Invitation to Volunteers

Elderberry Wisdom Farm is welcoming volunteers to work with our team of Interns this spring and summer as we repot the remaining 1,000 native tree and shrub species from a 1,500 plant order; and enjoy other activities on the farm. Opportunities to work with our interns are:

• Midweek in May on Tuesdays, May 20 and 27 between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm

• Midweek in May on Wednesdays May 21 and 28 between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm

• Second Saturday of these Summer months: June 14, July 12 and Aug 9 between 10 am to 1 pm

We have appreciated the enthusiasm and good support of volunteers who joined us for farm and native plant nursery development work. Future activities include potting native tree and pollinator plants, including the Native trees we are growing for the City of Salem’s urban canopy project. We will also be mulching around recently planted native tree and plant species to inhibit the growth of invasives; continuing light invasive removal work, especially including the shiny geranium; and tending our vegetable garden which will be donated through the summer to low income Native elders living near Salem.

Volunteers clearing debris on a Saturday

Volunteer activities this summer will support the expansion of our farm to a total of four acres by developing our two-acre Native Plant Nursery north of the property. This 200’ x 400’ space already includes 5 recessed garden beds for growing native forbs. The herbaceous non-woody flowering pollinator plants will help us restore the biodiversity in the understory of Oregon white oak woodlands here in the Willamette Valley. Two more rows of beds will be developed in July and August so we can increase the number of species we grow. 

If you would like to join us, you can email Rose at rose@elderberrywisdom.org or if you have Q’s, visit our website to learn more. No experience is needed and there are no age limits. This is a great place to learn about habitat restoration of Willamette Valley ecosystems and how we integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge. When you arrive, our friendly Habitat Restoration Educators/Mentors will introduce you to the team and will help to make the experience fulfilling.