Do you love community orchards?  Want to learn more about ecological orchard care and assist POP partner groups in caring for beautiful, bountiful community spaces?  Become a POP Lead Orchard Volunteer!  First step is completing the survey below to provide us with more information and see if there is a good match for a community orchard to engage with.  

NOTE: We often have more interested volunteers than LOV opportunities available. Please complete this survey if interested, but we can't guarantee everyone an assignment or a quick reply!

Lead Orchard Volunteer Role Description

The primary role of the POP Lead Orchard Volunteer (LOV) is to serve as an ongoing volunteer and first contact for a specific POP orchard partner site and to assist POP staff in working with and supporting the partner group.   This role provides opportunities for both more in-depth, long-term involvement with an orchard and for expanding knowledge in orchard care. Lead Orchard Volunteers build skills in orchard care, horticulture, and volunteer coordination while assisting POP staff in providing ongoing support to an expanding number of community orchards across the city.  For larger sites or where desired, Lead Orchard Volunteers may work in teams of 2 or 3 to support an orchard.

Work with your local orchard partner site to assist monthly, weekly, or as needed on a seasonal basis to help maintain the community orchard. Please keep in mind each orchard and partner is different, has different needs, and modes of operation! With your orchard’s lead POP Staff and POP Orchard Partner, please explore the assistance that is needed and appropriate to the site, community, its needs and schedule through intentional relationship building.

Expectations of Role:

Participate and help lead in regularly scheduled orchard work days or programs that engage in orchard maintenance of the designated orchard site

If regularly scheduled maintenance does not exist, help site consider a regular maintenance schedule that you can help facilitate (monthly, bi-weekly, weekly)

Through your education and experience, assist orchard partners, volunteers, and other participants to learn together and implement best practices in orchard care

Report monthly to POP via online Orchard Report form.