Check and fill water barrels for either the north half or the south half as assigned. Task is expected to take at most 1 hour if barrels are empty; considerably less time may be required, depending on usage. Flush water barrels if requested. If barrels do not require filling, perform other routine maintenance tasks instead.

Inspect your assigned area approximately every three weeks between mid-May and mid-November to ensure that Garden rules and any city or school restrictions regarding weeds are enforced, that planting and cleanup deadlines are met, and that plots are being properly maintained and fully used. Report all findings and issues promptly to the Garden Enforcement Coordinator for action.

Perform a valuable service to your community: collect donated produce from the Garden on a fixed schedule and deliver it to area food shelves. Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, have a vehicle, and be committed to dropping off donations as scheduled (during the day on Mon/Weds/Fri). Collect a receipt from the donor organization with a record of pounds donated and put it in the wooden box.

Support fellow gardeners who need an extra set of hands to maintain their plot, who have taken over an abandoned plot and need support with initial cleanout, or to prepare an abandoned plot for a new gardener.

Support the partnership with Dowling Elementary School and the Garden by helping care for the four school plots. Assigned gardeners will spend time in the school plots each week watering, weeding, staking, pruning, harvesting produce for donation, etc. We will offer support when the Dowling staff members need it throughout the season and aim to leave work for Dowling staff and students when they have time to work in the plots. We’ll assign each gardener week(s) and tasks to tend the plots ahead of time.

Maintain the annual and perennial ornamental common beds, as well as the herb garden. Gardeners will be assigned to specific gardens. Duties include early spring cleanup and planting design. Gardeners will spend their time planting, weeding, watering, picking up trash, pruning, etc.

On a set schedule, organize and manage volunteers for cleanup days that occur several times throughout the season, including both evening and weekend opportunities. Communicate with other coordinators about the work to be done and assign tasks on the cleanup days. 

Perform tasks assigned by the session’s coordinator. For example, pick up litter and perform seasonal chores and maintenance. Mow common areas and paths. Trim overgrown vegetation in pathways. Apply wood chips to Garden entrances and paths that use them, including around raised beds. Weed pathways around raised beds and elsewhere as instructed. Clear the 46th Street fence and sidewalk of weeds and debris, to keep our face to the neighborhood clean and presentable. Clean up around and in the shed; straighten hoses and tools left in a mess. 

Plan and support social events and workshops at the Garden. Tasks include planning, preparation and set-up, working during the events, and take-down and clean-up. If the number of events is insufficient to provide enough service time, some gardeners initially assigned to Events support may be reassigned to another task.