Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer at GoggleWorks’ Gardens at Lauer’s Park to grow an appreciation for local food systems, learn farm skills, and enjoy time with members of your community. We welcome all ages and people to participate. If you’re interested in volunteering contact Tiana Zabala, our garden manager. Find Garden related classes here.
Phone: 610.374.4600 E-mail: tzabala@goggleworks.org
We have bee hives on-site. Please take that into consideration when choosing to volunteer.
2024 Volunteer Day Dates
Our official Volunteer Days in the GoggleWorks Gardens will occur every last Wednesday of the month from 5-8pm. In the event of inclement weather such as rain, snow or extreme cold please consider volunteer days canceled. You may also check our social media for any cancellation notifications.
April 24
May 29
June 26
July 31
August 28
September 25
For volunteer days plan to bring:
- Any allergy medicines or devices you may need in case of an allergic reaction.
- Working gloves/ garden gloves
- A water bottle and optional snack
Other optional items that can help if you have them handy:
- Large garden shovels or hand shovels
- Digging fork, pitchfork, or broadfork
- Loppers, shears, pruners
Examples of tasks we could be completing:
- Clearing out old plants and weeds
- Seeding or transplanting new plants
- Harvesting fruits and vegetables
- Cutting branches, pruning trees and bushes
- Lifting heavy rocks – for those that are willing and able
- Moving soil
- Turning compost
- Cleaning up the surrounding area in order to support our Adopt-A-Block efforts
For Children and Youth Volunteers
Children and Youth of all ages are welcome to volunteer in the GoggleWorks Gardens. Any youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian. Additionally we have a seating area, nature play zone and age appropriate art activities available.
Community Service Hours
Giving back through gardening is a wonderful way to learn new skills and serve your community. If you would like to utilize your time in the garden towards community service, school, master gardener or other service project hours please see garden manager Tiana Zabala.
Additional Volunteer Positions
If you’re interested in taking on a longer term volunteer role we have a few positions available:
- Waterbearer – Help keep the community container garden on 2nd Street watered throughout the season with regular watering once or twice a week. All supplies and instructions necessary are provided.
- Weed Whacker – Do you love pulling weeds and keeping the garden healthy? Lend your talents to pulling weeds in the gardens as you wish. Beginner gardeners are welcome as all supplies and instruction necessary are provided.
- Remote Art Creator: create handmade cards, seed packet art and craft projects to be given as “Thank You” gifts.
Positions are filled on a rolling basis. If you have other skills that you think might be helpful, let us know when you inquire about the garden position. We will be in touch when a project arises that matches your skills and interest.
Our Community Container Garden
Come join us and grab a snack at our publicly-accessible container garden on North 2nd street! This garden is 100% FREE and accessible to the community. If you have ever needed an herb for your favorite dish, a vine ripe tomato, or some leafy greens, this garden is your new best asset. The garden manager, students, residents, and volunteers will grow plants ranging from tomatoes to herbs and everything in between to make them available for you.
Classes for Youth and Adults
The classroom gardens at the corner of Walnut and North 3rd streets are our purpose built garden space which gives Reading School District students the opportunity to learn about sustainability, farming, nutrition, art-in-horticulture, and a variety of STEAM topics through GoggleWorks’ After School Arts Program (ASAP). Students will learn about the stages of planting, the necessary elements for planting success and get hands on transplanting starts and weeding beds. Culminating in a harvest of nutritious fruits and vegetables grown in the heart of Reading.
Bees
In 2022, we welcomed bees to the GoggleWorks Gardens and community. These pollinators are increasing the natural abundance of our community. We have one beehive in the gardens that can be viewed from direct street access. We have four additional beehives on the rooftops of the GoggleWorks main campus. View our rooftop beehives from the fourth floor window at any time of the year! Students in our After School Arts Program and volunteers receive education on the inner workings of bee colonies.
Your donations and contributions help the garden prosper
GoggleWorks will accept the following items to help populate the gardens
- Seeds
- Bulbs / Tubers
- Live Perennial Plants
- Fruit Bushes
- Young Fruit Trees
- Garden Tools, Stakes, Wire, Twine
- Seed Starting Trays
- Topsoil
- Compost
- Potting Soil
- Mulch – Wood or Straw
- Individual Amendments such as Vermiculite, Perlite, Peat Moss
- Fertilizers
- Children’s Books related to environmental or garden topics only
Contact
Tiana Zabala, garden studio manager
610.374.4600
With the support and planning of a local coalition of organizations, residents, artists, and a volunteer task force facilitated by the Wyomissing Foundation, GoggleWorks and Lauer’s Park developed “GoggleWorks Gardens at Lauer’s Park.” The collaboration allows GoggleWorks to apply its interactive art studio model to the dynamic garden environment at Lauer’s Park, serving school children and community residents alike.
