Wright-Locke Farm is a vibrant community farm surrounded by beautiful fields, forests, and trails. As a nonprofit organization, volunteering is critical to our successful operation, supporting our mission to build broad community through active learning. Come join us – as an individual, with your family, or with a group – to dig your fingers into the dirt, collect eggs (still warm) from the chickens, or make connections with others while weeding in the fields.
We have many different volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups and are always open to working with students and scouts for on-farm projects. Please explore our volunteer opportunities below and note that most opportunities are for 14 years+ (some exceptions).
Questions? Email our Community Engagement Manager, Kim Kneeland.
New Volunteers: (Note that as of March 2020, all new volunteers are required to attend a volunteer orientation before jumping in to help at the farm)
- Please check out the individual volunteer opportunities below to get an idea of what you’d like to help out with and what each opportunity requires
- Then, fill out our Volunteer Form (this has all that important contact and emergency info)
- Finally, sign-up for one of our upcoming Volunteer Orientation Sessions
Returning Volunteers: If you haven’t volunteer recently, but have done so in the past, please update your information in our Volunteer Form then contact our Community Engagement Manager, to make sure that you have an active Track-it-Forward volunteer account. From there, just keep an eye out on our monthly volunteer newsletter for opportunities that interest you and sign-up! You are also welcome to attend a volunteer orientation if you feel like you need a refresher.
We welcome groups of all kinds to come and volunteer with us. We are a small farm with a lot going on, so the types of tasks available and staff capacity vary from day to day. We try to set aside a few Wednesday mornings each month for larger groups volunteer sessions but, depending on the farm work needed, there may be exceptions to these allotted time slots. Please fill out the group request form to let us know more about your group’s needs and schedule.
As it takes a lot of time for our small staff to accommodate large groups on the farm, donations to help us defray expenses are most welcome, though not mandatory. We try to make sure that anyone with an interest can visit and learn at Wright-Locke Farm.
Individual students and classes from middle school to graduate school conduct farm-based projects, complete required internships, and undertake scout projects at the farm. If you are interested in doing a project with Wright-Locke Farm, please fill out this form so we can better understand how we can best work together.
Read the WLF Volunteer Handbook
Log on to our Volunteer App – Track it Forward
Who Volunteers at Wright-Locke Farm?
People of all ages—from middle schoolers to retired seniors—and from a variety of backgrounds volunteer at Wright-Locke Farm. Our volunteers include people who enjoy nature, care about the environment, want to participate their own local food system, and like giving back to their community. They Include:
* Individuals, families, and corporate or community groups
* Students, parents, professionals, and retirees
* Weekly, occasional, and seasonal volunteers
I work M-F 9-5. Are there any times when I can volunteer to help out at the Farm?
Yes! There are. Check out the following opportunities: Chicken Chores, Event Volunteers, U-Pick Guru, Farm Stand Volunteers, Speaker Series Volunteers, Farm Clean-Up Days, and Raspberry Jam Maker. We also have some Field Crew opportunities on Saturdays.
What animals might I come into contact with at the Farm?
We have bees, goats, chickens, a couple of farm dogs (unleashed), and a barn cat at Wright-Locke Farm, as well as many dogs who come to take walks with their owners (leashed). The chickens often roam around free and you’ll find honey bees here and there in our fields, pollinating our crops. The goats are typically penned in, but occasionally are taken out for supervised walks and to forage. If you have any allergies or issues with animals, please be prepared with the knowledge that you very well might come in contact with any of these animals during your visit.
As a volunteer, can I take veggies home with me at the end of the day?
We do have a “take box” at the farm that contains “seconds” produce that volunteers and staff are welcome to bring home. We do not currently have a work-for-veggies program set up for our volunteers, but it is something that we’re thinking about. But if you are ever unsure about bringing home produce or flowers, please just ask our farmers!
Level 1 Opportunities
(volunteers who attend an orientation session are eligible for level-1 opportunities. These activities are easier to jump in on and generally offer more flexible scheduling)
(March– October): Seasonal tasks include planting seeds in the greenhouse or field; transplanting, weeding, and harvesting crops that are sold in our farm stand, at markets, and through our flower CSA; and more. One-time and recurring opportunities are available. Volunteers must be prepared for physically demanding work involving moderate bending, pulling, and lifting in potentially adverse weather conditions. Tuesday – Saturdays only. Ages 14+ (with some exceptions; please contact us)
(March – October): Tasks include helping seed, plant, water, weed, maintain fields, and harvest flowers. Volunteers should be prepared for physically demanding work involving moderate bending, pulling, and lifting in potentially adverse weather conditions. Monday – Friday. Volunteers must be 14+
(May – October): Volunteers help Wright-Locke Farm with all aspects of the Farm’s engaging special events, including the popular summer Family Farm Nights. Tasks might include managing a welcome table, booth, or animal pen; helping direct farm guests; serving food; or setting up and breaking down event equipment. Most events occur during the weeknights and weekends. Ages 12+ for individuals and 10+ with parent.
(August – October): If individual, meditative raspberry picking is more your speed, come volunteer in the raspberry fields! Because raspberries come in fast and furious and we don’t want to waste any of their tasty goodness, our farmer needs a picking squad. If you enjoy picking raspberries, want to help us pick for markets and for our famous raspberry jam (and maybe get some berries to take home as a thank you), then this is the opportunity for you. You’ll receive a short training session with our farmer, then will be placed on her e-mail list so she can reach out when the fields are full and need picking. Picking sessions will be concentrated on Tuesdays-Saturdays during the mornings and early afternoons with some exceptions. Volunteers should be 14+ (younger children may volunteer with parents)
(Year-round as lectures are announced): We need help to set up for our monthly speaker series evening presentations as well as help greeting, checking-in guests, tracking attendance, and answering basic farm questions. We typically need volunteers from 6:45 – 7:45. There may be some moving of chairs and benches during first half of this time slot, but greeting during the second half of this time slot can be done while seated. This opportunity is 14+
(April – October): At the beginning and end of the farming season, we host an all-farm clean-up day. Tasks are varied, but they often involve getting dirty, and all include having fun! Come as an individual or as a family for these days. Generally held midday on Saturdays. We announce dates in our weekly e-newsletter and through e-mails to our volunteer list.
Level 2 Opportunities
(require a training session or two in addition to the standard orientation session)
(August-October): Join us at the farm patio during our open picking hours to welcome and instruct pickers. Help set up and breakdown our raspberry packing station and facilitate the flow as people enter and exit the fields. This is a great way to learn about the farm and spend time in the gorgeous late-summer and fall weather while getting to meet other community members.
Logistics: Volunteer hours will consist of 2-3 hour sessions concentrated on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays depending on weather (morning and afternoon sessions available). Volunteers should be 14+ (some exceptions for parents who volunteer with a child).
(Year-round): Help our “chicken chore” volunteer group perform daily tasks for our flock: bring food and water; collect, clean, and tally eggs; and more. This is a great way for young people and families to get involved as these chores can be done at your own pace with flexible timing and morning, evening, and weekend slots available. Volunteers must complete a 30-40-minute training session before signing up for chores.
We ask that volunteers who go through the training, sign-up for at least 2 slots per month for 3 months so as to respect the time devoted by our staff to training new volunteers. Most volunteers have found that chicken chores work best on a consistent schedule so you can master the routine and help us be the eyes and ears of our flock.
(Year-Round as events announced): Help us reach out to local, interested audiences to help spread the word about our free educational lecture series. Before each presentation, we need help to get the word out with posters, e-mails, and social media. You can help with some or all of these tasks. Time commitment: roughly 4-6 hours per month, with a recommended commitment of 3 months. Once you have completed a volunteer orientation, you may reach out to our speaker series coordinator, at egorgenyi@wlfarm.org to set up a one-to-one outreach planning session.
(Late December – February): Help perform morning feed chores for our goats and cat while the farmer is on winter break. The sign-up is day-to-day (very flexible) and requires just morning chores that include bringing food and water to the animals. You will need to complete a 30-minute training session before volunteering. Goat chores may be done by families or individuals. Volunteers should be able to lift and carry 30 lbs and walk on uneven surfaces.
(May – November): If you’re outgoing and would like some great café/retail experience, we need highly dedicated volunteers to help run our Farm Stand. We are looking for reliable volunteers who can commit to a two-to-five-hour shift once a week. We will train you so that you are knowledgeable in all things Farm Stand. This is a tough but rewarding volunteer opportunity where you’ll get to interact with farm visitors while getting a close look at running a small business. Volunteers should be able to lift 30 lbs and be comfortable standing on their feet for extended periods of time. Ages 16+
Note that we are making modifications to our youth program volunteer system in order to better support our program participants and farm mission. If you are interested in helping out with our youth programs or have helped out in the past, please contact our Youth Programs Manager, Jack Wright directly at jwright@wlfarm.org
