Volunteers play a critical role in supporting our mission
With rows of crops visible from Birmingham’s interstate system and Teaching Farms nestled on school campuses across the city, Jones Valley Teaching Farm is a beacon for individuals who are passionate about food, education, and community.
Explore our volunteer opportunities below:
Open Volunteer Opportunities
WEEKDAY OPPORTUNITIES | APRIL – OCTOBER
- April – October: Wednesday mornings 9:00–12:00pm
- Held at JVTF’s Center for Food Education or Woodlawn High School
- Open to individuals ages 16+
WEEKEND OPPORTUNITIES | APRIL – OCTOBER
We are inviting individuals and families to join us on select weekends to practice farm skills including cultivating, mulching, planting, weeding, trellising, and more!
- Held at the Center for Food Education at 701 25th St North, Birmingham, AL 35203
- 9:00am- 12:00pm
- Required orientation begins at 9:00am
- All ages, under 16 accompanied by an adult
- Please visit our Events & Programs calendar for specific dates.
*SUMMER PROTOCOL: Mornings only (7-12). If there is a heat advisory, NO VOLUNTEERS.
Harvest Hands
This weekday volunteer program has a special focus on food safety and harvest technique.
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- Held at the Center for Food Education at 701 25th St North, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Mondays & Thursdays, 8:30am-12:00pm, April 13th–November 16th
- Open to individuals ages 16+
Group Volunteer Events
Group volunteer events are planned on a case-by-case basis according to our programming and production schedules. These opportunities are available to college affiliates, corporations, civic groups, and more!
- Available at Center for Food Education, Woodlawn High School Teaching Farm and K-8 Teaching Farm Sites
- March–November
- Open to individuals ages 14+
- Please allow a minimum of two-weeks’ notice when scheduling.
Other Opportunities
Do you have a skill you would like to volunteer? We frequently need people with the following skills: plumbing, electrical, beekeeping, carpentry, physical therapy, culinary arts, agriculture, landscaping, mechanics, etc. If you have a skill you would like to offer, fill out the form below.
Camp Grow
We need volunteers to assist with Camp Grow to help with before-care and after-care, and offer an extra set of hands to our Instructors through the morning and afternoon.
Help us ensure you have a great experience:
We ask that volunteers come prepared with:
- Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can get dirty
- Weather appropriate clothing that can get dirty and protect against tall grass, bugs, etc.
- Hot weather: We suggest loose fitting pants and long sleeves, quick drying. If wearing short sleeves, we recommend bringing a breezy button up shirt.
- Cold weather: We suggest multiple layers on top and bottom, a winter hat, windbreaker.
- Sun protection: Sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, etc.
- Rain protection: Rain boots, rain jackets, rain pants
- Water bottle
- Garden gloves, if desired
- Face mask
- Jones Valley Teaching Farm encourages mask use, social distancing, and proper sanitation. At this time, masks are not required. Even when not required, it is good practice to have a mask on hand in case tasks require close contact.
- Anything else that could make physical labor tasks more comfortable for you
- Knee or kneeling pads, hydration tea, electrolyte powder, snacks, hand/foot warmers, etc.
All volunteers must submit a signed waiver in order to participate. If you are a volunteer under the age of 18, you will need your guardian to fill out a Minor Waiver.
We expect all volunteers, staff, and visitors who enter the farm space to be respectful and aware of themselves, others, and the land. No smoking or vaping allowed. Weapons of any kind are prohibited. In order to ensure a safe environment, we reserve the right to dismiss volunteers if deemed necessary.
Accessibility
We strive to make our volunteer opportunities accessible to as many people as possible. Some farming activities may include long periods of sitting, standing, bending, twisting, squatting, lifting, etc. All restrooms and building entrances are ADA accessible; the farm fields are not.
If you aren’t sure if these activities are accessible to you, please let us know. Our farmers will work with you to identify different techniques and tools or assign alternate tasks. We hope to offer adapted farm tools soon and welcome your feedback to help us continue improving our volunteer activities.
Your health is more important than any farm task– listen to your body and let us know if you need to take a break or make an adaptation at any point.