KCCG’s daily tasks and long terms successes are possible thanks to the amazing help from our wonderful volunteers. You can also be a part of this gardening community that fosters an awareness of the environment, transforms empty lots into green, productive living spaces, and cultivates physical and social health.

Volunteers play a huge role in helping KCCG offer affordable plants and seeds to gardener across the KC metro.

We have a wide range of volunteer opportunities for recurring and one time projects for individuals and groups. Below are some of the projects for our volunteers.

• Seed Packaging: Volunteers assist in packing our seeds from bulk containers into our seed packets.

• Greenhouse Planting: Plant seeds in flats to grow transplants in the greenhouse.

• Large Community Garden Maintenance: We manage nine large community garden sites across the metro. Occasionally there are maintenance projects at each site that we can use assistance with.

• Let us connect you with a local community partner garden: KCCG supports a network of more than 250 community gardens, and additional involvement is always needed. Many of the gardens we work with grow food to donate to food pantries. They would welcome your help.

• Help us pack seed and plant orders: Weigh potatoes, pack seeds, onions and plants for community partner gardens. Label each flat and bag with the garden’s name. Work in the garage, front office and greenhouse.

• Build a garden: Help us load the van with lumber, wheelbarrows, shovels, hammers and nails. We’ll drive to the garden site, hammer the lumber together, shovel soil into wheelbarrows and dump into beds.

• Giving Grove Plantings: (March – October)   

Depending on the season, volunteers will be watering, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, thinning fruits, light pruning, and other tasks on fruit and nut trees and shrubs.

• Repeated commitment option: Seeking volunteers that are able to commit on a continued basis to connect with one of our schools, pre-school through high school. Must be able to commit to working with a local school on a weekly or bi-weekly basis during the school day or after-school programming time for a complete growing season (spring, summer, or fall). We will connect each volunteer with a school that needs hands-on assistance in the garden and you will serve as a garden assistant to the schoolyard garden program coordinator at that site. Volunteer orientation is required for participation in several school districts. We will equip each volunteer with tools and supplies, but basic garden knowledge is necessary.

• Preparing for spring: The preparation for the upcoming season begins around the first of April as weather permits. Because this garden is intended to be a showcase for the plants, there is always a need for weeding of the beds and sweeping of the bricks. While these may not seem glamorous, they are essential maintenance to  keep a pristine appearance.

• Fall Family Festival: Our end of the season Fall Family Festival is always a time for volunteer fun. Typically held the first Saturday after Labor Day, this free event draws visitors that wish to sample a taste of the garden. Volunteers are needed to help with the children’s activities, greeting visitors, serving samples and food, and directing traffic.

• Late Fall Garden Closure: After the harvest, the garden beds are put to rest by the removal of all debris. KCCG composts the plant refuse and being able to use a wheelbarrow is most helpful as we close the garden for the winter.