Volunteering
Make a Hands-On Contribution
Volunteer at Garden in the Woods
Dig into horticulture, help with plant sales, or assist with special events at our Framingham botanic garden, 22 miles west of Boston. Hands-on work, expert training, and a welcoming plant-loving community.
Choose from several different volunteer positions at our headquarters and botanic garden, 22 miles west of Boston.
Native Plant Highlights
Description
The Native Plant Highlights entry sign guides visitors to the most impressive flora in the collections throughout the season. Photographs of the plants in bloom are identified by their common and Latin names. Volunteers update the board every other week. They walk through the Garden with a form to notate the best specimens in each garden section at that time; historical data is provided as a reference point. They then submit the form to Public Programs staff to be designed with images for the entry sign.
Responsibilities
Volunteer shifts are available every other Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. Volunteers sign up for slots using our volunteer scheduling calendar. Volunteers may sign up for every other Thursday, or for fewer slots as their availability allows.
Skills & Experience
Familiarity with native plant identification is helpful and will speed up the time needed to ID plants. Depending on the week, the entire native plant highlights process can take from two to four hours.
Commitment
Native Plant Highlights volunteers must commit to working at least three shifts between April and October.
Training
Experienced volunteers provide on-the-job training for new volunteers.
Benefits
The process of keeping the bloom board up-to-date provides a way of seeing the Garden at different times of the growing season.
Plant Production
Thank you for your interest. We are currently at capacity for plant production volunteers for the 2026 season. All applications submitted as of March 1st, 2026, will be considered for the 2027 season.
Description
Volunteers work alongside the production horticulturist to manage all aspects of plant production. Work days will primarily occur in the stock beds or greenhouse. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: weeding, transplanting, dividing, seed sowing, seed cleaning, seed collecting, and raking.
Responsibilities
Volunteers join our Wednesday morning crew, from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The season is roughly March-October.
Skills & Experience
- A strong back and knees are recommended.
- Propagation experience is welcomed but not required.
- The ability to work well in a group and commit to specific times for work.
- Native plant identification skills are welcomed but not required.
Commitment
We prefer volunteers to have weekly availability and interest in returning for multiple seasons. At minimum, volunteers must commit to attending 10 volunteer sessions in a season. However, we are flexible and will work with volunteers on a case by case basis.
Training
The production horticulturist will provide on-the-job training.
Benefits
Volunteers will learn about every aspect of native plant propagation from experts in the field.
Staff Contact
Cole Campbell, Production Horticulturist: ccampbell@NativePlantTrust.org
Horticulture
Description
The Garden is 45 acres, of which 15 are cultivated and maintained by the Horticulture team. Horticulture volunteers work alongside staff to practice ecological gardening and manage the Garden in the Woods native plant collection using sustainable solutions. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: weeding, staking, mulching, raking, pruning, cutting back, planting, and invasive-plant management.
Responsibilities
Volunteers join our Wednesday morning crew, from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The growing season begins in March or April, depending on weather. Volunteers may work until October or November, helping with fall cleanup.
Skills & Experience
Successful volunteers are friendly, enthusiastic, willing to learn on the job, reliable, and good representatives of Native Plant Trust. A good starting point is having an interest in native plants, gardening, or plant conservation. Some physical requirements include a strong back and good knees, and a positive attitude is a must.
Commitment
We prefer that volunteers commit to an entire growing season; however, we are flexible.
Training
The Horticulture staff provides on-the-job training.
Benefits
Volunteers enjoy opportunities to learn, to grow as individuals, to share with others who have compatible interests, to enjoy a beautiful setting, and to contribute to the cause of native plant horticulture.
Staff Contact
Horticulture Staff: Horticulture@NativePlantTrust.org
Philanthropy
Description
Our Philanthropy volunteers assist with a variety of interesting and important projects throughout the year, including research, database maintenance, mailings, and donor/member events.
Responsibilities
- Attention to detail and accuracy are very important for this volunteer role.
- Volunteers must understand the need for and be committed to maintaining confidentiality when working with member/donor records.
- Volunteers should be positive and enthusiastic about helping Native Plant Trust and its supporters.
- Volunteers should be willing to learn about our mission and our region-wide activities.
- Volunteers are responsible for arriving on time and checking in with the Philanthropy staff for scheduled sessions, and for notifying us if they are delayed or unable to attend as planned.
Skills & Experience
Successful Philanthropy volunteers are friendly, enthusiastic, willing to learn on the job, patient, respectful, reliable, and enthusiastic representatives of Native Plant Trust. They are computer-savvy, comfortable working with Microsoft Word and Excel, and have a pleasant telephone manner.
Commitment
Philanthropy volunteers must be committed to working at least two 2-hour sessions every month.
Training
Database and other training will be provided as needed.
Benefits
Philanthropy volunteers enjoy hands-on opportunities to learn about membership and fundraising initiatives, to express their philanthropic and conservation values in activities that are practical and meaningful, and to obtain a personal sense of reward from giving back to an organization whose mission they believe in.
Staff Contact
Philanthropy Assistant, development@NativePlantTrust.org
Shop & Native Plant Sales
Description
Native Plant Trust relies on volunteers to help keep the native plants we sell in peak condition and to help answer customer questions in the plant sales area. The Garden Shop & Native Plant Sales volunteer will help out in the plant sales area and the plant holding area by maintaining plants, assisting customers as needed, and assisting the Plant Sales Coordinator.
Responsibilities
- General plant maintenance including watering and weeding
- Some plant receiving
- Labeling and moving plants around
- Potting and dividing plants
- Helping to inventory and count plants
- Helping to answer customer questions as needed
Skills & Experience
Successful Garden Shop volunteers are friendly, enthusiastic, willing to learn on the job, patient, reliable, and enthusiastic representatives of Native Plant Trust. Volunteers should have strong backs, good knees, and a positive attitude. The ability to work independently is also important. If you are interested in native plants, gardening, enjoy helping customers, and love getting your hands dirty, this position might be a good fit for you.
Commitment
We offer weekday and weekend volunteer opportunities. Volunteers must be willing to work on a regular basis, ideally one 3-hour morning shift per week. Volunteers are responsible for arriving on time, checking in with the Plant Sales Coordinator or Garden Shop Manager, and notifying the Garden Shop if they are unable to come as scheduled.
Benefits
We offer volunteer/new staff training in the early spring, as well as on-the-job training. Volunteers enjoy opportunities to learn about native plants, to share with others who have compatible interests, to enjoy a beautiful setting, and to contribute to native plant horticulture. Special programs are offered to volunteers, ranging from garden tours to slide presentations and lectures at brown-bag lunches.
Staff Contact
Noni Macon, Garden Shop and Visitor Services Director, nmacon@NativePlantTrust.org
Special Events Volunteer
Description
Garden in the Woods hosts numerous special events throughout the year for thousands of visitors, including Trillium Week, busy weekend days in the spring, and more. Special events volunteers support staff to ensure the events are enjoyable for attendees.
Who Should Apply?
If you enjoy interacting with the public, can keep a calm and positive attitude during a busy time, and believe in the value of visitor services, you may make a great special events volunteer.
Responsibilities
Special events volunteers may be asked to assist with:
- Event set-up
- Event check-in
- Directing parking
- Providing basic information about the Garden
- Alerting staff to visitor needs or situations
Time Commitment
Special events volunteer opportunities are on an as-needed basis. They occur several times throughout the year, and each event generally requires a time commitment of two to four hours. Depending on the event, volunteers may also be required to attend a brief training. We request that special events volunteers commit to at least two event per year.
Benefits
Volunteers enjoy the opportunity to interact with visitors and to be part of the Garden team at its most celebratory times. Volunteers also enjoy special appreciation events and enrichment activities.
Volunteer at Nasami Farm
Help propagate native plants at our nursery in western Massachusetts. Work in the seed room, greenhouses, or gardens alongside our knowledgeable team in the beautiful Pioneer Valley.
Propagate Plants
Description
In this bucolic landscape two hours west of Boston, a small staff grows genetically diverse plants that are adapted to the region’s climate and support healthy ecosystems. We specialize in propagating common, widespread New England native plants grown from seed, which we harvest throughout the region using sustainable principles. During the summer, Nasami Farm’s Garden Shop offers customers a wide selection of plants for ecological landscaping and restoration.
Volunteers work under the supervision of staff in our seed room, in our outdoor gardens, or in our greenhouses. Schedules and activities vary with the season, with winter being usually the slowest time. Volunteers help out most intensively during the growing season, though some tasks extend throughout the year.
Tasks
- Help to clean and process seed for short-term storage
- Propagate plants by transplanting seedlings and doing a limited amount of seed sowing
- Maintain plants in our greenhouses by weeding, pruning, and tidying
- Help maintain garden beds by weeding, mulching, raking, and edging
- Office tasks and data entry
- Assist with community outreach by writing articles or working a local event booth
Qualifications
This volunteer position is based in Whately, MA. Experience is welcomed but not required. Some tasks are physical, so having a strong back and knees is helpful. Propagation work requires standing for long periods of time in a sometimes hot and sometimes cold greenhouse. Propagation and seed cleaning require steady hands, good eyesight, attention to detail, and patience.
Commitment
The schedule and activities vary with the season. Tasks that require more training, such as propagation and seed cleaning, often require a weekly time commitment.
Training
Volunteers receive on-the-job training.
Benefits
Volunteering at Nasami Farm is a unique opportunity to learn about propagating and growing our region’s native flora from seed in a hands-on environment. Volunteers have a chance to connect with other people who have similar interests, spend time around knowledgeable staff, and contribute to the cause of native plant conservation and horticulture—all of this with the beautiful backdrop of the Pioneer Valley.
Staff Contact
(Karen) Miho Connolly, Nursery Coordinator: 413-397-9922, kconnolly@NativePlantTrust.org
Shop & Native Plant Sales
Description
In this bucolic landscape two hours west of Boston, a small staff grows genetically diverse plants that are adapted to the region’s climate and support healthy ecosystems. We specialize in propagating common, widespread New England native plants grown from seed, which we harvest throughout the region using sustainable principles. During the summer, Nasami Farm’s Garden Shop offers customers a wide selection of plants for ecological landscaping and restoration.
Volunteers work under the supervision of staff in our seed room, in our outdoor gardens, or in our greenhouses. Schedules and activities vary with the season, with winter being usually the slowest time. Volunteers help out most intensively during the growing season, though some tasks extend throughout the year.
Responsibilities
- Help to clean and process seed for short-term storage
- Propagate plants by transplanting seedlings and doing a limited amount of seed sowing
- Maintain plants in our greenhouses by weeding, pruning, and tidying
- Help maintain garden beds by weeding, mulching, raking, and edging
- Office tasks and data entry
- Assist with community outreach by writing articles or working a local event booth
Skills & Experience
Successful Nasami Farm volunteers are friendly, enthusiastic, willing to learn on the job, patient, reliable, and enthusiastic representatives of Native Plant Trust. Volunteers should have strong backs, good knees, and a positive attitude. The ability to work independently is also important. If you are interested in native plants, gardening, enjoy helping customers, and love getting your hands dirty, this position might be a good fit for you.
Commitment
The schedule and activities vary with the season. Tasks that require more training, such as propagation and seed cleaning, often require a weekly time commitment.
Benefits
Volunteering at Nasami Farm is a unique opportunity to learn about propagating and growing our region’s native flora from seed in a hands-on environment. Volunteers have a chance to connect with other people who have similar interests, spend time around knowledgeable staff, and contribute to the cause of native plant conservation and horticulture—all of this with the beautiful backdrop of the Pioneer Valley.
Staff Contact
Dayna Veach, nasaminatives@NativePlantTrust.org
Volunteer with our Plant Conservation Program
Seeking community scientists with a love to ramble and a passion for conservation.
Plant Conservation Volunteer
Are you a knowledgeable backyard botanist or experienced plant scientist who knows how to use a dichotomous key, identify native plants in the Northeast? The Plant Conservation Volunteer program might be right for you.
Plant Conservation Volunteers search New England for rare plant populations, collect seeds for conservation seed banking, and perform other tasks that augment the work of our staff and other botanical professionals as part of the New England Plant Conservation Program. Join the nation’s first rare plant monitoring volunteer program and let the adventure begin!
Certificate Programs
With three distinct learning tracks, our curriculum offers students a flexible learning environment to build both fundamental and specialized native plant knowledge to support dedicated enthusiasts as well as careers in conservation, botany, horticulture, and beyond.
