INDIVIDUALS + SMALL GROUPS

Ready to get your hands in the soil and support local food access?
Iowa Valley RC&D’s Grow: Johnson County Farm welcomes volunteers to the farm during weekday drop-in hours from May through early November. Whether you're looking to come just once or become a regular core volunteer, this is a meaningful way to give back to your community and gain hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture.

Have a group larger than 5 volunteers? Please visit our Corporate & Business Group Volunteer Opportunities page for tailored information.

Volunteer Schedule & Details

  • Days: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

  • Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • Location: 4811 Melrose Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246

Age Policy: All ages welcome! Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult (1:5 adult-to-youth ratio required).

What You’ll Do:

Love hands-on outdoor work? You’re in the right place. Our volunteers assist with a wide variety of engaging farm tasks, including:

  • Seed starting, transplanting, and cultivating crops

  • Harvesting fresh produce

  • Washing and packaging for community distributions

  • Assisting with equipment upkeep
    Supporting youth education programs (we host over 1,200 sixth-grade students annually!)

Physical Needs & Considerations:

Farm work is rewarding, but it can also be physically demanding. Here’s what to expect:

  • Bending, reaching, squatting, lifting and walking 

  • Lifting up to 30 lbs

  • Working in conditions that may be muddy, dusty or messy.

  • Working in various weather situtations including rain, snow, wind, heat, humidy, and sunshine.

We welcome volunteers of all abilities. If you have physical limitations, please let us know during the planning process. We’re happy to work with you to identify tasks that match your comfort level and strengths.

How to Get Started:

  1. Fill Out Our Volunteer Interest Form
     This helps us connect with you and schedule your first visit.

  2. Watch the Training Video before you come:

  3. Sign the Digital Volunteer Waiver
     (Required once per calendar year.)

  4.  Let’s Connect! We’ll reach out to schedule your first day. After your first day, you’re welcome to drop in any Monday, Wednesday, or Friday morning.

Questions?

We’d love to hear from you! Please email us at grow@ivrcd.org

Come grow with us—one morning at a time!



Volunteering FAQs

  • We welcome ages six and up to volunteer at Grow. However, all minors must be accompanied and work alongside an adult guardian. We also ask that you email us ahead of time to ensure we have kid-friendly tasks your child can complete on the day you would like to volunteer, as some of our tasks aren’t suitable for young kids.

    Keep in mind that we are a working farm, but our staff love to see young people learn about all the food we grow while they help us tend to and harvest veggies.

    For larger groups, we recommend signing up for our Can You Dig It program!

  • Our parking area is located just north of the silo and is a grass lot. This area has structural panels below the grass to allow for parking in the event of rain.

  • What Should I Wear?

    • Closed-toe shoes are required.

    • Dress for the weather—we work rain or shine! Layers are recommended, especially in early or late season.

    • Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

    • No jewelry, and long hair should be tied back (for safety near tools and machinery).

    • You may be in fields, greenhouses, or other variable environments—plan for sun, wind, or mud!

    • Fields may have thistles—durable gloves are helpful, but we also have gloves available.

    What Should I Bring?

    • Reusable water bottle (plastic or metal).

      • We have water fountains for refills.

      • Glass bottles are only allowed in the break room, due to food safety standards.

    • Sunscreen—most work is outdoors and in full sun.

    • • No tools needed. We provide all necessary equipment.

  • On your first day, you will meet with one of our farm staff. They will give you a site tour and a short food safety and field training.  You’ll then join the crew in the field  or washing produce in the Cultivation Station.

  • We welcome all levels of commitment, but consistent volunteering is especially valuable to our team. Regular volunteers help us maintain efficiency and reduce the time spent on retraining—an important consideration, as time is one of our most limited resources during the growing season.

    While we understand that not everyone can volunteer weekly, we encourage volunteers to commit to at least one shift per month if possible. That said, if you're only able to join us once or twice during the season, your time and effort are still greatly appreciated! Every contribution helps us grow.

  • The Grow Farm pauses operations on the following holidays during the growing season: Memorial Day, Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day, and Veterans Day (weather permitting in November). If a scheduled volunteer day (Monday, Wednesday, or Friday) falls on one of these holidays, volunteer hours will be canceled for that day.

    Volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday.


     Weekend volunteering is not typically offered, unless connected to a special event. Our farm team works long hours during the week, and Iowa Valley RC&D is committed to ensuring staff have dedicated personal time on weekends.

    If the standard weekday morning schedule doesn’t work for you, please reach out! We’re happy to explore alternative options that meet your availability.

    Contact us at grow@ivrcd.org