Become a Volunteer!

GET STARTED – Please fill out this brief Volunteer Application 

Volunteers have made the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens all that it is today. Their dedication, cooperation, hard work, and creative energies are the heartbeat of the organization. From top-level policy decisions to pulling weeds, volunteers are involved in every aspect of the Gardens. We invite you to become a part of our family of volunteers - over 150 strong - and help the Gardens continue to thrive. Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden has volunteer opportunities to meet up with weekly groups or explore for an opportunity that meets your interests. Volunteers ages 10-17 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.
 

ANNUAL VOLUNTEER BENEFITS

• Free training
• Horticultural knowledge and hands-on experience
• Volunteer 50 hours in a year to earn an Individual Membership 
• Volunteer 100 hours in a year to earn a Household Membership
• Quarterly issues of the Volunteer Voice e-Newsletter
• Volunteer appreciation events
• Satisfaction of being a participant in the growth of the Gardens

CUMULATIVE VOLUNTEER BENEFITS

• Earn a personalized engraved name tag after 25 hours of volunteering
• Volunteer 175 hours to earn a one-of-a-kind MCBG volunteer mug or water bottle
• Volunteer over 350 hours to earn an exclusive MCBG volunteer shirt
• Volunteer over 500 hours to earn a LIFETIME Household Membership and a gold name tag!
• Volunteer over 800 hours to earn a giftable Household Membership
• Volunteer over 1,000 hours to earn an exclusive gold pin
• Volunteer over 1,500 hours to earn a gift card for lunch at Rhody’s Garden Cafe for $50, or a $50 gift card to The Garden Store/Nursery!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens please fill out our brief Volunteer Application to tell us a bit more about yourself. Our Volunteer Coordinator will get back to you ASAP! You can also call 707 964-4352 ext 113, or send an email to volunteer@gardenbythesea.org.

Daily and Weekly Volunteer Opportunities
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@gardenbythesea.org to get started!

Perennial Garden – Tuesdays

Volunteers are welcome to join our horticultural staff in the Perennial Garden for weeding, pruning, mulching, composting, planting, and more.

Vegetable Garden – Mondays and Tuesdays

Last year we took nearly 8,000 lbs of fresh produce from our organic demonstration garden to the Fort Bragg Food Bank! In addition, we have been building a community of volunteers who work hard and share knowledge and excitement about food and medicinal plants. If you are interested in food production, organic gardening, and feeding the Fort Bragg community, please join us in the Vegetable Garden. Join the fun and learn how to grow your own!

Heath and Heather, Succulent, and Mediterranean Garden – Mondays

Our nationally accredited Heath and Heather Collection, Succulents, and Mediterranean Garden are awe-inspiring. Join our horticulture staff in keeping it that way with weeding, raking, and hedging.

Conifer Collection – Fridays

Dig, weed, prune, and mulch in the cone-zone a.k.a. the North Forest.

Natural Areas – Saturdays

Work with our staff naturalist in the Ecological Conservation Collection. Identify native plants, collect seed, remove invasive plants, and help with our reforestation project.

The Garden Store

The store needs volunteers to unpack and shelve merchandise, greet visitors and take payments, operate a cash register, and explain what people will see in the Gardens. Volunteers are needed for daily operations, especially in high season.

Nursery & Propagation

Volunteers in the Nursery provide advice to customers, help stock shelves, watering in season and provide information about the Gardens to visitors. It is particularly helpful to have volunteers help staff over the lunch hours in the busy season, May through September. In addition, volunteers help to propagate plants by seed, cuttings, and division under the supervision of the Nursery Manager. Propagation makes available many of the interesting and unusual plants showcased in the Gardens.

Rhody's Garden Café

Help prepare beverages at Rhody's Café while learning some delicious tricks of the trade. Rhody's is open seasonally, April through September, and needs volunteers for lunch service shifts. Work with a fun crew and prepare and serve nutritious and organic meals! This opportunity is great for those with a passion for food. Volunteers must be able to stand for most of the shift.

Friends of the Gardens (FOG)

Join our nonprofit support group, Friends of the Gardens (FOG). Since it was formed in 1999, FOG has raised more than $569,500 in support of the Gardens! This money has been used to create the plaza at the Gardens Entrance, the restrooms on the bluff, the purchase of electric carts for disabled visitors, and many other items that are crucial to a great visitor experience. FOG raises money through the annual Birdhouse Auction, Holiday Wreath Sale, and other such events. Being a member of FOG is an enjoyable and social way to support the Gardens.

Special Volunteer Assignments

Docents – The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens welcomes school groups, charter tours, and community organizations to enjoy the beauty of our 47-acre garden by the sea. Our Docents are active year-round; learning, sharing their knowledge, and providing group tours for people of all ages. To be a docent, you must be at least 18 years of age and participate in our annual training program. If leading tours is not for you, our docents also help at educational events and engage guests of the Gardens at seasonal pop-up stations.

Bulk Mailings – The Gardens sends out mailings approximately 10-12 times a year and it takes a team to get one out. This is a fun way to work with others and help the Gardens.

Special Events – We always need support for educational events, workshop hosts, and our special fundraising events – Art in the Gardens and Festival of Lights.