Volunteering: the best job

The happiest and friendliest people I run into are volunteers. While I was working, most of my volunteer jobs were church-related; you can not meet any friendlier people. Now, the only volunteer job I have at our church is scheduling coffee hosts after Sunday Worship Service. Of course, in the past I had given my fair share of work with Suppers, Bake Sales & Garage Sales. We won't be having any of those at this church (since we are selling the building). I am sure I will always be involved in this kind of volunteering no matter where I'll be.

Now, I've expanded my horizon to mostly gardening activities. The Brantford Master Gardener group requires that each member including the MGiTs (Master Gardener in Training) put in at least 100 hours of volunteer work per year. We have clinics, maintenance of a public garden or two, public education, garden tours, etc.

Garden Clean up at the Manse 2008

The Brantford Garden Club provides flower shows (within the club and also one for the general public), plant sales, maintenance of a water-wise garden & other fund raising events. Besides volunteering for various activities, I am also one of the board directors this year.

Annual Plant Sale 2008

Then, the RBG has its wide range of volunteering opportunities throughout the year. I intend to try each one of them! Commencing in February, we are potting up bare roots, seedlings and re potting of leftover plants from last year's plant sale. There are several greenhouses in the property where we do all the work. Within these greenhouses, one can work with perennial and/or annual plants. I am now working with the Native Plants group: waiting for the seeds to germinate, transplanting seedlings, digging up dormant plants for potting, etc. This beehive of activities is preparing for the Annual RBG Auxiliary Plant Sale on May 7 & 9. Oh, it is a lot of fun. The passion and enthusiasm is very contagious. The greening of all the plants as I go in every week is euphoric. If I were living in the city (of Hamilton or Burlington), I'd probably be here 5 days/week!

I guess volunteers are happy people because we love what we do so we choose to be wherever we are. As Bob would say, it's the best job I've never had.