Become a Volunteer
2023 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.
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New Volunteer Orientation: First and third Wednesday of every month
9am-9:30am 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. Register for New Volunteer Orientation
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Weekly: Morning Garden Volunteers: Wednesdays from 9:30 am-12:00 pm.
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.
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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.
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*If your group has more than 5 participants, please fill out the Group Volunteer Inquiry below.
Wednesday VOLUNTEER EVENTS & ORIENTATION
All new City Green volunteers must complete a volunteer orientation before their first volunteer session. 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! Sign up for an orientation or join us at a special volunteer event below:
Youth Programming Volunteer Application
Each season, dedicated City Green volunteers join us as educators to work with elementary school students City Green’s Farm Eco-Center, Learning Garden, and satellite garden sites in Paterson, Clifton, and Passaic. Volunteering as a Garden Educator can range from crafting educational materials for lessons, assisting teaching during a field trip, reading books to preschoolers during Storytime in the Garden, and more! This volunteer opportunity is limited to individuals ages 18 and up.
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We are now accepting Youth Program Volunteer Inquiries for Spring 2024!
Fill out the application below if you would like to be added to the contact list!
2023: CORPORATE & group volunteers
We are now accepting corporate & group volunteer inquiries for 2023!
Corporate and large groups can enjoy a team-building session while giving back to the community! To volunteer with us, please complete the group volunteer inquiry below!
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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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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 75 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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Whats available at the Veggie Mobile?Learn about whats 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.