Is volunteering on your New Years’ resolution list?

Volunteers are an essential ingredient in many kitchen garden programs. Volunteers bring their own special energy to the space; they are an extra pair of hands to keep the garden growing and an extra pair of eyes to help students have fun and learn during kitchen and garden classes.

If you have made a New Years’ resolution this year to volunteer your services to a good cause, consider reaching out to a local kitchen garden school or early years learning centre to offer a helping hand. You don’t have to be a parent to help out – and you may be just what a kitchen garden program needs. 

Kitchen garden programs benefit from a wide range of skills and love having people of all ages and backgrounds involved.

Here are just some of the ways you can help:

• Kitchen and garden classes – volunteers help students cook in the kitchen and get their hands dirty in the garden. This type of volunteering is best suited to people who can commit a regular day and time to the program.
• Garden maintenance – if you can’t volunteer during school hours or would prefer not to work with students, there are always jobs that need doing in the garden.
• Working bees – these are a great way to get big projects finished quickly and are ideal for volunteers who prefer to pitch in on a set task or on a one-off basis.
• Fundraising – many kitchen garden programs need to raise extra funds, and you could be just the person to help make these activities a success.

It’s lots of fun! Volunteers often report that helping out at a kitchen garden program is an incredibly rewarding experience.

‘Volunteering is good for the soul,’ noted Cathryn Flynn, a Medibank employee who volunteered at a recent working bee.

Ready to get your hands dirty? Search this map of schools and centres across the country to find a few in your local area, then contact them directly to ask them if they need a hand – they’ll be excited to receive your call

Are you a kitchen garden program school or Kitchen Garden Classroom member looking for volunteers? Head to the Shared Table and check out the huge range of resources available to help you recruit and maintain an enthusiastic group of volunteers. The Volunteers and Kitchen Garden Program Collection includes information on how to overcome barriers for volunteers, a poster for attracting volunteers, thank you certificates and much more (see the list of resources on the left-hand side when follow the link).

Got a question? Contact the Support Centre on support@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au or 13000 SAKGF (13000 72543).

Watch this lovely video of volunteers talking about their experiences helping out at a kitchen garden program.