Volunteers Help the Milk and Honey Farm Grow — Join Us?

The growing season is at the peak of freshness all over Colorado. At the Boulder JCC the Milk and Honey Farm is bursting with zucchini, chard, kale, and many other vegetables that are all donated through Boulder Food Rescue and the Boulder County Farm to the Early Childhood Education program.  

In 2022, the Milk and Honey Farm donated over 4,000 pounds of produce, made possible by the many volunteers who supported the farm with weeding, planting, and harvesting. We are hoping to produce the same amount of food, if not more! Volunteers are welcome on Mondays and Thursdays through the end of October to help at the Milk and Honey Farm. Come every week or only once. Everyone’s help is always appreciated. 

We caught up with one of our regular volunteers, Caron Robinson, and asked her some questions about her volunteering experiences at the farm.

How did you become connected to the Milk and Honey Farm?
About a month after I moved to Boulder I called the Boulder JCC and asked about ways to get involved. I was told that volunteers were especially needed on the farm. The first time I met Farmer Becca I knew we shared some of the same ideas about respect of the earth and the food we eat.

What do you love the most about volunteering on the farm?
I love the people I meet at the farm and working with and learning from Farmers Becca and Rachel. It is just simply amazing to do all phases of the work, from scrubbing out the seed cells in the early spring to testing different soil mixes, planting the first seeds for the greenhouse, thinning out, weeding the fields, prepping the soil, transplanting or direct seed planting. Before we are finished getting everything completed the first grow has already begun. 

I have learned so much by working at the farm. Every year, my own personal garden has grown bigger and more productive. Becca always takes the time to explain things or to think through sustainability practices together. 

What is a misconception people have about volunteering on the farm?
Some people think you must have previous experience farming – you don’t. We have so many seasoned volunteers so if someone is new, they will be paired with a more experienced volunteer. Becca, Rachel, and Jess are all very patient and happy to explain things. The other thing is that even though the event time is 8-11 am, you don’t have to commit for all three hours. My body really can’t manage more than two hours of solid work.  

Volunteers, we invite you to join us as often as your schedule allows, just register once. Advance registration is required but then you are covered for the whole season. Volunteers must be 18+ or teens are invited with adult supervision. Please reach out to Farm Coordinator, Rachel, with any questions about the Milk and Honey Farm or volunteering.