Ben Franklin Community Garden - Celebrating 40 years!

Service Commitment – Volunteer Opportunities

2024 (*2025) Season — Open opportunities have a sign-up link

Event Date Time Description Sign-up link
* Trick or Treat Trail Past   Outdoor tabling event  
* Trick or Treat Trail candy bag packing Past   Pack treat bag handouts  
Final clean-out Past   Various tasks, e.g., glean, remove debris, stakes, rain barrels, take down any remaining plots  
Old Brooklyn Street Fest Past   Outdoor tabling event: 4-hour shifts  
Monkey ball clean-up Past   Rake up monkey balls Tampa side. Heavy lifting.  
Field hugelkulture clean-up Past   Weed and weed whack the hugelkulture in the south section  
Lawn Maintenance: Mowing/Weed Whacking Past   Mow and weed whack the garden grounds  
Abandoned Plot Cleanout Past   Clean out abandoned plots before garden closes for the season. You will be contacted when a plot is available to clear.  
Hunger Center Plots Breakdown Past   Breakdown designated hunger plots. Light lifting required. Takes place rain or shine.  
Forest Clean-up Past   Clear vines throughout the wooded area and dispose in school dumpster.  
General Clean-up Past   General clean-up of the garden. Heavy lifting may be required. Takes place rain or shine.  
Compost Area Clean-up Past   Clean area around compost bins. Heavy lifting may be required. Takes place rain or shine.  
Deer deterent – fence reinforcing Past   New fence screening along the alley and gates. Add more extensions to the top
Alley Clean-up Past   Clean up the alley way. Safety glasses provided if working with weed eater. Some lifting may be required.  
Ice Cream Social Past   Set-up, break-down, man tables  
Tend flower beds     Water and weed as needed  
Plant Hunger Plots Past   Plant potatoes & other veg in designated hunger plots  
Alley Clean-up Past   Clean up the alley way  
Hunger Center Plots Care – Meeting & Assignment Past   Maintain hunger center plot - weed, water, harvest, etc.  
Raised Bed/Gas Cage Area Clean-up Past   Includes weeding raised beds that were abandoned this season.  
General Clean-up Past   We will have a list of duties for the day to tackle. Lifting may be required.  
Memorial Wkend Brat/Shed Sale Past   Set up, food prep, sales, and clean up at brats & used items shed sale.  
Mai Tag Past   Various, e.g.: set-up, sales, admission, server, cleanup  
Chipping Past   Using the chipper on fallen tree branches. Possible heavy lifting.  
Clean-up Past   General clean-up. Possible heavy lifting.  
General Clean-up Past   Heavy lifting required.  
General Clean-up Past   General clean-up around the shed. Raking and weeding. Possible heavy lifting.  
Move Cement Bags Past   2 volunteers to move bags of cement. Requires lifting 25-50 pound bags. There are approx. 75 bags.   
Monkey Ball Clean-up Past   Rake the monkey balls that reside on the Tampa side of the garden.  
Field Clean-up Past   Walk the field and clean up non-organic matter left from last season. If the field is too muddy this event will be cancelled. Bring with you 5 grocery bags. NOTE: Bending is required and there is walking on uneven surfaces.    
Alley Way Maintenance Past   Clean up the alley way as well restringing the deer line along the alley to keep the deer out. NOTE: Heavy lifting may be required. Arms extended for a prolonged period of time may be required.   

In keeping with the intention and meaning of a community garden, and in an effort to defray costs and maximize grant awards, each Gardener and Co-Gardener is required to donate a minimum of five (5) hours per plot toward the operation, maintenance, and promotion of the Garden. Hours are recorded in the Volunteer Service Log. In lieu of volunteer hours, a donation to OBCDC's Garden Fund of $25/hr minimum is required. (Rule 12)

Make a monetary donation

""