Duke Gardens seeks volunteer gardening assistants

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Duke Gardens is temporarily closed until further notice, in accordance with Duke University's campus-wide policies to minimize health and safety risks in the Duke and Durham communities, and to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This closure includes all indoor and outdoor spaces at Duke Gardens.

For more information and further updates, please go to coronavirus.duke.edu

We look forward to reopening Duke Gardens in the future. But for now, the most important thing we can do as a community is to follow the directives from local, state and federal public health officials.

We anticipate a need for volunteers in Fall 2020 and will announce any volunteer needs via the Duke Gardens website at: https://gardens.duke.edu/support/volunteer

Gardening Assistants - weekday mornings only (no weekend opportunities are available), year-round (weather permitting)

Love getting in the dirt and doing garden work? Gardening assistants support our Horticulture staff to maintain the beauty of the Gardens by primarily weeding, watering, and mulching with occasional planting and more. Gardening tasks require physical exertion, including bending, kneeling, stretching and reaching and tolerance for varying weather conditions and insects outdoors. Gardening assistants are assigned to a particular Gardens area and must be able to work both independently and on a team.

Commitment: 3 hours on Tues., Wed., or Thur. generally from 8am-11am.
Time of Year: year round, (weather permitting )
Qualifications: Must be able available to commit to at least 3 months of volunteering. Able to perform tasks that require physical exertion adapt to varying weather conditions and garden terrain while performing garden work. Once assigned to an area, must be able to take direction and follow directions given by Horticulture staff.
Trainings: All garden volunteers are required to participate in Core Knowledge Training which consists of a series of 3 courses totaling approximately 6 hours. These Core Knowledge Training classes are offered twice per year and need to be taken only once when it is convenient.

Volunteer Benefits:

• Make a difference in your community and inspire others by supporting the mission of Duke Gardens
• Meet people with similar interests
• Enjoy volunteer events, lunch and learn programs and annual celebrations
• Earn a discount at Duke Gardens' Terrace Gift Shop
• Have fun and challenge yourself

Questions about volunteering at Duke Gardens?
Please email us or call 919.668.3694. Thank you for your interest!