying garden beds and trellising structures

-Applying fertilizers and other soil amendments

-Harvesting fruits and vegetables

-Deliveries to local food pantries, when needed

 

Garden volunteers may be asked to work special garden events, including those surrounding special harvests and garden-based learning workshops.  

 

Please note that most of these activities can be physically demanding. Volunteers will be required to provide their own personal safety protection and perform volunteer functions at their own risk.  Best efforts will be made to provide activities for volunteers who may need accommodation. Other positions are also available, including graphics design and public relations, grant writing, workshop volunteers and leaders, student advocates, and special event staff.

 

Any questions should be directed to Nikki Byrne-Hoffman at cbyrne1@mail.wvu.edu

We're looking for highly motivated and dependable individuals to assist with building our seedling inventory this Spring. Volunteers in this area will be expected to seed, maintain, water/fertilize, and transplant our edible and ornamental plant starts for the upcoming growing season.

Seedlings can quickly experience stress from excess or decreased temperature, moisture, and other factors, making it extremely important to keep a close eye and do daily checks either individually as a team, sometimes twice a day to ensure plant health. 

Volunteers or interns must have a dependable daily/weekly schedule, work well in team environments and commitment to timely completion of tasks. They should able to independently maintain healthy plant cultures in a greenhouse and outdoor setting. Must be able to follow directions, have an acceptable range of mobility, and be able to lift 20+ pounds in order to restock medias and complete other required tasks of the position.

Some training will be provided, and weekly checkins with WVUCFG faculty will be required. Volunteers and interns are also required to maintain a current Agricultural Worker Protection Standard certification, pass Environmental Health and Safety training, and follow all other University and Campus Food Garden policies and procedures. Produce Safety Alliance certification or other Food Safety handler training is a plus, but is not required. 

Volunteers/interns will be interviewed to assess qualifications and suitability for the position, and may be asked to provide credentials or references.

For more information, please contact campusfoodgarden@mail.wvu.edu or Nikki Byrne-Hoffman at cbyrne1@mail.wvu.edu

Volunteers are needed to move approved preconsumer food waste materials from WVU dining locations and other local restaurants to compost bins at our Westover Urban Farm location.

Individuals must have reliable transportation (preferably a pickup or other truck), consistent schedule and be able to lift 20-50 lbs at a time. 

Individuals with interest in maintaining piles are also encouraged to express this interest when responding to the listing. 

This compost is used in the food growing and donation operations of the WVU Campus Food Garden, so an understanding of compost and food safety is an absolute must. However, training will be provided for those who are unfamiliar with this topic. Additional University trainings, like Agricultural Worker Protection Standard and EHS trainings, may be required. 

We are looking for experienced gardeners to lead Growing Season 2024 efforts at our Westover Urban Farm, Evansdale Garden, and First Presbyterian Church locations.

Less experienced or new gardeners should keep a look out for other volunteer postings.

Gardeners/farmers should be highly experienced in growing edible and ornamental plants. Produce Safety Alliance training is a huge plus, and other University farm worker and safety trainings will be required. Master Gardener certification is a huge plus, and we are able to assist you in fulfilling requirements for maintaining your certification. Food handlers training is also a plus!

Ability to lift and transport harvested produce to food pantry locations is a huge plus!

If interested, there are also opportunities to engage in youth and community development activities, like workshops, seminars, and other special events at the Urban Farm.

Responsibilities:

-Seedling care (watering, fertilizing, uppotting)

-Transplanting

-Regular garden maintenance (weeding, trellising, watering, amendments)

-Maintain plant and soil health, providing both preventative and reactive maintenance by identifying pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and site security issues and notifying leadership as soon as possible to remediate. 

-Maintenance of compost piles (turning, watering, monitoring temperature, adding waste, etc)

-Willingness to assist in general site maintenance to ability (mowing, weedeating, fence installation/repair, assistance with greenhouse operations, etc). 

This position may require heavy lifting, although as a social justice entity, we welcome all individuals of differing abilities and are willing to make accommodations, as needed. As an industrial site, this location may present challenges to those experiencing limited mobility, so we appreciate notification of any accommodations you may need and discussion in advance. 

Interested parties may contact campusfoodgarden@mail.wvu.edu and Nikki Byrne-Hoffman at cbyrne1@mail.wvu.edu for additional information. 

WVUCFG is looking for a budding public relations, graphic design and social media specialist to create content for social media (Facebook, IG, and TikTok), websites, news articles, flyers, and more. Photography and Videography are required, so having professional equipment is a huge plus, but not required! Experience in Canva, Adobe products, CleanSlate, and other media design programs are a huge plus. 

This work will span over the 2024 Growing Season--February 2024 to November 2024. Semester-based appointments will be considered. 

Interested volunteers should send examples of recent work or portfolios to campusfoodgarden@mail.wvu.edu or contact Nikki Byrne-Hoffman at cbyrne1@mail.wvu.edu