Farm Volunteers
Volunteering at EquiCenter's 3-acre Teaching Farm
​Check out this video message from Farm Manager Sarah on the impact volunteers have on our life changing programs and operations and how to get your hands dirty with us this season!​​
How to Get Involved
Our adaptive riding programming is tailored to provide optimum experiences for each student. All of our instructors are PATH certified and use a variety of methods to enhance participants' horsemanship skills as well as physical and cognitive abilities. Our gentle setting and our adaptive riding lessons have helped hundreds of children and adults move toward their full potential—and we look forward to helping many more.
Drop-In
May - October
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
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Best for: Individuals with some garden/farm experience who don't mind working alone
Schedule an orientation with our farm manager to get started!
How it works: Trained volunteers are welcome whenever the farm gate is open. You will text the farm phone when you arrive and leave, and check the drop-in volunteer whiteboard for tasks. Drop-in tasks will mostly involve weeding, but there may be opportunities for recurring specialty tasks for frequent volunteers (i.e: flower plot maintenance, soil blocking, bin washing, special harvest tasks)
Scheduled
March - November
Dates updated regularly
Best for: individuals or small groups who are interested in learning about growing and/or socializing with other volunteers and farmers.
Sign up for a scheduled session above, or fill out our volunteer paperwork below to get started!
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How it works: For scheduled shifts, volunteers work directly with a member of our farm team and possibly other volunteers. Tasks might include seeding/soil blocking, bed preparation, transplanting, weeding, putting up/taking down trellises, moving tarps, mulching and harvesting.
Groups
March - December
schedule at least 2 weeks in advance​
Best for: groups up to 30 people; great for corporate service days and high school/university student groups looking for community service opportunities.
Email farm@equicenterny.org to get started!
How it works: Your group will be led by one or more members of our farm team, who will share information about our programs and growing practices while you work. You will have the opportunity to get a short tour of the property, and to use one of our shaded programming spaces for a meal if availability allows. A wide variety of tasks are possible, including bed preparation, transplanting, weeding, putting up/taking down trellises, moving tarps, mulching, and harvesting.
All of our volunteers have the opportunity to snack on fresh treats from our sensory garden (seasonally, peas, green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and more). Individual and drop-in volunteers are also welcomed to take produce home from our special “Staff and Volunteers” bin in the walk-in cooler, which is re-stocked weekly May - October.