Volunteer Policies

Because there is such a desperate need among our poorest citizens for the protein foods that are crucial to the growth & development of children and the health & well-being of adults,  Garden Harvest is focused on establishing a milk & egg distribution program. Just as Garden Harvest has been the first farm to grow fruits & vegetables just for the hungry, this egg & milk project will be one of a kind: the only Grade A commercial dairy, bottling plant, & egg facility in the country created specifically to give hungry people access to high quality protein foods.

This is a monumental task because of the tremendous amount of infrastructure that must be installed to set up a USDA Certified Grade A dairy and egg production facility.  To achieve this goal, we need a lot of volunteer participation. Yet, because the work involves construction, there is concern that young children could hurt themselves.  Therefore, until the construction is completed, for the safety of the children, Garden Harvest must limit volunteer groups to persons of High School age or older.  Adults skilled in carpentry, fencing, masonry, or backhoe/trencher work are needed. But even unskilled adults and minors of High School age can be of tremendous assistance in the simpler construction tasks such as fencing, painting, etc. This Limitation will be lifted as soon as the construction is completed, so please check back with us next season for minors under High School age.

Examples: If a group of 100 people come out, we will need 9 student team leaders each in charge of a specific subgroup of 10 students; A group of 200 will need 19 team leaders. A group of 50 will need 4 team leaders;  A group of 55 will still need 4 team leaders; one of the team leaders will have a group of only five. 

Volunteers are welcome anytime between the hours of 10AM and 4PM.

• Rest room facilities on the premises.
• Volunteers are welcome to bring lunch - refrigerator is available for small groups or individuals. Large groups should bring coolers. Please keep the grounds clean by taking your trash with you when you leave.
• Drinking water is available at all times.
• Volunteer groups can conclude their service day with a reflection session to synthesize their experiences and to bring closer to their group project.

• Wear comfortable, old clothes and tough shoes.
• Wear "layered" clothing; i.e.: wear sweaters that you can take off.
• Bring sun block and/or hat.
• Bring your own gloves or purchase a pair from Garden Harvest for $2.00.
• Tools are provided.

• Since farm work necessitates close interaction with animals, bees,  and pollen bearing vegetation including ragweed, people allergic to these things should not volunteer on the farm. If they would like to do volunteer activities off the farm to support Garden Harvest, we would be happy to develop a meaningful project for them, as in fundraising, marketing, etc.
• Do not pull on tree branches.
• Do not climb trees.
• Do not bring soccer balls, footballs, and other recreational equipment. Only activities clearly related to the Garden Harvest mission to alleviate hunger are appropriate.

Volunteer Registration Process

Registration online: To cut expenses and environmental waste, Garden Harvest has replaced paper volunteer waiver forms with online volunteer registration.  All volunteers need to sign up online. Click HERE to sign up.  If you are one of the very few who do not have Internet access, cannot get to a library or friend's house to use their Internet access, or have some disability that prevents you from signing up online, then you call the volunteer coordinator at 410-526-0698 so she can arrange to have a computer set up at the farm for you to sign up when you come.

Commitment of Time:

• Garden Harvest is appreciative of any time a volunteer can commit.
• There is no minimum number of hours of service.