Volunteer
Grow and Share! Farm Days at Sugar Hill Farm
Westchester Land Trust’s half-acre Sugar Hill Farm headquarters supplies much needed fresh produce to our neighbors in need. It’s no secret that volunteers are an essential part of the program’s success. From planting seedlings in the spring to weeding, tending, and harvesting crops all summer and into the fall, our volunteers make it happen!
We welcome all ages and abilities to connect with each other, the environment, and their food, through exploration on the farm. Join us to learn about sustainable agriculture and make a tangible impact on hunger in our community. Minors (under 17 years old) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to volunteer at our Sugar Hill Farm garden.
Get Growing!
WLT offers ongoing volunteer opportunities Tuesdays and Thursdays from April through October. Sign up for a farm session by clicking the button for your preferred month.
Sugar Hill Farm Volunteer FAQ
Do I need to know anything about farming?
Absolutely not! Many of our volunteers have never even set foot in a garden before. WLT staff and volunteer team leaders will be present to show you what to do when you arrive.
How should I dress?
Prepare to get dirty, especially if it has rained recently. Bring or wear rain gear if rain is in the forecast. Close-toed shoes must be worn for your safety. Do not wear sandals. Pants are recommended at all times.
What should I bring?
It’s important for keeping hydrated in the field, so bring a water bottle. Sugar Hill Farm has restrooms and a kitchen for refills. A hat with a brim will keep the sun out of your eyes. Sunscreen will keep you from getting burned. We have plenty of work gloves, but you’re welcome to bring your own, especially if you have smaller hands.
What kinds of tasks can volunteers expect to tackle during a typical session?
There are a number of tasks involved in growing vegetables, including transplanting young plants into the beds, seeding directly into the fields, weeding, mowing, and trimming the rows, hand watering and moving the sprinkler, adding compost to the beds, and harvesting and sorting crops.
Corporate Volunteer Inquiries
Bring your business outside to make a difference—fill out our corporate volunteer and partnership form to get started
Lend a Hand on the Land at Stewardship Volunteer Days
If a tree falls in the forest does anyone hear it? Maybe not, but if it falls across a trail, someone has to clear it! Come help our stewardship team keep our trails clear and safe for all visitors! Learn to identify and remove invasive, plant trees to buffer our streams and native plants for our local critters.
To learn about stewardship volunteer opportunities, contact Ben Kleist at ben@westchesterlandtrust.org or 914-234-6992 ext. 27.
Save the Trees
You can help us keep our forests, meadows, and wetlands healthy at one of our upcoming volunteer events.
Help Outside by Staying Inside
To protect what’s outside, we need to do a little paperwork inside. As a nationally accredited land trust and 501(c)3 organization, we take our indoor business as seriously as we take our responsibility in the field. Join the office staff by helping with friend-raising and fundraising events, mailings, filing, and making thank-you calls.
Contact Susan Leighton at susan@westchesterlandtrust.org or 914-234-6992 ext. 23 for more information.
Join the Annual Benefit Committee
Help plan our largest fundraiser of the year—Annual Benefit subcommittees work on sponsorship, auction setup, promotion, décor, and all the exciting elements that go into Westchester Land Trust’s fabulous gala. No experience is required, just the desire to pitch in.
Contact Susan Leighton at susan@westchesterlandtrust.org or 914-234-6992 ext. 23 if you would like to join this dynamic group or learn more about the Annual Benefit.
Ways to Help
- Pick up trash to clean up the land near you—it can be your backyard, local preserve, or any other open space (remember to be safe and wash your hands)
- Be a Citizen Scientist—help us collect information about the plants and wildlife on our preserves by taking pictures of your findings and posting them to iNaturalist (or bird specific eBird)
- Monitor the trails—let us know if there are any materials encumbering the trails (email ben@westchesterlandtrust.org)
- Light trail maintenance—move small branches and other debris from the trails, but be sure to stay safe and contact us for large branches or debris
- Send us photos of our nature preserves—we always need new photos to showcase WLT preserves; email your images to ben@westchesterlandtrust.org or share them on social media and tag us