Historic Garden Volunteer

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If you are interested in applying please go to volunteer.gov and search for "Fort Vancouver". Select the "Historic Garden Volunteer" opportunity and apply through the volunteer.gov webpage.

The thriving ½ acre interpretive garden, featuring heirloom fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers and historically significant cultivars is meant to represent the much larger historic garden and fields of 1845.

Dr. McLoughlin used many techniques such as crop rotation, cover crops, and natural soil amendments, which are still practiced in the garden today.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Assist the Garden Volunteer Coordinator with planning, developing, and organizing the garden under the parameters of the NPS and the FOVA Cultural Landscape Report.
• Volunteers will plant both seeds and seedlings, fertilize, mulch, weed, water, and maintain the plots in the main garden, and in front of the Chief Factor’s House, as well as harvesting throughout the growing season.
• Work may include the use of tools and equipment, in the open forum of the garden. Natural birds, rabbits, bees, and other insects share space in the garden.
• Assists in research for authentic varieties of plants, garden designs, HBC history, tools, and techniques.
• Maintain tools, equipment, and supplies used in the garden.
• Interact with a wide variety of visitors to FOVA, telling the story of Dr. McLoughlin, the fur trade and the significance of the Hudson Bay Company’s great contribution to the agriculture development of the Pacific Northwest.

Knowledge and Abilities Required for the Position

• Volunteers should be physically fit, able to kneel for extended periods, and work with tools
• Volunteers will also be working in highly visible locations in the Historic Site, so they should be comfortable interacting with the general public and answering questions, or directing them to an experienced volunteer or Ranger
• It is not necessary to have gardening skills, but definitely beneficial
• Volunteers, after their initial training and orientation, will be provided with a name badge and NPS Volunteer attire.

Supervision

Garden volunteers are assigned tasks and duties, by the Garden Volunteer Coordinator, or designated Coordinator. Weekly/Monthly garden overviews may be posted in the garden shed, or through e-mails. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied in the garden by an adult. Any plantings must be approved by the Garden Coordinator or assigned NPS staff.

Guidelines

Guidelines include established National Park Service procedures, program objectives, interpretation guidelines, legislative mandates, management policies, Park practices and supervisory guidelines. Volunteer exercises judgment in identifying problems and reporting to supervisor.

Work Environment

Work is performed outdoors in varying weather and temperature conditions.