Needs From: Central Iowa RSVP

Mustard Seed Community Farm seeks help with fundraising efforts for infrastructure and operating costs.

Mustard Seed Community Farm is looking for 2-3 volunteers to help with outside planting tasks on Tuesday or Friday afternoons.

We'll prepare the beds for planting (which could entail hauling manure or compost), plant peas, spinach, potatoes, maybe trees, and digging up carrots for you to take home.

If you have time to share, MSCF welcomes your help!  

On Wednesdays from 8am to noon, Mustard Seed Community Farm is looking for volunteers to help with pulling weeds, mulching vegetable beds, and assisting with various other farm related tasks. Come for an hour or stay for the entire four. Whatever time you can give is greatly appreciated!

Weeding is fun -   It makes the veggies so happy!

 and these happy vegetables will go to feed many people who need healthy nutritious food.

HARVEST WORKSHARE - Volunteer 3 hours during our harvest times and take home a large box of mixed vegetables.

The WORKSHARE shift is 7am-10am either Tuesday or Friday, from mid-May through mid-October. We have options for people to sign up as regular workers (that come almost every week) and intermittent workers who come when they are able. We love both kinds, especially if you communicate your scheduling needs with us so that we are not surprised!

During the three hour shift, we will harvest all the vegetables that are ripe on the farm, wash and pack them for distribution. Each worker will be able to take home a full box of vegetables. Usually, there is time at the end of the shift to do some other farm task while the washers finish packing the vegetables.  This food is also shared with local food pantries, hospitality houses, and families in need.

There will be a crew of about 7-10 people all working together on this harvest and while we work hard, we also have a lot of fun together. Carpooling is highly recommended and there is usually a carpool coming from Ames every harvest morning. We get to see each other every week, do meaningful work together, be in a beautiful place, and by the end of the season we are quite a team.

These harvests are essential to the functioning of our farm, and we will work in many kinds of weather. Please come to your shift no matter what the forecast (unless it’s a tornado warning! – then wait for the storm to pass) and dress for the weather. The farm has some available rain gear, but your own might be better. We will work outside in light rain, and find indoor work while there is lightning. We start so early in the morning because this is the time that the vegetables are at their most plump and delicious, and in midsummer, it is also the most pleasant time for working. Remember, it is windier on the farm than in town and in the morning it can be very dewy and cool.

HARVEST WORKSHARE - Volunteer 3 hours during our harvest times and take home a large box of mixed vegetables.

The WORKSHARE shift is 7am-10am either Tuesday or Friday, from mid-May through mid October. We have options for people to sign up as regular workers (that come almost every week) and intermittent workers who come when they are able. We love both kinds, especially if you communicate your scheduling needs with us so that we are not surprised!

During the three hour shift, we will harvest all the vegetables that are ripe on the farm, wash and pack them for distribution. Each worker will be able to take home a full box of vegetables. Usually, there is time at the end of the shift to do some other farm task while the washers finish packing the vegetables.  This food is also shared with local food pantries, hospitality houses, and families in need.

There will be a crew of about 7-10 people all working together on this harvest and while we work hard, we also have a lot of fun together. Carpooling is highly recommended and there is usually a carpool coming from Ames every harvest morning. We get to see each other every week, do meaningful work together, be in a beautiful place, and by the end of the season we are quite a team.

These harvests are essential to the functioning of our farm, and we will work in many kinds of weather. Please come to your shift no matter what the forecast (unless it’s a tornado warning! – then wait for the storm to pass) and dress for the weather. The farm has some available rain gear, but your own might be better. We will work outside in light rain, and find indoor work while there is lightning. We start so early in the morning because this is the time that the vegetables are at their most plump and delicious, and in midsummer, it is also the most pleasant time for working. Remember, it is windier on the farm than in town and in the morning it can be very dewy and cool.

Carpenters needed for indoor finishing work on new building, or for maintenance and improvement of farm infrastructure.  Looking for someone skilled enough to work alone, and/or possibly lead and teach volunteers.

For new building - projects include framing interior walls, drywall finishing, cabinet and shelf building, finish trim, hanging doors.

Other projects - hanging gutters, building rainwater catchment systems, building a greenhouse, repairs to farm buildings, masonry, creative problem solving.