Opportunities From: University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension

Leader: Darlene Trott dltrott60@gmail.com, Martha Vigneault and Elisabeth Hoy

Location:: Hempe Greenhouse East Farm Rd, Kingston Description:

The perennial project starts in September at the East Farm greenhouses and continues through the winter and spring, culminating with the May MG sale. We start all our plants from seed, pot them up until they are healthy-sized plugs, then move them into gallon pots for the sale. It’s a pleasure to be in a warm greenhouse in the middle of the winter and to watch the plants grow and develop from seed to mature plants. Duties vary depending on the season. In the Spring: Transplant, water, fertilize and pinch perennials plugs that were started the previous fall. Scout and treat for pests and disease. Move plants to the Hoop House to harden off as they are ready and weather allows. Move hardened off plants to the perennial pad where care will be given to both new and previous year's overwintered plants. Finally, help transport plants to the Botanical Gardens at the Mallon Center for the mid-May Plant Sale. In the fall: Start perennials from seed and transplant, feed and water as they germinate and grow into a plug for spring potting (see above). Prepare any remaining perennials on the perennial pad for winter. This includes deadheading and cutting back.

When? Early February- Mid May Early September to Late November, Sunday-Friday mornings from 9:00-12:00.

Greenhouse Propagation Projects Virtual Volunteer Fair Video

Transform a community garden into a beautiful and hospitable place where new and experienced gardeners can learn and grow.

Galego Community Carden is a relatively large garden space in a low-income housing community in Pawtucket. There is a lot of space that could be turned into garden and learning space for members of the community!

Questions? Email Jess Bucher at jessibucher914@gmail.com

The garden is located behind the given address.

Master Gardeners could help with any of the following tasks. 

Building demonstration garden spaceGrowing food for donation to local residents Invasive Removal Garden bed building Soil testing Community engagement Fence building Gardening demonstration  Regular maintenance of landscaped areas

Website: https://www.southsideclt.org/

 

Liaison: Casey Farley, caseyfar@gmail.com

Location: 906 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown RI, 02842

Headed into its third year, the Master Gardener program at the The James L. Maher Garden Center in Middletown is a project that is constantly evolving and growing. 

The Maher Center’s mission is to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a range of inclusive programs that include gardening with the MGs. Working in the area around the Center’s Founder’s Garden, Maher clients develop skills that enhance their vocational training and community engagement. The MGs also meet weekly on Wednesday mornings during the growing season to focus on the restoration and upkeep of the Center’s Founder's Garden which has been transformed from an overgrown weed bed to a pollinator garden filled with native species. 

The Maher Garden Center also provides a living classroom for hands on seminars hosted by other MGs such as an annual hydrangea pruning session and monthly GIST (Garden Information Soil Testing) gatherings. The collaborative potential is boundless, as volunteers bring ideas forward that can easily be adopted. All MGs are invited to grow together with us at the Maher Center project.

The Master Gardener Program Instagram consists of 5-10 MG volunteers who are collectively responsible for creating and posting content (as posts and stories) and maintaining audience engagement through comments, tags, and direct messages. URI Master Gardener volunteers are the perfect, authentic, content creators as you are the people who make this program so successful!

Check out our instagram page @urimastergardeners Leader: Kerrin Harnedy

Location: Slack and Instagram

When? Flexible- year round 

Period gardens of the John Hunt House Museum, a manor home built in the 1750's and filled with artifacts from the East Providence community. Master Gardeners (MG's) work with Historical Society members to design, maintain and educate the public about the four period gardens. MG's work in the gardens and serve as garden docents during museum open houses.

 

1st Tuesday of month 4-7pm, April - October. 

Leader: Joe Studlick jstudlick@icloud.com, Register to Volunteer Location: Multiple locations at farms throughout Rhode Island Website: Hope's Harvest RI Description:

We "glean" from farms all over RI. All produce goes to food banks in RI. We pick produce that has been left in the fields or that the farmers planted especially for this effort. Tremendous contribution for your time. In a few hours, a small group of volunteers can pick and pack more than 1,000 pounds.  Bring local bounty to people in need! Participate in farm-based food recovery (also known as “gleaning”) to harvest surplus produce and deliver it to local hunger relief partners. Disseminate food safety and harvesting best practices, improve food security and reduce food waste in the community. Watch this training session to learn more about Hope’s Harvest gleaning program and how you can become involved and participate in this valuable program! Hope’s Harvest mobilizes volunteers to harvest surplus fruits and vegetables from farms, contracts with local growers, and pays for surplus produce — all for distribution to hunger relief agencies throughout RI. 

Hope's Harvest Virtual Volunteer Fair Video

When? Year-round, shift times / dates vary. Most "gleaning' is on weekday mornings for 2 hours from May - October. Occasional weekend apple picking in the fall.

Join this educational yet fun activity! Work along with experienced Master Gardeners and beginners as you share your knowledge and answer questions for clients in an informal format. All are welcome and we will train you on the job. There are over 15 locations to choose from offering a variety of days, times and locations. Introduce the general public to URI Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardener Program, and provide science-based gardening information to visitors at various sites throughout RI and nearby M.A. Kiosks are set-up at events like farmers’ markets, environmental fairs, and other special events.

Most events are held between March 1st and October 31st with few events during other months.

Garden Information Virtual Volunteer Fair Video

For more information, please email Uma Kuruganti  kurugantiu@gmail.com

Introduce the general public to URI Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardener Program, and provide science-based gardening information to visitors at various sites throughout RI and nearby MA. Kiosks are set-up at events like farmers’ markets, environmental fairs, and other special events.

Kiosk Virtual Volunteer Fair Video

Leader: Eric Anderson , Erin Beuka

Location: Skogley Building, Thirty Acre Pond Road, Kingston, RI 02881

URI Department of Plant Sciences Teaching Garden Virtual Volunteer Fair Video

Join URI Plant Sciences professor Rebecca Brown and fellow MGs to maintain a 1-acre market garden. This project provides an opportunity to explore all aspects of vegetable production using sustainable commercial-scale methods and equipment. The garden is used as a classroom for teaching vegetable production and as a source of produce for the Rhody Outpost and Free Farmers Market initiatives to fight food insecurity and poor nutrition among URI students. 

 

When? Tuesdays 5 pm - dusk. We start in May and finish in late October. 

Description

Garden Coordinator Alan Newton agnccapgarden79@gmail.com

MG Leaders: Cathy Lewis, cjlewis14@cox.net AND Gretchen Schultz gschultz50@gmail.com

Location: 311 Doric Ave, Cranston, RI 02910  (Garden is behind 53 Auburn Street - House is owned by CCAP)

We grow vegetables which go from the garden to the food pantry next door. Volunteer hours are flexible. Some volunteer during the weekday and others on the weekend. Volunteers are welcome to bring and work closely with their children. This project welcomes all new volunteers throughout the year. No prior experience is required as experienced Master Gardeners are present to provide guidance.

CCAP Community Garden was established as a resource for those clients who utilize services specific to the agency. During the growing season those clients utilizing the food bank and food pantry have benefited from the garden both as a food resource and education as to proper nutrition. There is also a linkage as to volunteers who assist as to garden planning, planting, and cultivating. The positive work that has taken place as to the garden is being used as a springboard to expand the garden, increase volunteer output, and increase the linkage as to engagement of clients. This effort will be further enhanced through collaboration with the URI Master Garden Program. CCAP Greenhouse and Gardens raises fruit and vegetables for the community food pantry in the building steps away from the garden. Volunteers will learn how to grow vegetables and fruit, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, and the positive effects of companion planting.

CCAP Community Gardens Virtual Volunteer Fair Video

Shifts are based on volunteer availability. They include after work and weekend opportunities. Parents are invited to bring their children with them.  Please email leaders if interested.