TPF

Volunteer Opportunities

Want to learn more about California native plants? At Theodore Payne, we offer ample opportunities to increase your knowledge and meet like-minded folks. There is a wide range of volunteer activities to choose from, including volunteering in the sales yard, seed room, office or propagation areas and in support of our many outreach events throughout the year. 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 native flora that is crucial to the foodweb and healthy ecosystems!
To Volunteer: Fill out the application and return it to . Margaret Oakley, Volunteer Coordinator, will contact the you soon after we receive the application. Thank-you! Volunteer Frequently Asked Questions Volunteer Application in .PDF format
*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 provide healthy and nutritious snacks and 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. Eagle Scout/Gold Award Projects: Saturdays, flexible. The Theodore Payne Foundation partners with Girl and Boy Scout troops. The Foundation serves as a place for doing Eagle Scout Projects and as a place that offers advice about how to make your off-site native plant project successful. 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, use less water and support wildlife. 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 Seed Program 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 To express our immense gratitude to our marvelous volunteers and to further their native plant knowledge, the Theodore Payne Foundation offers complimentary classes through a Volunteer Rewards Program. Volunteers who donate 36 hours of their time will receive a $35 credit toward the class or classes of their choice (subject to availability). Each time you volunteer at the Foundation, be sure to record your hours on our monthly Volunteer Sign-In Sheet. The great news is that volunteer hours never expire and continue to accrue every year. We offer a wide range of classes on subjects ranging from native plant communities, container gardening, creating habitat gardens, Chumash healing with native plants, turf removal, native plant propagation, and so much more!
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: