Become a Volunteer
2025 Individual & small group volunteers
City Green’s Wednesday Volunteer Program offers a way for individuals and small groups, of up to 5 people*, to work alongside members of City Green's Community Horticulture and Agriculture teams to maintain and enhance the productivity of the farms and gardens, Volunteers build community with one another and take place in a collective effort with fellow participants.
New Volunteer Orientation: First and third Wednesday of every month. Sign ups below!
9:30am-10:00am Morning Garden Volunteer Orientation
4:30pm-5pm Evening Farm Volunteer Orientation
All participants must attend New Volunteer Orientation on an annual basis. New Volunteer Orientation takes place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month, 30 minutes prior to the volunteer session. 9am-9:30am for the Morning Garden Volunteers. 4:30pm-5pm for Evening Farm Volunteers. New Volunteer Orientation includes required safety training, facility tour, and project orientation.
Weekly: Morning Garden Volunteers: Wednesdays from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.
Morning Garden Volunteers work in City Green's perennial gardens designed to support the local ecosystem and educational programming. Morning Garden Volunteers take part in a variety of activities including planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, seasonal garden installations, and more. To participate in Morning Garden Volunteers, you must have completed a New Volunteer Orientation during this calendar year.
Weekly: Evening Farm Volunteering: Wednesday from 5:00 pm-dusk.
Evening Farm Volunteers work on City Green's farm where we grow over 80 varieties of organic vegetables to be harvested and sold at our farm stands! Volunteers will take part in a variety of activities including planting, weeding, mulching, harvesting, processing, and more. To participate in Evening Farm Volunteers, you must have completed a New Volunteer Orientation during this calendar year.
*If your group has more than 5 participants, please fill out the Group Volunteer Inquiry below.
Wednesday VOLUNTEER EVENTS & ORIENTATION
All new and returning City Green volunteers must complete a volunteer orientation before their first volunteer session in the 2025 season. This 30 minute orientation will cover safety tips, an intro to City Green, and a tour of the Farm Eco-Center. Once you complete one volunteer orientation, you are able to join us for any volunteer session throughout the rest of the season! Signup below!
2025: CORPORATE & Community group volunteers
Lend a Hand, Make an Impact!
Community Group Volunteers
Community Group Volunteers are welcome to will join us on a regularly scheduled Wednesday morning or evening volunteer session at our Farm Eco-Center in Clifton. Pre-registration is required for any community group over 5 individuals. Community groups include boy/girl scout troops, schools, faith-based organizations, college clubs and fraternities, and more. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old to participate and must complete a Volunteer Waiver ahead of time.
Corporate Volunteers
Corporate volunteer groups play a vital role at City Green. Your team will enjoy a team-building session while giving back to the community. Choose between City Green at our Farm Eco-Center located in Clifton, NJ, at our Farm At South Branch Preserve in Mount Olive, NJ or at our Learning Garden in Eastside Park, Paterson. Help us tackle a big project that needs lots of energy and extra hands to get done!
Growing the Community-Powered Farm Volunteer Days - starts at $500 donation
Your volunteer day will support our efforts to maintain a climate-resilient regenerative farm operation! Your team will support our farmers with planting, mulching practices, harvesting, bed preparation and more. This event can take place at any of farms depending on your location and which project needs the most support. Max group size: 25
For larger groups or those looking to make a special, lasting impact, inquire about one of our exclusive volunteer projects. Your funding will purchase the tools, plants, and materials needed to complete a big project and give your team a great day outside.
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¿Qué es el Veggie Mobile?El Veggie Mobile es un mercado de camiones refrigerados y móviles de diseño personalizado que transporta eficazmente productos City Green a través de Nueva Jersey a una variedad de ubicaciones diferentes. El Veggie Mobile proporciona un mayor acceso a productos frescos locales para los residentes que no pueden obtener alimentos saludables de manera conveniente y no tienen transporte para visitar los puestos de granja de City Green.
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¿Los productos de City Green son orgánicos?¡Sí, todos los alimentos que cultivamos son orgánicos! Las granjas urbanas de son el corazón de la organización y consisten en dos granjas de producción de alimentos separadas: El Farm Eco-Center en Clifton, y nuestra segunda granja en Mount Olive. City Green cultiva más de 130 variedades de vegetales y hierbas que no solo son culturalmente apropiadas para las comunidades a las que sirven, sino también saludables, locales y deliciosas. Cada granja se adhiere a prácticas de cultivo orgánico para garantizar un suelo sano, trabajadores agrícolas sanos y un hábitat saludable para la vida silvestre. Los métodos de cultivo incluyen rotación de cultivos, cultivos de cobertura, manejo natural de plagas, desmalezado manual y plantación de variedades de cultivos resistentes a enfermedades.
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¿Puedo usar SNAP o WIC en los puestos y mercados móviles?Efectivo, crédito, SNAP/EBT, WIC, vales para personas mayores, y Good Food Bucks son aceptados en los puestos y mercados móviles. Los compradores de SNAP, WIC y FMNP mayores recibirán un descuento del 50% en cada compra de puestos de granja de City Green a través de nuestro programa Buck para la Buena Comida. Para obtener más información sobre nuestro programa Good Food Bucks, haga clic aquí. Aprende más sobre SNAP y WIC: ¿Qué es SNAP y cómo aplicar? ¿Qué es WIC y cómo aplicar? Donde usar WIC
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¿Qué hay disponible en el Veggie Mobile?¡Aprenda sobre lo que está disponible en Veggie Mobile a lo largo de las estaciones!
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I have some mobility issues. Can I still visit City Green?Absolutely! The Learning Farm is equipped with paved walkways and an accessible parking lot. But not all areas of the farm are accessible. The farmhouse, farm fields, festival space, permaculture hill, and all restricted areas are not accessible.
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What should I wear?Wear appropriate apparel! Our farm is completely outdoors, so dress according to the weather. If it's sunny, make sure to bring hats and sunscreen. If it's cold, bring layers! Wear clothes you don't mind getting a little dirty.
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Can I bring my pet to the farm?Service animals covered by the ADA are welcome at City Green properties. Animals other than service animals will be asked to leave the farm.
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Are there public bathrooms?We have a Porta-Potty on-site, but there are no full public restrooms available.
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Are there bees, bugs, and other critters?This is an outdoor facility with bees, insects, and other critters! Please come prepared with your own bug spray and bee medication. City Green does not have trained medical staff on the property. In the case of an emergency, please call 911 first then alert the nearest staff member.
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Should I bring my own water bottle?Yes, bring a water bottle! It can get hot and we don’t have a public water fountain. If you would like to picnic, you are welcome to bring food. There are no trash receptacles on site, so please bring containers for your trash.
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Is City Green produce organic?Yes, all of the food we grow is organic! City Green’s urban farms are the heart of the organization and consist of two separate food production farms: the City Green Farm Eco-Center in Clifton, and our second farm in Mount Olive. City Green grows over 130 varieties of vegetables and herbs that are not only culturally appropriate for the communities they serve, but healthy, local, and delicious as well. Each farm adheres to organic growing practices to ensure healthy soil, healthy farm workers, and a healthy habitat for wildlife. Farming methods include crop rotation, cover cropping, natural pest management, hand weeding, and planting disease-resistant crop varieties.
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Can I use SNAP or WIC at the Farm Stand?Cash, credit, SNAP/EBT, WIC, Senior vouchers, and Good Food Bucks are accepted at the Farm Stand. SNAP, WIC, and Senior FMNP shoppers will receive a 50% discount on every City Green farm stand purchase through our Good Food Buck program. To learn more about our Good Food Bucks program, click here. Learn more about SNAP & WIC: What is SNAP & how to apply? Where to use SNAP What is WIC and how to apply? Where to use WIC How to find a food pantry
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What's available at the Veggie Mobile?Learn about what's available at the Veggie Mobile throughout the seasons!
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What is a Veggie Mobile?The Veggie Mobile is a custom-designed refrigerated box truck and mobile market that effectively transports City Green produce across New Jersey to a variety of different locations. The Veggie Mobile provides increased access to fresh, local produce for residents who are unable to conveniently obtain healthy foods and do not have transportation to visit City Green’s farm stands.
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Do I have to sign up in advance every time I come to volunteer?Once you come to an orientation, you are welcome to join us for weekly Wednesday volunteering whenever you wish for the rest of the year. RSVPing to our volunteer emails or via our website page is very appreciated, but not necessary.
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What kind of activities will I be doing while volunteering at City Green?Volunteering a City Green involves physical, and sometimes strenuous outdoor work! In the gardens, you may take part in any of the following activities: shoveling and wheelbarrowing soil and mulch, weeding, watering, planting flowers, deadheading flowers, or turning compost. On the farm, you may take part in any of the following activities: planting, harvesting, weeding, mulching and amending farm beds.
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I have some mobility issues, can I still volunteer at City Green?Absolutely! If you have a mobility issue, an injury or a volunteer task is uncomfortable for your body, let City Green staff know and we can find another activity that is more comfortable for you. We are happy to accommodate! That said, do keep in mind that our volunteering program does include some repetitive physical tasks and our farm and garden spaces have uneven surfaces you may need to navigate.
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Why do I need to come to volunteer orientation first?At the City Green volunteer orientation, volunteers receive a property tour, an introduction to City Green and a safety training. It is absolutely necessary that volunteers come to orientation each year before joining in on weekly volunteer events.
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Can I get volunteer hours at my school by volunteering at City Green?Yes! We are happy to sign off on any required volunteer hours for community service or school requirements.
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How should I prepare for volunteering at City Green? What should I bring and wear?Wear comfortable outdoor clothing that you do not mind getting dirty and sturdy, closed toe shoes. City Green does not have disposable water bottles available on site. Please bring a reusable water bottle. We have a water refilling station available. We have garden gloves available for volunteers to use, but you are more than welcome to bring your own. We have some sunscreen and bug spray available onsite, but we also recommend bringing your own if you are able.
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I have a child who wants to come and volunteer, can I bring them?At this time we only allow children 13 or older to come and volunteer for our weekly community volunteering. Children between the ages of 13 and 18 must have their waiver signed by a parent in order to volunteer.
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How can I pay for the CSA?When you sign up for the CSA through our CSA platform, Farmigo, it will ask you how you’d like to pay for the season. Credit/Debit payments are accepted online at the time of sign-up, where you can then choose to pay in full, in two payments, or in monthly installments. We also accept SNAP/EBT payments for the CSA. You can select these payments as an option when you register on Farmigo. These payments must be made in person at each weekly pick-up. Members using SNAP/EBT will receive a 50% off Good Food Bucks discount on veggie and mushroom shares.
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How much does the CSA cost?City Green’s CSA comes in two sizes: medium and large. The medium share contains 5-6 produce items valued at $24/week ($528/season, and the large share contains 8-10 items valued at $34/week ($748/season). City Green’s produce is grown without any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides using organic and regenerative farming techniques. We farm in a way that supports the health of the land and ensures that our farmworkers are paid fair wages and work under safe conditions. The food from our farms is distributed through our CSA, food access markets, or farm to pantry donation program. By joining our program, you are supporting a way of growing and eating that benefits both people and the planet. In return for your participation in your local food system, our farms will supply you with fresher, tastier, and higher quality produce than you can get at the supermarket, and at a bargain price!
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Where does the food come from?The produce in the CSA program comes from City Green’s two farms at the Clifton Farm Eco-Center and the South Branch Preserve in Mt. Olive. Between the two farms, we grow over 130 varieties of organic fruits and vegetables.
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What will be in my CSA share?It depends on the time of year! One of the fun things about joining a CSA is learning how to eat with the seasons. Each season brings its own bounty. Here are some sample shares: Spring Medium Share:Romaine lettuce, Scallions, Green Cabbage, Hakurei Turnips, Collard Greens, Snow Peas Large Share: Butterhead Lettuce, Scallions, Round Radishes, Salanova Mix, Snow Peas, Baby Kale, Swiss Chard, Kohlrabi Summer Medium Share:Hakurei Turnips, Lettuce Mix, Bell Peppers, Carrots, Kennebec Potatoes, Slicing Tomatoes Large Share:Red Radishes, Swiss Chard, Scallions, Bell Peppers, Sage, Fingerling Potatoes, Red Onions, Plum Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes Fall Medium Share:Spinach, Collards, Watermelon Radish, Orange Carrots, Yellow Onions, Fingerling Potatoes Large Share: Kale, Sage, Parsnip, Red Onions, Yellow Potatoes, Purple Carrots, Purple Top Turnips, Purple Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash Winter One Size Share: Chioggia Beets, Rutabaga, Purple Carrots, Blue Potatoes, Red Onions, Garlic, Bunched Greens, Dry Thyme, Baby Greens
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What if I don’t know how to cook something in my CSA?Don’t worry, we’ve got you! One of our CSA member perks is a weekly newsletter containing information about the produce in your share and weekly recipe ideas. If you’re still not sure, City Green staff are always present at your CSA pick-up, and are more than happy to share tips for cooking certain items. As a last resort, a quick google search goes a long way.
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Can I cancel my share?A CSA program is a commitment to the full season. Should members choose to cancel their membership through their Farmigo dashboard, they will be liable to pay 50% of the remaining season’s balance. If you feel you can’t commit to the whole CSA program, that’s okay! Instead of signing up for the CSA, you can shop at your leisure at any of City Green’s farm stands, where much of the same produce is available for purchase. Click here to view our market calendar.
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When can I pick up my CSA?We offer two pick-up days for the Spring/Summer CSA: Wednesdays from 3pm-6pm, and Fridays from 10am-2pm.
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Can I switch my pick-up day for the CSA?Since there are only a certain number of pick-up slots available for Wednesday/Friday pick-up, we try to avoid pick-up day switches to make things simple for our packing team. We ask that you commit to your chosen pick-up day for the full season. That being said, exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances. Requests for a pick-up day switch should be submitted to Alex at customerservice@city-green.org at least 48 hours in advance.
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Can I put my share on hold if I go on vacation?We ask that all of our CSA members commit to the full season. If you can’t make your scheduled pick-up, please notify us at customerservice@city-green.org at least 48 hours in advance, so that our packing team doesn’t pack your share. We can’t offer any credits or refunds for missed pick-ups. If you are not able to pick-up your share one week, ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to collect it in your place. Any uncollected CSA shares will be donated at the end of the week.
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How do I sign up for the CSA?In order to receive the CSA sign-up link at the time it opens, please click here to sign up to receive CSA notification emails. You will receive an email notifying you of the time and date of the sign-up, and then a follow-up email the day of that contains the sign-up link. Spots are limited, and sign-ups are first come, first serve.
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How long is the CSA season?The Spring/Summer CSA season runs 23 weeks from June 4th-November 14th. The Winter CSA season runs 8 weeks from December-January.
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What is a CSA?CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture- it is sometimes also known as a “farm share”. CSA members purchase a share of a farm's products in advance, providing income for farms at the beginning of the growing season. CSA programs create a more localized food system, build long-lasting relationships with community members and foster education about nutrition and local agriculture. When you join City Green’s CSA, you are signing up to receive a weekly veggie box full of delicious, freshly harvested produce. Our CSA is farmer’s choice, meaning it is not customizable- part of the fun is being surprised each week!