Volunteer Opportunities
 

 

Have you been looking for a way to learn more about California native plants? At Theodore Payne, we offer ample opportunities to increase your knowledge and meet like-minded folks. Depending on your interests, choose from volunteering in the sales yard, seed room, office or propagation areas.


Contact us at: 818-768-1802 or to get started. Also, please look at the volunteering opportunities below. There is no better place in LA to get hands-on experience with our fascinating flora!

 

To Volunteer: Fill out the application and return it to . Someone from the Foundation will contact the you soon after we receive the application. Thank-you!
Here's just a few ways you can Volunteer...

 First Saturdays: 9 a.m. to Noon. (No "First Saturdays" during Summer Hours)

Please join the Theodore Payne Foundation family of volunteers the first Saturday of each month as we improve and care for our gardens. We will clear, clean, plant, mulch, prune, and anything else needed to tend the gardens. Help us show how beautiful native plants are in the garden. We will provide shovels, trowels, rakes, loppers, hoes, pruners, plants, and other
tools needed. Bring gloves, knee pads, or other tools for your personal use. We'll also have coffee, juice, and bagels, doughnuts or other similar refreshments.

School/Community Credit Projects: Saturdays, flexible.

Know any school kids who need community service credits? This is a great way to earn credits, get outdoors, and learn a little about California's natural heritage. We can arrange half-day or full-day projects. Call to arrange: (818) 768-1802.

Data Entry

Our nursery generates a wide range of horticultural data are generated concerning our native plant programs. We seek a volunteer to work closely with our nursery staff to enter this data into the Foundation's database.

Grants and Special Events

Use your writing skills to help secure grant funding for our programs and operations. Love planning parties? Consider helping us plan and execute special events, including our annual fundraising gala.

Grounds Maintenance

Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air as you help us maintain our 22-acre property! Tasks include removing mustard and other non-native vegetation from Wildflower Hill; maintaining trails; planting wildflower seeds in the fall; and weeding.

Office Assistance

Help out with a variety of office tasks, including answering phones, filing, and assembling mailings.

 

Outreach

Represent Theodore Payne Foundation at local events such as Earth Day celebrations, street fairs, etc. These events are opportunities to reach the public with our message of using drought-tolerant native plants to beautify home gardens.

Repairs and Renovations

Our office is in need of repairs and upgrades! We need skilled volunteer assistance for basic jobs like replacing faucets and painting, as well as major projects like upgrading our electrical system, repairing and replacing our roof, and installing lighting, insulation, or flooring.

Sales Yard/Nursery Assistance

If you enjoy meeting and talking with new people, our sales yard offers a fun opportunity to help customers select and purchase plants and to introduce first-time visitors to our nursery. This is also an excellent opportunity to learn all about the plants we sell. We need assistance bringing down plants from the growing areas to put in sales yard. Many of the plants in the nursery need to be weeded. We'll help you learn the difference between the plant that's supposed to be in the pot and the weeds.

Seed Collection

Work with our Nursery Manager to learn how to harvest seeds for future propagation.

Propagation

This volunteer position requires a long term commitment. Help us propagate native plants for our nursery. Some experience is preferred.

 

TPF Volunteer Rewards Program

As our way of saying “thanks so much” to our volunteers and furthering their native plant knowledge, the Theodore Payne Foundation now offers complimentary classes through a Volunteer Rewards Program.  Volunteers who donate 36 to 71 hours each year will receive a $30 class of their choice (subject to availability), and those who donate 72 hours and above will receive a $45 class of their choice (subject to availability).  So, each time you volunteer at the Foundation, be sure to record your hours on our monthly Volunteer Sign-In sheet.  With our wide range of classes on subjects ranging from native plant communities to container gardening to turf removal to propagation, you’ll be glad you did!      

 

If you would like more information, or have other skills that you would like to use to help advance our mission, please call us at (818) 768-1802 or email us at: