Details, Schedules and Descriptions

Both short-term and long-term commitments are available. For seasonal workshare membership, please read more on the “What’s a Workshare?” page.

Don’t have time for long term volunteering? Check out our Events and Workdays Calendar for times we’ll be at the farm when you can schedule a visit! Class and community service credit is also available for all of our volunteering opportunities.

Weekday Field Work

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (7:45AM-12:30PM)

Plants love company and hate weeds. We want to care for and nurture our plants so they provide the most abundance to the community. Weeding and planting days provide a great learning opportunity for beginning farmers and gardeners!!

To make sure our CSA members get the freshest, highest quality produce from our neighborhood farms, most of our harvest takes place on Friday- just one day before veggies are picked up at the market. We always need volunteers to help with this exciting and essential task.

On Saturdays, join us in the information booth and in the gardens at the Farmer’s Market or at our community school gardens. Saturdays are a great day to meet a lot of people and share what you love about what we’re UP to. We give out weekly shares to members, teach kids farming classes, sign up new members and volunteers, give workshops and tend to the food growing at the market. Children are welcome volunteers at our Saturday events by appointment with a parent or responsible adult in attendance.

The location and time of weekly work days changes often, so RSVPs are required. If you haven’t worked with us before, start by filling out our online sign up form here: Instant SignUP

Other Opportunities, Ongoing Projects and Job Roles

Volunteer Coordination Team Leader

(Leads a team to tackle the many tasks of organizing volunteers to get a lot of work done! Each of the following tasks could be taken care of by one person on the team.)

Current Volunteer Rally and Retention, New Volunteer Recruitment, Site Scheduling and Weekly Team Coordination, Follow-up and Appreciation

Water Conservation Team Leader

(Since water conservation is our 2011/2012 focus, we want to:)

Stay on top of our use with weekly site inspections of irrigation, Research chances to use grey water and design a project plan/budget for each, Coordinate the installation of rainwater collection ponds as demonstrations and to reduce the utilities at each site.

Site Installation Team Leader

Coordinate new dig-ins and learn to evaluate a new site for opportunities to build gardens, ponds, coops, and systems that create food and bring balance to our environment. You’ll be coordinating teams of people to help get the work done and arrange for materials and supplies to be delivered on time. You’ll also learn simple irrigation installation and teach others the techniques you’re using.

Fundraising Team Leader

You’ll lead a team to line up Grants and Contests, Individual Donors, Fundraising Partners, Prep for Major Grants like Impact Austin (takes 12+ months to prepare), Organize Events, Workshops, and Worksite Partners.

Livestock Team Leader

Your team will coordinate the upcoming Alternative Feed Source Program, visit each site weekly to assess animal health and make repairs to housing/feed/water, build new coops, install irrigation/waterers/feeders, teach about backyard livestock, and more.

Outreach and Communication Team Leader

Coordinate the creation of literature and educational materials, web content, signage, networking and face to face contact, build partnerships (schools, businesses, individuals, other orgs), and communicate/coordinate with other teams

Admin, Website Team Leader

You’ll organize efforts for mapping, email replies and filing, database, web maintenence, social media, and more while coordinating with other teams.

Farmstand Team Leader

Help set up farm tables and literature, volunteer sign up, etc. Coordinate breakdown and clean up and return supplies to their storage or food pantries.

Land Team Leader

You will create a database of land sites already offered, maintain relationships with existing landowers, and identify new plots that can be used for urban agriculture and livestock.

*A note about contacting us:

UP is a small organization run primarily by volunteers who spend most days out in the field. We endeavor to respond to every email that we receive- especially from potential volunteers- but the reality is that depending on the time of year, it may take a week or more for us to get back to you. If you don’t hear back from us right away please don’t be discouraged and don’t be shy about sending us a reminder!! We are grateful for your patience and persistence in contacting us and for your interest in working with UP!