Groups of 6-40* volunteers help build resiliency and increase access to healthy produce at Marra Farm.
About Community Food Education (CFE)
CFE envisions a city where people have equal access to healthy and culturally appropriate food. We work with and in communities to grow and share food that is fresh and nourishing.
CFE fosters community connections through gardening education, sustainable food production, environmental stewardship, and raising awareness about good nutrition and food justice. We also fight hunger by providing low-income individuals with seeds and materials, and supporting backyard gardeners in donating fruits and vegetables grown in King County.
About Marra Farm
Located in the Duwamish River Valley, Marra Farm comprises 8.7 acres of preserved farmland in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood – home to both ethnically diverse immigrant communities and a high concentration of commercial industry. Solid Ground’s CFE program, one of many community partners who steward the land, operates a Giving Garden that does education work while growing food for the community.
Giving Garden Work Party
Work at our Giving Garden at Marra Farm with your coworkers, friends, family, or school! We’ll work on building soil, preparing vegetable beds, planting vegetable starts and seeds, weeding by hand, composting, watering, harvesting, washing produce, and distributing produce to the community food bank and other locations. Many of our volunteers start with limited or no gardening knowledge and learn as they go, so we welcome you with whatever level of gardening skills and knowledge you bring. Families welcome!
Time Commitment
We encourage groups to schedule a full shift for our volunteer opportunities, but we ask for a minimum of three hours. Please contact us to schedule: marrafarm@solid-ground.org or 206.694.6828.
- Marra Farm shifts are Tuesdays and Fridays 9am-2pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm.
Training
Volunteers will be oriented to the farm site at the beginning of their first day volunteering. No experience necessary – our staff will train you on any gardening activity you will do.
What to Bring
Please bring a water bottle, lunch/snacks for yourself, and clothes for working outside in all weather (including a raincoat, warm socks, sturdy closed-toe shoes, a sunhat, sunscreen, etc.).
*Special safety considerations for COVID-19*
- Bring and wear a mask or face covering for at least the brief times when it’s hard to maintain safe distance. We can provide you one if needed.
- We recommend bringing your own gardening gloves if you have them. Otherwise, you’re welcome to use ours, which will be laundered in between uses.
- We’re adapting as new best practices come forward!
Please use this self-screening tool before every in-person training or volunteer session to keep yourself and others safe:
Qualifications
- Generally, this role involves standing, kneeling, bending, walking, and lifting up to 10 pounds. Solid Ground does and will make accommodations for people of differing abilities.
- Interest in organic gardening and working outdoors
- Friendly, reliable, and self-motivated
- Ability to follow directions and work collaboratively with staff and other volunteers
- Enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds
Hours & Group Size*
- Hours: Tuesdays & Fridays 9am-2pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm.
- Currently, 40 is the maximum number of people who can safely volunteer simultaneously at Marra Farm.
To Apply
1) Schedule a work party: Contact us at marrafarm@solid-ground.org. to schedule a giving garden work party for groups 6-40. For groups 5 and fewer, sign up to volunteer on our Community Food Education Calendar.
2) Adult Waiver for Marra Farm Volunteers: Please complete this brief form. (Note that Giving Garden Volunteers do not need to apply using a Solid Ground application and a Volunteer orientation is not required – although all are welcome to attend one to learn more about volunteering with Solid Ground!)
3) Youth Volunteer Waiver for Marra Farm Volunteers: If bringing family members under 18, please fill out this one-page form.
4) Contact us with any questions at marrafarm@solid-ground.org or 206.694.6828.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color), and people with the lived experience of food insecurity are strongly encouraged to volunteer.
Solid Ground believes poverty is solvable. Volunteers play a critical role in helping us meet basic needs, nurture success, and spread change – so everyone in our community can achieve their full potential.
