Position
Raised beds and patio gardens, as well as herbaceous borders need tending and SpiritCare volunteers can help residents with weeding, pruning and plant collection. Herbs and vegetables may be planted and grown to supplement a meal. Cut flowers can be grown year round in California, with bulbs coming up in winter and spring.
Volunteers can help residents plant bulbs, both indoors and outdoors. House plants may need regular watering - so you could consider visiting a facility once a week to water, and occasionally trim or fertilize, an urban jungle.
You may want to volunteer on one day to help do a Garden Cleanup, or you may wish to help regularly. You may also want to help clean up dead flowers or revive unwatered plants.
Many people are allergic to certain plants. Some love plants that smell, others cannot stand to be around them, so you may need to explore which plants are most acceptable for a specific place or occasion.
Volunteers can help residents plant bulbs, both indoors and outdoors. House plants may need regular watering - so you could consider visiting a facility once a week to water, and occasionally trim or fertilize, an urban jungle.
You may want to volunteer on one day to help do a Garden Cleanup, or you may wish to help regularly. You may also want to help clean up dead flowers or revive unwatered plants.
Many people are allergic to certain plants. Some love plants that smell, others cannot stand to be around them, so you may need to explore which plants are most acceptable for a specific place or occasion.
Essential Qualifications
- Experience in gardening, knowing flowers, shrubs, weeds and trees
- Knowledge of the best tools for gardening in a specific area
- Ability to help residents be in suitable positions to help garden, for example some may need kneeling mats, others may work on raised beds from their wheelchairs
- Ability to select suitable plants and flowers, for planting, picking and/or arranging
- Ideas for floral arrangements, along with suitable containers
Other Qualifications
- Professional horticultural, landscape design or garden center experience is useful, but not essential
Typical Time Commitment
1 hour/month or once a week at a residence plus travel & prep time to full time. There may be times of intense activity, for example when bulbs are planted or rose bushes are pruned.