Action Opportunity St. Paul: Volunteer with the Youth Farm and Market Project!

Students working on a new farm project in Whittier

St. Paul GEEKs! Looking for some fun volunteer hours over the summer? The Youth Farm and Market project (website here), is looking for young volunteers all summer, all across the city. The Project's mission is "Growing Food to Develop Youth", and that's exactly what they're doing- you get leadership experience and a good excuse to get outside and play in the dirt. Skim through for whatever place and time you're available! Without further ado, here's their official notice for volunteers:


The Youth Farm and Market Project is gearing up for our summer program, and we are looking for volunteers!  YFMP has lots of exciting new volunteer opportunities this
spring and summer.  Included below is a list of volunteer opportunities.  If you have any questions, or would like to get involved, please contact Beth Ringer at 651-325-7453 orbeth@youthfarm.net.  YFMP will host a volunteer training and orientation of Thursday, June 7, from 5:30-6:30p at the YFMP main office (128 33^rd St W, Suite 2, Minneapolis, 55408.) All volunteers, both new and returning, are strongly encouraged to attend the summer training and orientation.

Frogtown (St Paul)

The Frogtown neighborhood is looking for volunteers to help with the YFMP summer program.  The summer program runs June 19-August 10 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Summer volunteers choose which days to come to program, but need to be able to attend the same times every week.  Frogtown needs volunteers to help in four ways:

1.  Frogtown needs volunteers to help in the kitchen this summer.  Kitchen volunteers work with a small group of youth and the YFMP summer chef to cook lunch for all program participants every day.  Kitchen volunteers help supervise young people in the kitchen and teach youth about healthy cooking.  Of course, kitchen volunteers are welcome to stay for lunch and eat with the group!  Volunteer opportunities are available in the kitchen on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10a-noon.

2.  Frogtown needs volunteers to help on the farms this summer.  Farm volunteers participate in morning garden groups with youth, and help young people learn about growing food. Frogtown has two farms in the neighborhood, and needs 2-3 volunteers to help at each farm every day from 9-noon. 

3.  Frogtown needs volunteers to help with afternoon focus groups.  Frogtown offers youth a choice of two afternoon focus groups:  Arts and Biking.  Focus group volunteers participate in group activities, build relationships with youth, and work closely with YFMP staff to help teach activities related to arts or biking.  Each focus group needs 2-3 volunteers every day from 1-3p.

4.  Frogtown needs volunteers to help with Harvest Festival!  Harvest Fest is Frogtown’s biggest party of the season, and a celebration of the end of the summer.  Volunteers are from August 9-11 to help cook and set-up for the event.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Beth Ringer, Frogtown Program Director, at 651-325-7453 or beth@youthfarm.net.  Background checks and a short training will be required for any volunteers who help with program activities.

The West Side (St Paul)

The West Side needs volunteers to help with a variety of activities:

June 1st to August 30th

Farm Volunteer – Commit to 2-10 hours per week June 1st to August 30th to doing

independent farm work including planting, weeding, turning the compost, minor

landscaping, and pruning.

Weekend Watering – Help keep the plants healthy by watering on the weekends. Be

able to commit to 1-4 hours per week. Can water by hand and set-up sprinklers.

June 19th to August 10th

Summer Garden Group Mentor – Looking for committed adults 21 and older to

commit to 4-8 hours per week between June 19th and August 10th to spend time in

the garden with youth. Background checks will be required along with a required

training and orientation.

Kitchen Volunteer – Commit to 2-10 hours per week in the Kitchen helping our

summer chef prepare meals for 50-65 youth and staff.

Various Times

Summer Guest Chefs – Interested in creating a meal for youth farm? Lead youth

farmers in the kitchen with staff and serve your menu to happy hungry youth.

Harvest Fest Event Volunteers – Help set-up for the West Side Youth Farm’s biggest

party all summer. We are looking for volunteers to help during the week of August

6 with emphasis on August 9th and the evening of august 10th.

Harvest Fest Kitchen Volunteers – Be a hero. YF needs volunteers for 2 to 6 hour

shifts to help prepare for the largest meal of the year. Prep, set-up and clean-up of

all things food. Will occur on between August 8th and 10th.

For more information about volunteering on the West Side, please contact Tyler Berres, West Side Program Director, at 651-600-6099 or tyler@youthfarm.net. 

Hawthorne (north Minneapolis)

The Hawthorne neighborhood is looking for volunteers to help with the YFMP summer program.  The summer program runs June 19-August 10 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Summer volunteers choose which days to come to program, but need to be able to attend the same times every week.  F

1.  Hawthorne needs volunteers to help in the kitchen this summer.  Kitchen volunteers work with a small group of youth and the YFMP summer chef to cook lunch for all program participants every day.  Kitchen volunteers help supervise young people in the kitchen and teach youth about healthy cooking.  Of course, kitchen volunteers are welcome to stay for lunch and eat with the group!  Volunteer opportunities are available in the kitchen on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10a-noon.

2.  Hawthorne needs volunteers to help on the farms this summer.  Farm volunteers participate in morning garden groups with youth, and help young people learn about growing food. Hawthorne needs 2-3 volunteers to help at each farm every day from 9-noon. 

3.  Hawthorne needs volunteers to help with afternoon focus groups.  Focus group volunteers participate in group activities, build relationships with youth, and work closely with YFMP staff to help teach activities related to arts or biking.  Each focus group needs 2-3 volunteers every day from 1-3p.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact JP Mason, Hawthorne Program Director, at jp@youthfarm.net or 612-222-5280.  Background checks and a short training will be required for any volunteers who help with program activities.

Powderhorn (south Minneapolis)

The Powderhorn neighborhood is looking for volunteers to help with the YFMP summer program and with summer farm work.  The summer program runs June 19-August 10 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

1.  Powderhorn needs volunteers to help in the kitchen this summer.  Kitchen volunteers work with a small group of youth and the YFMP summer chef to cook lunch for all program participants every day.  Kitchen volunteers help supervise young people in the kitchen and teach youth about healthy cooking.  Of course, kitchen volunteers are welcome to stay for lunch and eat with the group!  Volunteer opportunities are available in the kitchen on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10a-noon.

2.  Powderhorn needs volunteers to help on the farms this summer.  Farm volunteers participate in morning garden groups with youth, play games with youth, and help young people learn about growing food.   

3.  Powderhorn needs volunteers to help with afternoon focus groups.  Powderhorn is especially looking for volunteers who are creative, organized, and high-energy to help with the biking, puppetry, and dance focus groups.  Each focus group meets from 1-3p.

4.  Powderhorn also needs volunteers to help care for the farms on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  These volunteers make sure that the farms are watered and tended on days that youth aren’t in program.  Farm work volunteers can set their own flexible schedule, but need to be able to commit to caring for the farms on a regular basis.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact Hashep Seka, Powderhorn Program Director, at hashep@youthfarm.net or 612990-0074.    Background checks and a short training will be required for any volunteers who help with program activities.