Volunteers Needed
Become an Environmental Caretaker and help us maintain healthy, natural ecosystems around Greenacres. Caretakers work directly with our staff on projects that can include invasive plant removal, beneficial insect spotting, and more. It is a great opportunity to explore the hidden parts of Greenacres while being a steward of the environment. Volunteer events are scheduled March through November. Please see our volunteer events listing for specifics.
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be a minimum of 16 years old and capable of working outdoors with a variety of hand tools while maneuvering over uneven terrain.
About
Formally known as the Honeysuckle Volunteers, this program focused on the removal of honeysuckle and several other woody invasive plants around Greenacres. Through the efforts of the volunteers and outside companies, a majority of these invasive woody plants have been cleared or cut-back, but there was still work to do. In 2020 we renamed Honeysuckle Volunteers to Environmental Caretakers to reflect a new purpose, maintaining the health of the various ecosystems through environmental stewardship activities such as the removal of invasive flora, restoring native flora through plantings, and more.
FAQ
What type of knowledge or skills do I need to volunteer with the Environmental Caretakers?
No prior experience is required. Informative trainings to match the task(s) at hand will be shared at the start of each event. Information will include what we are doing for that day, why it is important, how to identify the selected flora/fauna (if applicable), and the best methods to accomplish the given task(s).
What type of tools will I use?
Tools vary with the different tasks. Hand saws, pruners, loppers, and shovels are the most common tools used. Volunteers will be trained on the safe and proper use of each tool. Work gloves are available, though some volunteers prefer to bring their own personal gloves.
What physical abilities do I need?
The ability to work outdoors, use hand tools, and maneuver over uneven terrain.
What should I wear and/or bring to each event?
Volunteers should always dress appropriately for the weather conditions of the day and bring a personal water bottle to stay hydrated. Due to the environment we are working in, long sleeve shirts and pants offer the best protection against such things as thorns, poison ivy and the occasional tick.
Contact Us
Program Manager
Chris Walker
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Summer camps are in full swing! We've been enjoying the sun and the fun one adventure at a time. Can't wait to see what July camps have in store. 🌞
Please join us for our Evening of Hope for Ukraine fundraiser on July 16. Your support goes directly to our partner @m25m_org to help sustain their work of aiding displaced Ukrainian citizens. They are focused on the human toll of this conflict, bringing food, medicine,and shelter to those that need it most. Tickets in our profile! 🇺🇦🌻
The Arts Center gardens today! 😍
The Summer plantings at the Arts Center create the perfect atmosphere for events. Every year our garden team spends months planning and planting a mix of flowers that provides a beautiful ambiance and encourages pollinators to visit the property.
This month we’ve hosted 3 beautiful spring weddings. Congratulations to all of our amazing couples 🤍
Planning & Design:
@wolfandbirdevents
@evefloralco
@eleganteventsbyelisa
@robinwoodflowers
@evaandcoevents
@emilyroseflorist
Rentals:
@alloccasionseventrental
@vincentltg
@fitztheoccasion
@alleen_company
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Echinacea, the sweetest ewe in our flock, gave birth to triplet lambs over the weekend!Lamb triplets are fairly rare and this is the first time it’s happened at Greenacres.
Ewes only have 2 teats, making it hard for a momma to feed 3 at once. Thankfully another ewe who had a single baby is also feeding one of the triplets. The livestock team will keep a close eye on all three to make sure everyone gets enough to eat.
It was an all-hands effort to plant brassicas in our Ley field at the start of May! The beds had been resting under a thick tarp for a few weeks, which terminated last year’s cover crop and helped warm the soil. We added several inches of compost from our onsite compost facility, and gently worked it into the top few inches of soil with a power harrow. Our brassica seedlings are now happily growing - look for this broccolini, cabbage, kohlrabi and kale to be in our farmstore later this season!
Our “Ask a Farmer” plant and flower sale event is this Saturday 9-1 at our Farmstore! We have veggie, herb and flower plants, and gorgeous cut flower bouquets for Mom. Our garden staff will be on hand to answer questions! All our plants and flowers are grown from seed on our farm, following organic practices. 🌱🌸
Ohio Native Plant Month is almost over, but we're still appreciating the plants that make our region beautiful!
We're quite fond of Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) as it is a great understory shrub that can be used to replace invasive honeysuckle. They produce red berries in the fall that are a great food source for migrating song birds.