Volunteering Opportunities at Hilltop Hanover Farm

Volunteering at Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center for the 2010 Season

Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center relies heavily on volunteers to help grow and promote local food and provide environmental education to the public. Our small staff really needs your help to continue farming and offering the many public programs and demonstration projects that benefit our community. 

Please join us at our on-farm volunteer orientations to learn about the farm and the various opportunities available for volunteers.  At the orientation, prospective volunteers meet the farmers, tour the farm and fields (weather permitting), learn about our operations and farming systems, and find out when and where we can most use help.  All volunteers should attend an orientation prior to beginning work.

Upcoming Volunteer Orientation Sessions:
                    This seasons volunteer orientation has already occured but if you would still like to volunteer please continue reading and give us a call.

The S.O.S. List

Potential Hilltop Hanover volunteers may fill out an application for a specific volunteer position and/or request to be put on our S.O.S. e-mail list. An S.O.S. e-mail goes out anytime we have a big job that requires many hands, whether the task is planting seedling starts, weeding, transplanting, or harvesting.  The e-mail will specify the job to be done and the times we’ll be doing it, and if you’re available you can drop on by to help out.  This is great for the volunteer who is limited on time or can’t make a regular commitment, and it’s a fun way to meet nice people with similar interests.  If you would like to be added to the S.O.S. list, please call 914-962-2368 or contact us here.

Volunteer Positions for 2010

Potential volunteers are encouraged to fill out an 2010 Volunteer Application for one of the following 2010 volunteer positions. Please note the days/ times and number of hours per week or month required for each job.

Farm-at-Home Gardeners

Our Farm-at-Home garden is a demonstration of what someone could potentially grow in a small space, i.e. their own backyard. The garden contains many of the vegetable crops that we grow in our fields as well as grape vines, blueberries, apple and peach trees and perennials like asparagus and horseradish. The Farm-at-Home gardeners are responsible for keeping the garden productive and beautiful, especially important since the garden is at the entrance to the property and representative of the farm as a whole. Small groups of developmentally disabled adults from the program Another Step work in the garden several times a week, and Farm-at-Home gardeners may work with and direct these groups.

Gardening experience is preferred but not required.

4 positions open. Time commitment: Two hours once a week, Tuesday – Saturday, from May through October.

U-Pick Volunteer

The public is invited into our fields for U-Pick every Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., from late June through October. U-Pick volunteers arrive at 9 a.m. and are responsible for posting signs in the rows of crops to be picked that day, writing the price board, and setting up the tent and table. Volunteers will work with staff to pass on U-Pick rules to visitors, instruct them on which crops are ready for harvest and how to harvest them, and add up the purchases and collect the money.

No previous experience necessary; we will train you on harvesting methods. We do require punctuality and commitment for this job, as well as good people skills.

2 positions open. Time commitment: Every other Saturday, late June through October, from 9 a.m. – noon (and welcome to stay longer).

Farm Stand Volunteers

A farm stand volunteer helps staff set up the farm stand by writing the price board, weighing and setting out produce, and making sure all produce is properly identified and priced. Once the stand is set up, the volunteer will stay at the stand to help customers choose produce and pay, as well as answer questions about the farm. The stand has been un-staffed in past years, and in order to keep it open we really need the help of volunteers to make sure produce doesn’t go missing and to encourage people to try new things!

No experience required, but volunteers must be friendly and good advocates for local, healthy food.

We need reliable coverage from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturdays from June through October. 4 positions open. Time commitment: Four hours every other Saturday.  

Harvester

Harvesting volunteers will assist staff with the harvesting, washing, and packing of crops for the farm stand and food pantry on Friday from 8 – 11 a.m. This is fast-paced, detailed work. Volunteers must be punctual, be able to follow directions, work quickly and efficiently, and follow proper handling procedures.

Experience preferred; a good work ethic and ability to do repetitive activities quickly will be considered in lieu of experience.

2 positions open. Time commitment: Every Friday morning, 8 – 11 a.m., late May through October.

Trail Maintainer

Hilltop Hanover Farm has 3.5 miles of marked hiking trails across the street from the main farm buildings. Volunteers are needed to regularly hike the trails, note areas that need attention (i.e. eroded areas, downed trees), and clear or maintain the trails. Trail maintenance volunteers can hike the trails on their own time (trails are open every day during daylight hours) and mark down the section of the trail they worked on in the log at the trailhead. If trail volunteers come during times that the farm is open, we can provide the necessary tools. 

4 positions open. Time commitment: Once a week, year-round.

Docent

Hilltop Hanover docents represent the farm during busy summer Saturdays when we have lots of visitors and events. Responsibilities include informing visitors about the farm and what we do, answering questions, directing people to classes and events, answering phones. During quieter times we may ask docents to help out with some office work like database entry or updating our website.

No previous docent experience required. We will provide volunteers with the information they need to be effective Hilltop Hanover docents. Docents must be friendly, enjoy talking to people, and be good advocates for the local food and agriculture.

4 positions available. Time commitment: Three hours every other Saturday, late June through September.