Field Schedule
Logistics: Unless inclement weather is forecast or an update indicates otherwise, you can assume that we will be out. (We'll notify all registered volunteers in the event we have to cancel a volunteer day.) Bring work gloves, if you have them, and a bottle of drinking water. Unless otherwise noted, we will provide tools. Wear sturdy shoes to our field events. Please do not wear sandals or open-toed shoes! And if you are coming out to one of our field sites you're better off wearing long, light-weight pants, rather than shorts. (But shorts are fine at the nursery.)
Students: If you need hours for a class requirement, a staff member can sign a verification form if you bring one, but we do not provide these forms ourselves.
All visitors must abide by the following rules:
All volunteers must be pre-confirmed through our online volunteer sign-up system. Email Matt at info@earthsangha.org with questions about the process. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves and water bottles.
Upcoming Events
Wild Plant Nursery Workday
Click here to register to volunteer.
When: Most Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays from 9am to 1pm
What: We need help potting up plants, weeding, distributing labels, and a variety of other tasks to keep the nursery running! We'll provide all tools and gloves. Please bring your own water, dress for the weather, and wear closed toe shoes.
Where: Wild Plant Nursery is located at 6100 Cloud Dr, Springfield, VA 22150
Contact: If you have any questions about volunteering at the nursery or weather concerns, contact Matt at mbright@earthsangha.org or call 703.859.2951.
Tree Planting at Laurel Hill
Click here to register to volunteer.
When: Friday April 26th from 9am to 1pm
What: We are partnering with Fairfax County Park Ecologists to plant approximately 700 Juniperus virginia and a combination of 3 Rhus species. This is a part of an ongoing restoration project to restore green space at Laurel Hill. We appreciate any time you can give to this effort! Stay for just an hour or the whole planting. Anything and everything helps. We'll provide all tools and gloves. Please bring your own water and wear sturdy shoes.
Where: Laurel Hill Apple Orchard Recreation Area: Apple Orch Lp, Lorton, VA 22079. Park on Furnace Road
Contact: If you have any questions about volunteer scheduling, email Michaelanne at mmakuch@earthsangha.org or call 703.298.8759
Open House and Native Plant Sale
Click here to register to volunteer.
When: Sunday, May 5th from 8am to 2pm
What: We need two shifts of volunteers to help out at our Spring Open House and Native Plant Sale! The first shift will be from 8am to 11am and the second shift will be from 11am to 2pm. Volunteers will help transport customers plants to their cars, return wheelbarrows, set up/break down tables, etc.
Where: Wild Plant Nursery is located at 6100 Cloud Dr, Springfield, VA 22150
Contact: If you have any questions about volunteering at the nursery or weather concerns, contact Matt at mbright@earthsangha.org or call 703.859.2951.
Invasives Removal at Mason District Park
Click here to register to volunteer.
When: Friday May 10th & Friday May 24th from 9am to 12pm
What: We're excited to begin working in a couple sections of Mason District park in cooperation with our colleagues at Fairfax County Park Authority. We will begin by removing invasive annuals and vines. Primarily mile-a-minute, stiltgrass, and oriental bittersweet. In conjunction with ecologists at FCPA we have a long-term vision to protect threatened canopy and understory using small-scale restoration techniques we're collectively terming our Habitat Refuge Project. We'll provide all tools and gloves. Please bring your own water and wear sturdy shoes.
Address: Mason District Park is located at 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. Turn right when you enter the park. We will meet by the tennis courts.
Contact: If you have any questions about volunteer scheduling, email Michaelanne at mmakuch@earthsangha.org or call 703.298.8759.
Sangha Stewards
The Sangha Stewards is a way for volunteers looking for more independent and technical work to join us at our nursery, our field sites, and our office to help us manage more complex tasks and receive extra training.
Sangha Stewards are invited to work more closely with our staff and to join our monthly staff training sessions (we’ll have snacks!). Days and times are more flexible and we’re looking to work with our Stewards to develop their skills and what sort of work they’re most interested in.
We are no currently accepting applications for the Sangha Stewards program.
We have four categories for Sangha Stewards:
Nursery and Propagation: While we already do a lot of potting up, we frequently have species that need a little bit more detailed care: perhaps it’s a tray with mixed species, maybe we have delicate seedlings that need to be teased apart, or we need someone with a keen eye and a steady hand to remove weeds among rare or sensitive native plants. Or maybe you just want to relax and help us hand water through the summer. This is work that can be done independently or as part of our regular volunteer days.
Building and Infrastructure: We always have a backlog of maintenance and construction tasks at the nursery, whether it’s adjusting irrigation lines or helping us build more of our oak and hickory rodent exclosures. If you’re handy with tools, we could use the help here!
Invasives and Field Sites: The invasives never sleep, so we could use an extra set of eyes and hands out at some of our field sites. This could mean checking sites periodically for Early Detection Rapid Response species or even doing a little bit of independent pulling or helping us lead volunteers at our field days. We’ll make sure to familiarize you with our sites and train you on the species and areas we’re looking to target. Keeping invasive vines off our Habitat Refuges will be one of our top priorities.
Office: For those of you who would rather be inside, we do need periodic help at our office. It may not be as frequent as the other categories, but printing labels, helping us organize our Acorn newsletter mailings would be a big help!
Banner: Volunteers planting native meadow species at the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Chris Bright.
