Come Play in Our Dirt and Get Involved
The Big Garden offers a variety of opportunities for volunteers to get involved.Activities are available for groups and individuals including specific youth orienteddays of service, special projects for groups and internships. The Big Garden volunteers range in age from middle-school youth to adults. No special skills or experienceare required to volunteer with the Big Garden.
Summer Internship Applications Now Available!
The Big Garden is now accepting applications for our summer internship program. This paid internship is for college-enrolled students. If you are interested in working in community gardens, learning more about the Omaha food system and having a lot of fun, this is for you. Please email Jessica at jmews@bigmuddyumc.org or call (402) 898-986.
Group Volunteer Activities
The Big Garden utilizes volunteer groups for projects within the gardens. Groups have the opportunity to assist with building, maintenance and harvesting of gardensites. All group volunteer activities are geared to provide volunteers with the opportunity for hands-on service combined with education on food security, povertyand local community needs.
Volunteer groups are scheduled during the growing season, April-October. For more information or to schedule your group with the Big Garden please contact Lisa Maupinat 402.898.9862 or lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org.
Youth Activities
The Big Garden offers specific youth oriented activities throughout the growingseason. These events are geared to providing youth an opportunity to serve the communityand learn about the systemic issues of poverty, hunger and food security addressedby The Big Garden.
April—The Big Garden invites youth teams to kick-off the gardening season on Global Youth Service Day, an international day of service that encourages youth to take active roles to improve their communities. Teams of youth and adult sponsors build garden sites and prepare existing sites for planting. Note: This event is not limited to Nebraska youth.
More information on the 2009 Global Youth Service Day and registration forms willbe available in January.
October—StandUp Against Poverty is an international day dedicated to learning aboutthe issues surrounding poverty and taking action to stop the cycle. The Big Garden participates in Stand Up Against Poverty by exposing youth to the diverse neighborhoods where our gardens are located and engaging them in hands-on work within the gardensand neighborhood. Note: This event is not limited to Nebraska youth.
More information on the 2010 Stand Up Against Poverty event and registration forms will be available in July.