The more prepared a volunteer is, the more enjoyable the farm experience.

Whether you volunteer for a day or a lifetime, it can be an enriching experience.
The following is a list of items to bring, or not bring, when you are working in the fields.

Work Clothes - It is strongly recommended to dress in layered, old clothes and be prepared to get dirty on the farm. Clothing should not be revealing (tank tops and short shorts are unacceptable) Light-weight, long pants should be worn to deter ticks and for personal safety.

Shoes - Shoes or boots should be worn. No flip-flops or open-toed shoes should be worn for safety reasons.

Hat - It is highly recommended to wear a hat with a visor which provides protection from the hot sun.

Water bottle - It can be extremely dehydrating to work in the fields because you are exposed to the elements. Each volunteer should bring a large bottle of water when visiting the farm to prevent dehydration.

Sun screen - It is highly recommended that volunteers apply sun screen prior to arriving at the farm to avoid over-exposure from the sun. Feel free to bring your sunscreen to the farm to re-apply if needed.

Work gloves - Although the farm has a limited amount of work gloves, some people prefer to bring their own. (Thistle may be growing in the garden rows)

Lunch - Volunteers generally work early in the day and are invited to bring a lunch and join us around noon when we break for lunch during the weekdays.

Insects - It is not recommended to wear perfume while you are in the fields because it may attract insects. Bees are present and encouraged on the farm because they help with pollination. However, if you are stung by a bee while at the farm please let a staff person know. If you are allergic to bee stings, it is your responsibility to bring a bee/wasp sting kit with you. RWCF encourages you to take precautionary measures to prevent Lymes Disease by applying tick repellent, wearing long pants to deter ticks, and conducting a self-examination at the end of your workday.

Do not bring: radios, TVs, Ipods, CD/MP3 players, or cell phones in the fields because volunteering requires focus on the task at hand. (also – it could fall out of your pocket and get lost)

Creating fertile ground to nourish a healthy and inclusive community