This project will involve mulching and bed preparation for TALMAR, a 10-acre horticultural therapy center with the mission of making farming more accessible for disabled individuals.
Our project will involve shoveling and spreading woodchips to suppress weeds and feed the soil nutrients for next season. Please note that we usually request a group leader visit the farm ahead of time for a tour prior to one-time group volunteering projects; however, we can waive this for this project if someone who has been to TALMAR before is part of the group. I've included below our full volunteering guidelines, expectations, and access notes below (including dress code):
TALMAR Volunteering Guidelines, Community Agreements, and Accessibility Information
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at TALMAR! We are excited to welcome you to the farm and to our community. At TALMAR, we aspire to create an environment that is respectful and nurturing to people, the land, animals, and plants, and that feels open, curious, and healing for everyone. We ask you to uphold the following agreements to help us achieve that goal:
1. We take care of ourselves and each other. Volunteering at the farm can be hard work! Take time to stretch, eat, drink, use the bathroom, rest, etc. It is okay to take time to sit, breathe, recharge, and reset in order to engage with the team. If you have an access need not described in the accessibility notes below, please let one of our staff know or email volunteering@talmar and we will do our best to accommodate you as our funding and capacity allow.
2. We respect the land and the space. The land takes care of us, and we hold ourselves responsible for taking care of the land. As volunteers, please ask before entering any area of the farm where you are not familiar. Be sure to throw away any personal trash in designated bins before leaving. Finally, please put away any tools you used during your volunteer time.
3. We prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. We prioritize the health and safety of our community and ask that you stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, sore throat, coughing, runny nose, body aches, stomach upset, loss of taste/smell). We strongly recommend masking with a KN95+ to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.
4. We respect personal space and consent. Always ask before touching anyone or providing any unsolicited observations or feedback.
5. We don’t use oppressive language. We don’t use harmful language towards one another or about other people on the basis of race, ability, gender, sexuality, or any other axis of identity.
6. No one knows everything, together we know a lot. We recognize that everyone has something to contribute to TALMAR, and we celebrate our collective knowledge, skills, and experience. We welcome questions and feedback throughout your volunteer time.
7. We ask before using tools and equipment. For everyone’s safety, we do not allow volunteers to operate motorized equipment. Please ask before using any other tools at the farm—we are always happy to demonstrate how to best use our non-motorized equipment.
What to bring/wear: If you do not have or cannot afford any of the following gear, please contact volunteering@talmar.org. We may have a limited number of extras at the farm that you can borrow when you volunteer.
- Water bottle - please bring your own full water bottle to the farm. There is a water fountain for refills at the farm if needed.
- Gardening gloves - we ask volunteers to bring their own gardening gloves rather than share gloves in order to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses.
- Closed-toed shoes - wear rain boots, hiking boots, work boots, or sneakers to protect your feet on the farm.
- Dress for the weather - be mindful of the forecast and dress accordingly! If it is raining, please wear a rain jacket and waterproof shoes if possible. If the weather is cold, wear layers, a warm jacket, a hat, and a pair of gloves.
Accessibility Notes
- Driving Directions: TALMAR is located at 1994 Cromwell Bridge Road within Cromwell Valley Park. To get to the farm, enter the park's "Sherwood" entrance then take the first left (before the bridge). General parking is on the grass in front of a white barn on the left-hand side; handicapped parking is a bit further down the driveway in front of the greenhouse.
- Our public restroom is a wheelchair-accessible porta-potty
- Our farm has limited access to indoor temperature-controlled space. Our greenhouse is heated in the winter and our trailer office has space heaters and a portable air conditioner in the summer.
- The farm’s terrain is variable. We have a small area with raised beds that is flat, paved, and wide enough for wheelchair use. Our greenhouse also has flat concrete flooring and space wide enough for a wheelchair to maneuver. The rest of the farm is grassy with flat to moderate hills and some areas of uneven terrain.
Community Agreements adapted from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, AORTA, and IDP at Cornell.
Please arrive between 10:50 and 11:00 for the project and gather at the picnic tables in front of the trailer. See additional parking instructions/driving directions above! :)
