Sat Morning Hours for Returning Volunteers

Our 2024 Volunteer Hours are on Saturdays from 10am-12pm (returning volunteers only) and 1pm-4pm (new + returning volunteers), starting June 8th and running through October 26th. We release tickets for both AM and PM shifts on Eventbrite one month in advance; book now to save your spot!

If you can no longer make it to your shift, cancel your ticket order via Eventbrite as soon as possible so the slot will open back up for someone else.

New Volunteers: Unfortunately, we require new volunteers to attend one of our Saturday afternoon shifts, which include our New Volunteer Tour & Orientation, before they can join us on Saturday mornings. If you haven't attended our New Volunteer Tour & Orientation before, please click here to RSVP for one of our afternoon shifts.

What to bring:

Gardening gloves, a water bottle filled with water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat if it’s sunny or rain gear if it’s stormy; and a snack. UGC will provide all the tools you’ll need to work. If you have a medical condition such as asthma or anaphylaxis, please bring your inhaler or epi-pen and inform your group leader of your condition before beginning work. We do have an apiary at our South Chicago farm, and there are many native bees around. DO NOT bring personal items with you to the farm. We do not have storage on site and will not take responsibility for your belongings. If you bring valuables such as phones, wallets, jewelry, etc., you do so at your own risk.

What to wear:

Please also wear closed-toe shoes (absolutely no sandals or flip flops), clothes that you don’t mind getting really dirty (pants and long-sleeved shirts are recommended), and bring an extra layer and rain gear–just in case. All volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves. Disposable masks will be provided if needed.

What the work is like:

Farming is hard work! Depending on the season, you may be preparing beds, shifting compost, planting, harvesting, or cleaning up the land. We work rain or shine, so please come prepared for the weather. Expect to get your hands and clothes dirty by the end of the day.

What are your COVID-19 protocols?

• Do you have any of the following signs and symptoms of COVID-19? Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea? If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you should not enter the facility regardless of vaccination status.
• Have you had a positive viral test for SARS-CoV-2 in the last 10 days? A visitor should not visit for 10 full days after a positive test regardless of their vaccination status.
• Have you been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 recently? Visitors who are up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and had close contact with a positive case are allowed to visit as long as they remain asymptomatic. Visitors who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and had contact with a positive case should not visit for 10 full days following the last exposure. Day “0” is the date of the last exposure.

Visitors meeting any of the above criteria should be restricted from entering the facility

• We are limiting the number of volunteers allowed on site per shift.
• Disposable masks are available as needed.
• Hand washing and hand sanitizing stations are on site.

Find more information about our organization at urbangrowerscollective.org

Host or Publisher Urban Growers Collective Youth Corps