Our Volunteering Opportunities
Each UBC Farm program has slightly different volunteer requirements and expectations. Most programs welcome a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, skills, and ages. The Urban Farmers and Farmer’s Market positions have minimum age requirements of 14 and 16 years, respectively.
What you'll do
Come help us harvest and maintain the 200+ varieties of fruits and vegetables we grow on our 60-acre certified organic farm! This diverse position introduces and educates volunteers about all aspects of sustainable farming, from weeding to planting and harvesting. Urban Farmers play an important role in carrying out the day-to-day activities needed to run the UBC Farm’s field operations. If you want to get your hands in our fields, this is the program for you!
Here are the main activities that you will get a chance to learn about and get involved in throughout the season:
- March-May: Perennial and annual field care including flowers, garlic, carrots, and strawberries
- June: Strawberries (with occasional other annual field care)
- July: Blueberries (with occasional other annual field care)
- August-September: Beans (with occasional other annual field care)
- June-October: Friday harvest (with the option to stay after for a hearty $5 lunch cooked by and eaten with the UBC Farm team)
Program Rewards
Urban Farmers have the opportunity to bring cull vegetables and fruit home after each volunteer shift, access a 20% discount at our markets after 10 hours of volunteering, and access a free UBC Farm t-shirt after 20 hours.
What volunteers are saying
“I had a great time meeting people and socializing while working. Learning about all the different crops was rewarding. And I very much appreciated receiving culled vegetables! I tried cooking a lot of new recipes after I learned about veggies I had never tried before.” – 2016 Urban Farmers Volunteer
What you’ll do
The unique and diverse Children’s Programs at the UBC Farm engage thousands of children each year with visits to the Farm. There are three different opportunities for volunteers to get involved with the Children’s Programs:
Children’s Education Garden Care: volunteers at these shifts work with perennial fruits and herbs, annual vegetables, and a dynamic garden design. Join these volunteer shifts learn about growing food in a beautiful setting and in the context of the children’s programs that work out of this space.- FarmWonders Summer Camp: volunteers support the Farm’s summer day camps for children aged 6-14. Volunteers are needed on a weekly bases from June 27 to September 2 and are asked to commit to an entire week of either mornings or afternoons. This is a great opportunity for individuals interested in gaining experience working with children on the Farm. For more information about the summer camp program, visit farmwonders.ca.
Program rewards:
Children's Garden Care and FarmWonders Camp volunteers have the opportunity to access a 20 per cent discount at our markets after 10 hours of volunteering, and access a free UBC Farm t-shirt after 20 hours.
What volunteers are saying
"I find that this program is all about building community, through land and nature. It continues to be an amazing place to feel part of a community, made of the staff, volunteers, and children. It is also wonderful to be involved with people of all ages. This program is so finely tuned to the needs of everyone, children as volunteers. I value this experience highly as I know how meaningful it has been and continues to be in the children's lives. I am grateful to be part of this real educational project.” – 2016 Children’s Programs Volunteer
What you’ll do
Running from June to October, our lively Saturday markets require many helping hands. Market Crew members are in charge of setting up the market stands, selling our certified organic produce and generally running our markets throughout the growing season. Volunteers help out behind the scenes in our produce and flower area with our Market Crew.
Program rewards
Farmer’s Market volunteers have the opportunity to bring cull vegetables and fruit home after each volunteer shift, access a 20% discount at our markets after 10 hours of volunteering, and access a free UBC Farm t-shirt after 20 hours.
What volunteers are saying
“It was so much fun talking to people from very different backgrounds and learning together!” - 2015 Farm Market Volunteer
Looking for group volunteering?
For group volunteering inquiries, please fill out a Community Group Visits request.
Volunteer with community programs on site
There are more opportunities for volunteering, learning and growing with the xʷc̓ic̓əsəm Garden, Maya Garden and Musqueam Garden! Connect with them for details on how to join.