We don't just talk about reconnecting with land and traditional skills—we practice them. And we need people who want to get their hands dirty, literally and figuratively.

Why Volunteer?

Whether you're looking to fulfill community service requirements, gain field experience, learn practical skills, or simply contribute to work that matters—we have opportunities that fit. Our projects are hands-on, skill-building, and grounded in real work that serves real needs.

We're particularly welcoming to:

• Court-ordered community service participants (we gladly work with probation officers)
• Students seeking field research experience or internship hours
• Homeschool families looking for experiential learning opportunities
• Anyone tired of performative volunteerism and ready for meaningful labor

Volunteer Opportunities

Citizen Science & Field Research

Join us in the field documenting wild species, collecting data on seasonal patterns, gathering voucher specimens, and contributing to ongoing ethnobotanical research. No prior experience required—just curiosity, attention to detail, and willingness to work in challenging terrain.

Skills you'll gain: Plant and mushroom identification, ecological observation, data collection, herbarium techniques

Educational Programs Support

Help facilitate workshops, assist with foraging walks, prep materials for homeschool programs, and support seasonal skill-sharing events. This is ideal for those interested in environmental education or wanting to deepen their own knowledge while serving others.

Skills you'll gain: Teaching methods, curriculum support, group facilitation, wild food preparation

Eremos Apotheke (Our Learning Center)

We're building a teaching space and resource center from the ground up. Volunteer opportunities include construction and renovation work, garden establishment, tool maintenance, organizational systems, and creating accessible educational displays.

Skills you'll gain: Building trades, permaculture design, tool use, project management, land stewardship

Food Production & Preservation

Participate in wild harvest processing, food preservation projects (drying, fermenting, tincturing), seed saving, and meal preparation for community distribution. This is the practical work that turns foraging knowledge into household food security.

Skills you'll gain: Wild food processing, preservation techniques, fermentation, traditional foodways

Content & Documentation

Help document our field work through photography, video, writing, or illustration. Assist with creating educational materials, organizing resources, or developing accessible guides for beginners.

Skills you'll gain: Science communication, natural history illustration, photography, educational writing

Land Stewardship

Maintain trails, manage invasive species, conduct controlled burns (with training), plant natives, and participate in habitat restoration projects. This is ecological work with long-term impact.

Skills you'll gain: Habitat management, native plant propagation, fire ecology, ecological restoration

What We Offer Volunteers

• Hands-on training in skills that matter: identification, harvest, preparation, land care
• Mentorship from practitioners with decades of field experience
• Community with others pursuing competence over credentials
• Letters of completion for community service hours
• References for students and those seeking field-related employment
• The satisfaction of work that actually builds something—skills, community, resilience

What We Expect

• Show up when you commit to showing up
• Work hard—this isn't tourism, it's labor with purpose
• Be willing to learn and take correction
• Respect the land, the knowledge, and the people you're working alongside
• No drama, no politics, no performative activism—just honest work

Community Service Welcome

We regularly work with individuals fulfilling court-ordered community service requirements. We provide clear documentation, work directly with probation officers, and offer meaningful projects that meet legal requirements while building genuine skills.

If you're in this situation: we don't judge. We offer a path to contribute, learn, and be part of something that matters. Many of our strongest volunteers came to us this way.

Get Involved

Volunteer opportunities vary by season and current project needs. Contact us to discuss:

• Your interests and availability
• Specific skills you want to learn or already bring
• Community service documentation requirements (if applicable)
• Upcoming projects and how you can contribute