Volunteer in a Garden

Do you enjoy gardening, growing vegetables, working outdoors, or spending time surrounded by nature? Green Chimneys is looking for volunteers to help care for our educational gardens and organic farm in Brewster, NY.

Help Gardens Grow. Help Students Thrive.

Whether you’re a lifelong hobby gardener, a Master Gardener, a retiree looking to stay active, or someone interested in learning more about gardening, there is a place for you at Green Chimneys. Your time can make a meaningful difference. The gardens at Green Chimneys are more than beautiful spaces—they are living classrooms where students learn, build confidence, and connect with the natural world.

Become a Garden Volunteer

Why Volunteer in Our Gardens?

At Green Chimneys, horticulture is an important part of our nature-based educational approach. Students learn by doing. They help plant seeds, tend gardens, harvest vegetables, care for growing spaces throughout the year, and find a passion for green spaces. For many students, these experiences provide opportunities to build responsibility, patience, confidence, and practical skills. Working alongside plants and nature can also help students develop social-emotional skills while experiencing the satisfaction of nurturing something from seed to harvest.

Your efforts directly support the spaces where students learn and grow.

What You’ll Do

Volunteer projects vary by season, weather, and garden needs, but may include:

  • Preparing garden beds
  • Planting and seed sowing
  • Weeding and mulching
  • Harvesting vegetables, fruit, and flowers
  • Deadheading and seasonal maintenance
  • Raking and gathering leaves
  • Chopping and laying straw
  • Wood chipping
  • Mowing and weed whacking
  • Light painting and beautification projects
  • Greenhouse support
Become a Garden Volunteer

Volunteer in Two Unique Growing Spaces

Children’s Garden

Green Chimneys’ educational gardens serve as hands-on learning environments where students explore horticulture, sustainability, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. Students grow vegetables and flowers, learn about plant science, and even use fresh produce in cooking activities.

Volunteers help maintain these gardens so they remain welcoming, productive spaces for learning and discovery.

Boni-Bel Organic Farm

Boni-Bel Organic Farm is a production farm and work-based learning site where students gain real-world experience in sustainable agriculture. The farm includes vegetable gardens, flower gardens, orchards, greenhouses, honey, maple syrup, and a seasonal Country Store and farm stand.

Students participate in planting, harvesting, maintaining crops, and learning valuable job and life skills. Volunteers play an important role in helping keep the farm productive while supporting meaningful work-based learning opportunities.

Questions?

Contact Leslie Roe at [email protected] or 845-279-2995 ext. 1231.

Become a Garden Volunteer