Garden at Solid Ground’s Giving Garden at Marra Farm to help grow food for local food banks.
About Marra Farm
Located in the Duwamish River Valley, Marra Farm comprises 8.7 acres of preserved farmland in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood – home to both ethnically diverse immigrant communities and a high concentration of commercial industry. Solid Ground’s CFE program, one of many community partners who steward the land, operates a Giving Garden that does education work while growing food for the community.
Giving Garden Volunteer
Work at our Giving Garden at Marra Farm by building soil, preparing vegetable beds, planting vegetable starts and seeds, weeding by hand, composting, watering, harvesting, washing produce, and distributing produce to the community food bank and other locations. Many of our volunteers start with limited or no gardening knowledge and learn as they go, so we welcome you with whatever level of gardening skills and knowledge you bring. Families welcome!
To Volunteer
1) Adult Waiver for Marra Farm Volunteers: Please complete this brief form. (Note that Giving Garden Volunteers do not need to apply using a Solid Ground Volunteer Application and an Orientation is not required – although all are welcome to attend one to learn more about volunteering with Solid Ground!)
2) Youth Waiver for Marra Farm Volunteers: If bringing family members under 18, please fill out this one-page form.
3) Schedule a day to volunteer! Visit our Community Food Education Calendar to register for volunteer times that work best for you.
4) Contact us with any questions at marrafarm@solid-ground.org or 206.694.6828.
Time Commitment
We have drop-in hours – Wednesdays and Fridays 9am-2pm, and Saturdays 10am-2pm – where volunteers are always welcome. Please let us know when you’re coming by signing up on our calendar so our farm staff can plan the work in advance.
Training
Volunteers will be oriented to the farm site at the beginning of their first day volunteering. No experience necessary – our staff will train you on any gardening activity you will do.
What to Bring
Please bring a water bottle, lunch/snacks for yourself, and clothes for working outside in all weather (including a raincoat, warm socks, sturdy closed-toe shoes, a sunhat, sunscreen, etc.).
Qualifications
- Generally, this role involves standing, kneeling, bending, walking, and lifting up to 10 pounds. Solid Ground does and will make accommodations for people of differing abilities.
- Interest in organic gardening and working outdoors
- Friendly, reliable, and self-motivated
- Ability to follow directions and work collaboratively with staff and other volunteers
- Enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds
Scroll down to apply & view upcoming volunteer orientations.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color), and people with the lived experience of food insecurity are strongly encouraged to apply. This opportunity also qualifies as an RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) activity.
Solid Ground believes poverty is solvable.
Volunteers play a critical role in helping us meet basic needs, nurture success, and promote change – so everyone in our community can achieve their full potential.