Published June 15, 2022
Becoming a Garden Volunteer
Heads up! This article was published 2 years ago.
Horticulture at Five Rivers MetroParks creates, maintains and preserves green space and habitats for pollinators and native plants, as well as educates visitors on sustainable gardening practices and local food production.
Gardening volunteers at Five Rivers MetroParks support our horticulture and education staff in caring for a variety of gardens throughout our parks. These gardens not only provide beautiful spaces for Miami Valley residents to get outside, explore and connect to nature, but they also provide fresh local produce to those in need in our community.
Gardening has a wide array of benefits. Research shows gardening can improve an individual’s physical, social and mental health. In fact, Senior adults who garden reduce their risk of dementia by 36%, even more than those who walk every day.
Becoming a MetroParks garden volunteer is one way to take advantage of these benefits while learning new skills and helping others connect with nature. Volunteering alongside staff, individuals learn about plants and planting techniques. Through a shared goal to create beautiful landscapes and a bountiful supply of produce that helps support the community, volunteering allows you to work with like-minded individuals, meet new friends and have a lot of fun.
If you’re interested in volunteering in one of the educational gardens at MetroParks, you can learn more about those volunteers here in Get Connected. There are opportunities for volunteers in the at Possum Creek MetroPark, with Skeeter’s Garden at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark or in the heirloom garden at the Carriage Hill MetroPark Historical Farm. Don’t forget to “fan” the gardening volunteer position in Get Connected to receive the latest updates about gardening volunteer opportunities.
