Get Involved
COVID-19 alert
Volunteer hours will resume when campuses reopen. See COVID-19 updates.
Volunteer Hours
Thanks for your interest in the Learning Garden! You are not required to RSVP for volunteer hours, feel free to just come by any time during our hours!
- Tuesdays 9am – 1pm
- Wednesdays 9am – 1pm
- Thursdays 9am – 1pm
Want to volunteer in your community, learn how to grow your own food, and earn points for FREE fruits and vegetables? Join us for ‘Volunteer for Veggies’ at the PCC Rock Creek Learning Garden.
For every hour that you volunteer, earn $5 in credit to spend on fresh produce at our weekly farmstand, Portlandia Farm Standia!
No RSVP or prior gardening experience is required. Just show up wearing weather appropriate clothes and bring a water bottle! We will provide the tools and expertise.
Head to the Red Garden Shed. If nobody is in the garden check the sign on the door for an alternate location. We might be in the Greenhouse, or in the Food and Nutrition Lab.
Community Garden Beds
PCC’s Rock Creek Community Garden has 16 community garden raised beds for use by staff, faculty and students. These raised garden beds help foster a sense of ownership and stewardship within the Rock Creek Campus community. Academic teams, centers, and service departments collectively work in the Community Garden space and are integral members in the care of the garden.
Some of the benefits provided:
- FREE 10’ x 6’ raised garden bed
- Personalized crop planning and garden advice
- Compost
- Wood chips, cardboard and leaves for mulching
- Garden tools, wheelbarrows and gloves for use
- Frost free water source and hoses
- Fun work parties and events in the garden
- Washington County Master Gardener Education Garden workshops
- Small library of gardening resources, posters and books on growing food
- An environment that feeds the soul and promotes land stewardship
To acquire seasonal use of a community bed, you must be a current PCC student, staff or faculty and be on campus through the end of the calendar year. You must also read through and adhere to the community garden guidelines, attend a mandatory garden orientation, commit to tend your bed the entire season and do a few hours of volunteer service in the garden.
Contact us to be placed on the waitlist for the upcoming season or for more information about the community garden. A call for gardeners is posted to the Rock Creek group email in February and applications are accepted through early March of the current year.
Rock Creek Campus Community Garden
Join Our Crew
The Learning Garden at Rock Creek is a lively and beautiful place to work! The Learning Garden thrives with care and attention, and you could be involved in seeding, planting, pruning, harvesting, and working with volunteers.
Farm Stand Position: Internship or Work Study Position
PCC Rock Creek Campus Sustainability Office –
Federal Work Study position or internship (unpaid, work-for-food program)
The Farm Stand Intern will work with the Learning Garden team to prepare for and run Portlandia FarmStandia each Tuesday (~8 hours/Tuesday, April-October). This work will include harvesting, washing and packing crops in the garden and hoop house prior to sale, assisting with set-up and take-down of the farm stand, and providing support during farm stand hours by helping with transactions, engaging with customers and promoting Learning Garden services and events. The intern will gain insight into running a small business and may assist with marketing, outreach, customer service and donation of surplus produce to our community partners. This is a great opportunity for students interested in subjects such as health, agriculture, or business, or for individuals who simply want to be involved in their community and develop their professional skill set.
Qualifications:
- Interest in community outreach and marketing
- Interest in gardening, sustainability, health and nutritious food
- Willingness to work hard and learn about all aspects of running a farm stand, or anything else applicable to work with the Learning Garden and Portlandia FarmStandia
- Ability to stand for long periods of time and lift 50 lbs
- Food Safety awareness or training
Volunteer intern duties may include:
- Harvesting produce
- Providing general garden support on Tuesday mornings
- Weighing, washing and packing produce for sale
- Cleaning up harvest materials
- Transporting produce from the garden to our farm stand site at Building 5 via trike, bike, or foot
- Helping with setup and take down of farm stand displays
- Assisting during farm stand hours by restocking the displays as we sell, interacting professionally and positively with customers, and cashiering
- Working with the Learning Garden team to organize food donations for community partners
Compensation:
- This is an unpaid position (unless you have Federal Work Study), but the intern will receive training, as well as free produce. Our Volunteer Rewards program offers $5 of credit toward our farm stand for each hour worked.
- Resume building experience that may lead to your future job!
To apply:
Send email with resume and cover letter to Nora Lindsey, Learning Garden Coordinator.
Questions? Call 971-722-7655.
The Learning Garden currently has the following work study job openings. Work study positions are available on the PCC Financial Aid website.
Learning Garden Assistant: Internship or Work Study Position
PCC Rock Creek Campus Sustainability Office –
Federal Work Study position or internship (unpaid, work-for-food program)
The Learning Garden Assistant will mainly work in PCC Rock Creek’s 3.64 acre Learning Garden, a pesticide and herbicide-free food growing space. Work in the garden may include raised bed preparation, planting, weeding, tool maintenance, construction projects related to earthen building, irrigation maintenance, and weekly harvest for sale at Portlandia FarmStandia. The Learning Garden Assistant may also help with baking projects in the earthen oven and ASPCC events such as Earth Week and Harvest Festival and be expected to interact with volunteers and students in the garden. The Learning Garden Assistant will also help implement measures to reduce, reuse and recycle materials on campus: job duties will include weekly compost tasks to support Rock Creek’s goal of a no-waste, closed-loop system. This may include supporting the function of our onsite vermicompost (worm composting) bin and Insinkerator.
Qualifications:
- Ability to dig, bend, kneel and lift heavy objects up to 50 pounds
- Experience and/or interest in food growing and outdoor work
- Basic understanding of and interest in waste reduction
- Self-motivated and self-directed individual
- Demonstrated ability to think critically and problem solve as issues arise
- Ability to work well with others in a group setting
- Interest in being a part of a dynamic, fun and hardworking team is a must
Job duties may include:
- General garden upkeep including field and raised bed preparation, seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and delivery of food to on-campus market
- Compost collection, processing, and education
- Flower bouquet making
- Maintenance of garden tools
- Irrigation upkeep
- Help with weekly farm stand set-up and/or take-down
- Possible design and building projects as needed
- Distribution of flyers for sustainable events on campus
- Assistance with educational and community events in the Learning Garden, including class projects, earthen oven baking events, Rock Creek’s annual Earth Week (April) and Harvest Fest (October), and more.
Federal work study details:
Must be taking 6 credits/quarter; $9.75/hour, ~119 hours allotted per quarter, can work no more than 8 hours/day and 34 hours/week. We are flexible and will help you to create a work schedule that meets your learning goals and our work needs.
To apply, send a single word or PDF document that includes a cover letter, 1-2 page resume, and two professional references to: Elaine Cole, Sustainability Coordinator.
Web and Marketing Assistant : Internship or Work Study Position
PCC Rock Creek Campus Sustainability Office –
Federal Work Study position or internship (unpaid, work-for-food program)
The Rock Creek Sustainability Office is seeking a career oriented person to join our fun and dynamic team. Duties would include helping us revise our website with content, photos and design ideas. Also the position will help to publicize, inform and educate about sustainability-related events and Learning Garden activities on campus. This will entail designing and revising educational materials, signage, e-newsletter, trainings and our website. Job duties may include taking photos, videos, and creating graphics for flyers, conferences or information tables.
Necessary Qualifications:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Flexibility between office and various work spaces on campus
- Express professional interest in art, graphic or web design
- Strong work ethic
- Dependable
Preferred Qualifications:
- Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or Contribute software (website)
- Familiarity with Rock Creek closed loop, composting facilities and Learning Garden
- Outgoing and friendly disposition
- Detail-oriented
- Likes to think outside the box
Possible position duties include:
- Website maintenance and updating
- Social media posting via Facebook, Instagram, etc.
- Graphic design for flyers, website, conference presentations, Power Point presentations
- Creation and distribution of flyers for sustainability and Learning Garden events on campus
- Assisting in marketing materials for PCC’s Rock Creek’s annual Harvest Fest (October) and Earth Week celebrations (April)
- Helping with events and activities related to PCC Rock Creek Sustainability Office
- Other office duties as needed
Work study details:
$9.75/hour, ~119 hours allotted per quarter, can work no more than 8 hours/day and 34 hours/week, we are flexible and will work with you to create a work plan that meets your learning goals and our work needs. Email a cover letter, 1-2 page resume with three professional references to Elaine Cole.
Garden Gossip
A bi-monthly email newsletter dubbed ‘Garden Gossip’ for all things Learning Garden! Learn of activities going on or what to expect at our next farm stand. Sign up for Garden Gossip.
Take a Course
Many courses on PCC campuses work in conjunction with RC’s Learning Garden. Take a course to gain in-depth knowledge of gardening practices through Community Based Learning (CBL) or regular class curriculum. CBL students are eligible for the volunteer rewards program.
- BI 163 Organic Gardening, Rock Creek
- HE 264 Health, Food & the Environment
- HOR 285 Permaculture Design, Rock Creek
- English as a Second Language, (ESOL) 152, 254, Rock Creek
Giving
Donate
The Sustainability Office welcomes monetary donations to our PCC Foundation Learning Garden Growth Fund. Visit www.pcc.edu/give, select designation “Other” and type “Learning Garden Growth Fund” in the “Other designation” box.
Wish list
- T-Shirts with garden logo for staff and volunteers
- Rain gear including jackets and hats
- Garden/ Sun hats and sunscreen
- An electric utility cart
- Large Vermont Carts (2)
- Sustainably harvested wood for building more functional raised beds
- Large wooden cutting boards or pizza peels
- Mason bee cocoons
- Beekeeping equipment and protective gear, in good repair
- Plastic grocery bags
