The Maple Bay Community Garden showcases organic gardening practices and yields thousands of pounds of fresh produce each year. Nearly all of the garden’s produce is donated to Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan, providing fresh, nutritious, locally-grown fruits and vegetables to our food-insecure neighbors. A group of dedicated volunteers, from seasoned gardeners to enthusiastic novices, actively maintain the garden, fostering a communal exchange of knowledge and skills. By demonstrating gardening practices that restore biological processes, our volunteers contribute to local food systems, soil health and sustainability while inspiring others to consider organic growing methods.
Location
The Maple Bay Community Garden is located in Grand Traverse County at Maple Bay Farm, an 11-acre property owned and managed by GTRLC.
Responsibilities/Duties
Garden tasks vary depending on the season but may include the following:
- Organizing and maintaining garden tools
- Creating and maintaining compost
- Tilling and amending soil
- Planting, watering and weeding the garden
- Harvesting produce
- Weighing and boxing produce for donation
Qualifications
Gardening can be strenuous, depending on the task. The following qualifications will help you be a successful gardener:
- Familiarity with basic gardening tools and techniques
- Familiarity with care requirements for various types of fruit and vegetable plants
- Ability to perform strenuous labor in a variety of conditions (alternative, less strenuous tasks are also available)
Time Commitment
The time you contribute to building community at the Maple Bay Community Garden is invaluable, and you may volunteer as much as your schedule allows. Because fruit and vegetable plants require consistent care throughout the growing season, and garden tasks differ depending on the time of year, we encourage volunteers to commit to a full season (May through September) of regular volunteer work at the garden. While it is not mandatory to attend every session, workdays are typically held twice per week.
Training
Garden volunteers will receive training on concepts necessary to maintain an organic garden, including:
- Organic gardening concepts and techniques
- Tool use and safety
- Importance of soil health and fresh, local food for our community
If you’re excited to get involved in the Maple Bay Community Garden, sign up today to learn more about volunteer opportunities!