When can I help?

Lucky for us, our season is all year long. UFI Volunteer days are 7 days a week from 7:30am-5:00pm. Feel free to come to the farm any time within those hours. Help is needed especially on Saturday mornings to help with our FarmShare Adventure CSA.

Our farmers and gardeners meet in the Warehouse Market and Resource Center at 7:30 am to discuss the days projects.

What do I need to wear or bring with me?

All volunteers are asked to wear close-toed shoes. Bring anything you’ll need for working outdoors (hat, gloves, etc.). Please apply any sunscreen before you reach the farm. Bring water or your favorite beverage to drink. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.

You may also bring food to eat if you like. We have a refrigerator and microwave for volunteer and staff use.

Please DO NOT bring valuables or pets to the farm. We do not offer a place to lock up your things. Things left in this office are at your own risk.

What time should I arrive to volunteer?

Our farmers start their day at 7:30 am. Please meet them in the Warehouse Market and Resource Center at that time so that you can be part of the morning meeting to determine what projects will be worked on and who will be doing what.

Where do I park as a volunteer?

Volunteers should park in front of the Warehouse Market and Resource Center or in the parking lot next to the Community Gardens.

1101 NE 40 Ct, Oakland Park, FL. 33334

Please do not park in the designated handicapped parking lot unless physically needed.

What if I get to the farm and the gate is closed?

If you reach the farm and the gate is closed, it may be because you are a little early. After you park and the Warehouse Market door is closed, the staff may be on a materials run; however, we are almost always open.

You can also try calling the farm office to see if anyone answers 954-696-9577. If all else fails, it probably means we got our wires crossed and you are at the farm when we are closed. Or it may mean that you missed us and will need to try again another day. Keep in mind, we do our best to work with our volunteers, but we are a working farm and cannot always accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Can children volunteer at your farm?

Of course! Educating children on the benefits of growing and eating healthy foods is at the core of what we do. Come visit the Urban Farming Institute at any time for a family tour.

General Age Requirements:

12+ to volunteer
12+ must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
16+ may volunteer without an adult. We ask that you have your own transportation the day(s) you volunteer.

Unfortunately, we do not provide transportation.

What about older kids?

Older kids are welcome to at the Urban Farming Institute with close parent supervision and with the Farm’s approval. Kids age 16 and older may volunteer on their own without adult supervision. However, a Volunteer Form – Non Member 15-16 must be filled out with a parent/guardian phone number where they may be reached in case of emergency or in the event the child’s behavior is not conducive to working on the farm.

My child has to complete “Community Service” hours for school. Can you accommodate them?

Yes, we have many high school and college students who elect to complete their school service hours at Urban Farming Institute. The age rules (above) still apply. Students must be 16 or older to volunteer on their own.

Please leave an emergency contact number where you can be reached. If there is paperwork that needs to be signed, we are happy to do that once the volunteer hours are complete each day.

** Do I need to fill out a volunteer wavier ahead of time?

It is very helpful if you are able to do fill out a wavier before you come in. You only have to fill it out once per season. Below are printable versions of the Volunteer Form. Please note one is for CSA members and the other is for non-members.

What about group volunteering?

Urban Farming Institute has many groups that join us to volunteer as well. If your work or community group would like to coordinate a day to help out, please Contact Us so we can schedule a time for you.

Are there volunteer opportunities that do not involve farming or physical labor?

Yes! We have plenty of opportunities throughout the year. We have several events during the year where we need help with all sorts of things like setting tables, food prep, serving, ticket tables, parking help, and clean up.

On a regular basis we can almost always use help tidying the common areas of the farm such as the Warehouse Market, Resource Center, Hydroponic Garden, and more.

If you are a seasoned member, we can use your help at the FarmShare Adventure CSA tables to help newer members.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have special talents such as photography, painting, sewing, computer work, electrical or construction work, fundraising, teaching, plumbing, or just love to work with kids… let us know what you can do and we’ll try and work with you.

Who do I coordinate my volunteer time with?

We have a great volunteer “Volunteer Coordinator”.

This volunteer works during year to help coordinate the many requests and questions we receive about our volunteer program. The Volunteer Coordinator works from home and the farm to answer your emails the best that they can. They can be reached through the Contact Form by choosing “Volunteer.”

Most of your questions can be answered by reading through all of the information contained on this web page and most volunteer days you can just “show up” without coordinating with anyone. If you still need more info, please feel free to Contact Us so we can direct you.

What if I can’t volunteer?

Time is short and many of us work during the day. We understand. That not all Members will be able to volunteer during the weekday. Feel free to volunteer your time during the weekends – Saturday and Sunday, anytime between 7:30am – 5:00pm.

In the donating mood? As an alternative to working a few hours, volunteers may “buy out” of their help by donating $20 or more (cash, check,gift card) to the Urban Farming Institute.

How do I stay in the loop on volunteer opportunities?

The best way is to sign up for our weekly newsletter. The newsletter provides info on all the upcoming events, important information about the farm, and special volunteer opportunities. You can sign up here.

** Interested in becoming a Leader?

We also need “Harvest Leaders” who get trained to help lead the harvest on our busy Sunday mornings. If you can volunteer on Sundays on a regular basis (weekly, monthly or whatever you can do), we can train you on our harvesting techniques, so you can teach other volunteers what to do. If you’re interested, just let us know the next time you come in!

Special Projects

We have specific projects that come up from time to time that require special skills, materials, or extra time from our volunteers. Sign up for our Volunteer Newsletter to receive updates on volunteer opportunities helping with special projects or contact us if you have a special skill or equipment you think might benefit the farm.

** Equipment Volunteering

We have specific projects that come up from time to time that require special skills, materials, or extra time from our volunteers. Sign up for our Volunteer Newsletter to receive updates on volunteer opportunities helping with special projects or contact us if you have a special skill or equipment you think might benefit the farm.

I still have questions….

For more information about volunteering on the farm, please contact our UFI Volunteer Coordinator.